Master Sergeant

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A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.

1 Singapore
2 United States
3 External links
4 See also

[edit] Singapore

Master Sergeant (MSG) is the highest Specialist rank in the Singapore Armed Forces, ranking just above Staff Sergeant (SSG) and below Second Warrant Officer (2WO). Master Sergeants are addressed as "Master Sergeant", or "Master", and not "Sergeant".

Being the most senior Specialists in the SAF, Master Sergeants have an important role in guiding young soldiers. They often hold instructional positions. Some may hold the appointment of Company Sergeant Major (CSM). Within the company, the Master Sergeant is addressed by his appointment, "Sergeant Major". Officers and specialists may refer to him as "Encik", the Malay word for "mister", but the permission to do so should not be assumed by junior enlisted men.

The rank insignia consists of three chevrons pointing up, three chevrons pointing down, and the Singapore coat of arms in the middle.

Singapore Armed Forces Specialist ranks
Rank	Third Sergeant	Second Sergeant	First Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Master Sergeant
Abbreviation	3SG	2SG	1SG	SSG	MSG
More details at Specialist

[edit] United States

Master Sergeant insignia
U.S. Marine Corps

Master Sergeant insignia
U.S. Army

Master Sergeant insignia
U.S. Air Force

A Master Sergeant is:

the eighth enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Gunnery Sergeant, below Master Gunnery Sergeant, Sergeant Major, and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. It is equal in grade to First Sergeant. It is abbreviated as "MSgt." Master Sergeants in the U.S. Marine Corps provide technical leadership as occupational specialists at the E-8 level. General command leadership at this paygrade is provided by the separate rank of First Sergeant.
the eighth enlisted rank in the United States Army, just above Sergeant First Class, below Sergeant Major, and equal in grade but not authority to First Sergeant. It is abbreviated as "MSG" and indicated by three chevrons above three rockers.
the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above Technical Sergeant and below Senior Master Sergeant. It is abbreviated as "MSgt." Advancement to Master Sergeant is one of the most significant promotions within the enlisted Air Force. At the rank of Master Sergeant, the airman enters the senior noncommissioned tier and his or her duties begin to focus on leadership and management rather than technical performance. Per Air Force Instruction 36-2118, MSgts typically serve as flight chiefs (analogous to platoon sergeants in the US Army) and section chiefs (leaders of duty sections within a squadron).

In the Marine Corps, Master Sergeants may be referred to by the nickname of "Top". This usage is an informal one, however, and would not be used in an official or formal setting. Use of this nickname by Marines of subordinate rank is at the rank holder's discretion.

In the U.S. Army, Master Sergeants are also called "Top", if they are the senior non-commissioned officer in a unit. This informal term is also used for non-commissioned officers holding the higher authority of First Sergeant.

All Master Sergeants are senior non-commissioned officers.

	E-1	E-2	E-3	E-4	E-5	E-6	E-7	E-8	E-9
U.S. military enlisted ranks
Air Force:	AB	Amn	A1C	SrA	SSgt	TSgt	MSgt	SMSgt	CMSgt - CCM - CMSAF
Army:	PV1	PV2	PFC	SPC - CPL	SGT	SSG	SFC	MSG - 1SG	SGM - CSM - SMA
Marine Corps:	Pvt	PFC	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	SSgt	GySgt	MSgt - 1stSgt	MGySgt - SgtMaj - SgtMajMarCor
Navy:	SR	SA	SN	PO3	PO2	PO1	CPO	SCPO	MCPO - CMCPO - MCPON
Coast Guard:	SR	SA	SN	PO3	PO2	PO1	CPO	SCPO	MCPO - CMCPO - MCPOCG