'Sergeant' is a
rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organisations around the world. Its origins are the Latin ''serviens'', "one who serves", through the French term ''Sergent''.
Military usage
In most non-naval
military or
paramilitary organizations, a Sergeant is a
non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranking above
Privates and
Corporals, and below
Warrant Officers and
Commissioned Officers.
There are usually several ranks of Sergeant, each corresponding to greater experience and responsibility for the daily lives of the soldiers of larger units.
The responsibilities of a Sergeant differ from army to army. In the British and most other
Commonwealth armies a Sergeant is second-in-command (2IC) of a
platoon (30-50 soldiers) or
troop (the commander of a platoon typically being a 2nd Lieutenant or Lieutenant). In the US Army a Sergeant and
Staff Sergeant are both ranks corresponding to command of a squad (7-10 soldiers), with a Sergeant First Class equating to a British/Commonwealth Staff Sergeant.
In some armies, particularly the German army with its system of
mission-based tactics, sergeants have much greater responsibility and use of initiative than in other armies.
Sergeants Major are senior NCO appointments of a
company/
squadron,
battalion, or
regiment. (In the US army company/troop senior NCO rank is Master Sergeant or First Sergeant; in British and most Commonwealth forces, sergeant major is an appointment e.g. (
company sergeant major (CSM) or
Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), whereas the rank is
Warrant Officer Class 2 or 1. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force have a single Warrant Officer grade. Although even the most senior sergeant major (or equivalent) is lower in rank than any officers, the position of Sergeant Major is in many ways more prestigious than junior officer ranks.
Australia
'Sergeant' ('SGT') is a rank in both the
Australian Army and the
Royal Australian Air Force. The ranks are equal to each other and the
Royal Australian Navy rank of
Petty Officer (PO).
However, the RAAF rank of
Flight Sergeant (FSGT) outranks the Army rank of
Staff Sergeant (SSGT). There is no Navy or RAAF equivalent of SSGT, however the Navy rank of
Chief Petty Officer (CPO) and Army rank of
Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) are equivalent to a Flight Sergeant.
In the Australian army the rank of Sergeant is above Corporal but below Warrant Officer Class 2. Although Staff Sergeant is technically between the two ranks, this rank is currently being phased out of the Australian Army. The insignia of a Sergeant in the Australian Army is three chevrons vertically adjacent to each other. Sergeants are non commissioned officers and are usually the 2IC's of infantry platoons or armoured sections.
Canada
Canadian Forces Sergeant's arm badge
'Sergeant' ('Sgt') (
French: ''sergent'' or ''sgt'') is an
Army or
Air Force non-commissioned member (NCM) rank of the
Canadian Forces. Its
Naval equivalent is
Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2) (French: ''maître de 2e classe'' or ''m2''). It is senior to the appointment of
Master Corporal (MCpl) and its equivalent naval appointment,
Master Seaman (MS), and junior to
Warrant Officer (WO) and its naval equivalent,
Petty Officer 1st Class (PO1). Sgts and PO2s together make up the cadre of
senior non-commissioned officers (Sr NCOs).
In army units, Sergeants usually serve as
section commanders; they may often be called to fill positions normally held by
Warrant Officers, such as
Platoon or
Troop Warrant,
Company Quartermaster Sergeant,
Chief Clerk, etc.
The rank insignia of a Sergeant is a 3-bar chevron, worn point down, surmounted by a maple leaf. Embroidered rank badges are worn in "CF gold" thread on rifle green melton, stitched to the upper sleeves of the Service Dress jacket; as miniature gold metal and rifle-green enamel badges on the collars of the Army dress shirt and Army outerwear jackets; in "old-gold" thread on air force blue
slip-ons on Air Force shirts, sweaters, and coats; and in tan (Army) or dark blue (Air Force) thread on
CADPAT slip-ons on the
Operational Dress uniform. Sergeants are generally initially addressed as "Sergeant Bloggins" and thereafter as "Sergeant"; the colloquialism "Sarge" is used only in informal situations.
Colour Sergeant in the Canadian Forces is not a rank of Sergeant, but a Warrant Officer in one of the two
Foot Guards regiments (the
Governor General's Foot Guards and the
Canadian Grenadier Guards). Likewise, a
Sergeant-Major (including
Regimental Sergeant-Major) is not a Sergeant rank, but an appointment held by a
Master Warrant Officer or
Chief Warrant Officer.
Sergeants generally
mess and billet with Warrant Officers, Master Warrant Officers, and Chief Warrant Officers, and their naval counterparts,
Chief Petty Officers and
Petty Officers. Their mess on military bases or installations is generally named the Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess.
Historically, the rank of sergeant was severely downgraded after Unification of the three services in 1968. An Army Sergeant before unification was generally employed in supervisory positions, such as the second in command of a platoon sized unit (ie an infantry Platoon Sergeant, or Troop Sergeant in an armoured unit). After unification he was downgraded in status to section commander, a job previously held by
Corporals, and the former "Platoon/Troop Sergeant"s were replaced by "Platoon/Troop Warrant Officers."
France
:''See the article '
Ranks in the French Army'''
There are three sergeant ranks in France, although the most junior, contract sergeant, is rare now that conscription has been suspended. In general, the term ''sergent'' is used indifferently for both contract sergeant and career sergeant. Contract sergeant is classified as the lowest NCO
[1] rank, the rank below being chief corporal.
★ 'Contract sergeant ': ''Sergent sous contrat'': One chevron, gold or silver
[2].
A rank used for junior sergeants, either conscripts or reservists. Junior to commonwealth sergeant but senior to commonwealth corporal. The rank insignia is used nowadays for NCOs-in-training.
★ 'Career sergeant :' ''Sergent de carrière'': Two chevrons.
Normal sergeant rank, though normally directly recruited from civilian life into this rank, so the rank implies less experience than for a commonwealth sergeant. Normally simply referred to as sergeant, dropping the "''de carrière''". With long service, promotion to chief sergeant is automatic. Equivalent to a US sergeant. Roughly equivalent to, but slightly junior to, a commonwealth sergeant.
★ 'Chief Sergeant :' ''Sergent-chef'': Three chevrons.
With long service, a sergeant's promotion to chief sergeant is automatic. This rank corresponds exactly to a US staff sergeant. There is no commonwealth equivalent, this rank lying between commonwealth staff sergeant and commonwealth sergeant. The rank may be said to be roughly equivalent to, but perhaps slightly superior to, a commonwealth sergeant. The next rank up is
adjutant.
French sergeant ranks are used by the entire Air Force, by the Engineers, the Infantry, the
Foreign Legion, the ''
Troupes de marine'', the Communications, the Administration, all part of the French Army, and the ''Gendarmerie mobile'', part of the
Gendarmerie Nationale. Other corps in the Army and the Gendarmerie use three equivalent ranks of ''
maréchal des logis'' ("marshal of lodgings" in English) instead.
Germany
German Sergeant's (Feldwebel) shoulder board
In the
German language, the rank of Sergeant is known as '''
Feldwebel'''. The rank has existed since the 18th century, with usage as a title dating to the
Middle Ages. One important difference between Sergeants and ''Feldwebeln'' exists: in a typical ''
Bundeswehr''
company, only one ''Zug'' (
platoon) is under the command of an officer, while the other ''Zugführer'' (platoon leader) positions are held by ''Feldwebel''-ranked NCOs (typically ''Hauptfeldwebel'' and above).
In the modern Germany Army, ''Feldwebel'' and ''
Oberfeldwebel'' have a NATO rank code of OR-6, with ''
Unteroffizier'' (historically considered generically equivalent to Corporal) and ''
Stabsunteroffizier'' having a rank code of OR-5.
India and Pakistan
Army
In the
British Indian Army, the equivalent rank to Sergeant was '
Daffadar' in cavalry regiments and '
Havildar' in other units. These ranks are still used in the
Indian Army and
Pakistan Army.
Police
In many
metropolitan police forces in India e.g.
Kolkata Police, a Sergeant is senior to an Assistant Sub-Inspector but junior to an
Inspector.
Ireland
Irish Army Sgt's Rank Slider
'Sergeant' ('Sgt') (''Sáirsint'' in
Irish) is the second rank of non-commissioned officer within the
Irish Army. The
Naval equivalent is
Petty Officer (PO).
The Army rank insignia consists of three winged chevrons (or "stripes"). The Service Dress Insignia consists of three wavy red chevrons 3½ inches wide bordered in yellow. The main infantry role of a Sergeant is as Second in Command of a
platoon or commander of a Fire Support Section of a weapons platoon, such as an anti-tank or mortar platoon. Another role is that of Company Clerk and Instructor. There are higher ranks of
Company Sergeant and
Company Quartermaster Sergeant. Artillery Sergeants are usually assigned as Detachment and Section Commanders, as well as in administrative roles. The difference in roles of Sergeant and Corporal in the Artillery Corps is not as clearly defined as in the Infantry Corps.
'Sergeant' is also the second rank of NCO in the
Irish Air Corps. Before 1994, the Air Corps was considered part of the Army and wore Army uniforms with distinct
Corps Badges, but the same rank insignia. With the introduction of a unique Air Corps blue uniform in 1994, the same rank markings in a white colour were worn, before the introduction of a new three-chevron with wing rank marking. There are higher ranks of
Flight Sergeant and
Flight Quartermaster Sergeant.
Finally, 'sergeant' is the second rank in
an Garda Síochána.
Israel
In the
Israel Defense Forces, soldiers are promoted from Corporal to Sergeant ('''Samál''') after approximately 20 months of service, if they performed their duties appropriately during this time. Soldiers who take a commander's course may become Sergeants earlier. Sergeants get a symbolic pay raise of 1.80
NIS.
Italy
In the
Italian Army the rank of Sergeant, '''Sergente''', is the first rank of the Warrant Officers Sergeant Role, ''Sottufficiali'' ruolo sergenti, followed by '''Sergente Maggiore''' (literally Major Sergeant) and '''Sergente Maggiore Capo''' (literally Chief Major Sergeant). The ranks of ''Sergente'' and ''Sergente Maggiore'' intended for paratroopers are bordered in blue.
Mexico
In the Mexican Army the "Cabo" (Corporal) is upgraded to "Sargento segundo" (2nd Sergeant) and then to "Sargento primero" (1st Sergeant).
Poland
Sierżant shoulder strap
In the
Polish Army rank insignia system there are two grades of sergeant: '''
Sierżant''' (OR-6 in NATO code) and '''
Starszy Sierżant''' (OR-7). The rank first appeared in
Henryk Dąbrowski's
Polish Legions in Italy in the late 18th century. Both ranks are used in the infantry, armoured forces, air force and cavalry. In the artillery the equivalent is ''Bombardier'' or ''
Ogniomistrz'' (literally ''Firemaster''). In the
Polish Navy, the equivalent is ''
Bosman'' (literally
Boatswain).
Singapore
In the
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), there are five different grades of sergeant:
Third Sergeant (3SG),
Second Sergeant (2SG),
First Sergeant (1SG),
Staff Sergeant (SSG), and
Master Sergeant (MSG). Sergeants are considered
Specialists in the SAF. They are equivalent to the non-commissioned officers of other militaries.
Soldiers must complete their Specialist course at
School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC) or other training institutes before being promoted to Third Sergeant. While active duty
National Servicemen may be promoted to Second Sergeant, most personnel holding ranks above that are career soldiers.
Promotion from 3SG to SSG takes an average of 6 years, although there are many factors which may cause a soldier's promotion to cease. These factors include failure to pass an annual physical fitness proficiency test, poor performance in their appointments or getting charged for offences.
3SGs are usually
section commanders. They may also hold certain logistics or administrative posts such as
Company Quartermaster Sergeant. 2SGs usually serve as
platoon sergeants. 1SGs, SSGs, and MSGs usually serve as
Company Sergeant Major or administrative Specialists at
company level or higher.
In the
Singapore Police Force, the rank of Sergeant lies between
Corporal and
Staff Sergeant.
Sweden
Army
'Sergeant (Sgt)' is a rank awarded after 15 months of conscript training as squad leader (Swedish Cavalry). The rank corresponds to Corporal in the British Army.
★ Swedish Army Rank Insignia
|
|
| Rank above | Fänrik |
| Rank below | Furir |
| Rank criteria | 15 months of conscript training |
| Command KFOR | Team Leader of 5-7 men |
|
United Kingdom
British sergeants are usually addressed as "Sergeant". The shortening "Sarge" is sometimes used by subordinates, although many sergeants object to this term. In the British Army and Royal Marines, however, the abbreviated "Sarn't" is commonly heard.
Army
British Army Sergeant's arm badge
A 'Sergeant' ('Sgt') in the
British Army wears three point-down
chevrons on their sleeve and usually serves as a
platoon or
troop sergeant, or in a specialist position.
Staff Sergeant or
Colour Sergeant, is the next most senior rank, above which come Warrant Officers. The
Household Cavalry use the rank of
Corporal of Horse instead, the only regiments to preserve the old
cavalry tradition of having corporals but not sergeants.
A '
Lance-Sergeant' ('LSgt') was formerly a Corporal acting in the capacity of a Sergeant. The appointment now survives chiefly in the
Guards, where it is awarded to all Corporals. A Lance-Sergeant in the Guards and
Honourable Artillery Company wears three chevrons, belongs to the
Sergeants' Mess, and is considered senior to "normal" Corporals: however, for practical purposes he remains a Corporal rather than an acting Sergeant (e.g., he will typically command a
section). In the Household Cavalry, the equivalent appointment is
Lance-Corporal of Horse.
The official spelling was 'Serjeant' ('Sjt') until after the
Second World War, although the modern spelling had already been in common use for many years.
The
Royal Marines and the
Infantry use the ranks of 'Sergeant' and
Colour Sergeant.
Air force
RAF Sergeant's arm badge
The
Royal Air Force also has the rank of 'Sergeant', wearing the same three chevrons. The rank lies between
Corporal and
Flight Sergeant (or
Chief Technician for technicians and musicians). Between 1950 and 1964 sergeants in technical trades were known as 'Senior Technicians' and wore their chevrons point up.
RAF Sergeant Aircrew's arm badge
On
1 July 1946,
aircrew sergeants were redesignated as 'Aircrew IV, III or II', replacing the chevrons with one, two or three six-pointed stars within a wreath and surmounted by an eagle. This was unpopular and in 1950 they returned to the old rank, but have worn an eagle above their chevrons ever since. Sergeants of the
Royal Flying Corps wore a four-bladed propeller above their chevrons.
Police Usage
Police Sergeant's epaulette
A Sergeant in the police force is more senior than a
Police Constable but less senior than an
Inspector in the
UK police ranks. Police Sergeant's chevrons are normally white print or silver-coloured metal pin badge insignia as shown to the right. For High Visibility Uniform, they are often yellow with printed silver insignia. As with Police Constable epaulettes, the Sergeants' collar numbers (and Division Call Sign if from the Metropolitan Police) are also displayed.
A Sergeant in the
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is known as a Detective Sergeant (DS). Until the abolition of
1st Class Detective Sergeants in 1973, Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeants were officially known as 2nd Class Detective Sergeants.
Unlike the military, addressing a Sergeant as "Sarge" is not seen as incorrect. Constables in some forces (including the Metropolitan Police) refer to their Sergeants as "Skipper".
Australia
Within the New South Wales Police Force (established 1862) there are the following Sergeant Ranks:
★ Sergeant (SGT) (three chevrons);
★ Incremental Sergeant (SGT) (three chevrons and a crown)- this is an incremental progression, following appointment as a Sergeant for 7 years; and
★ Senior Sergeant (SEN/SGT) (three chevrons, crown surmounted by a laurel leaf)
Upon appointment as a Sergeant or Senior Sergeant within the New South Wales Police Force, the Sergeant is given a Warrant of Appointment under the Commissioners hand and seal. In addition the Sergeant is given a Navy Blue backing (Which replaces a light blue backing to the officers police badge), a navy blue name plate (which replaces a light blue nameplate), and a silver chin strap positioned above his peaked cap on his headdress, replacing a black chinstrap. These are symbols of the officers authority and standing.
As for slang, all three sergeants ranks are referred to as "Sergeant", "Boss", or "Sarge". However at the New South Wales Police College, recruits must address all ranks of Sergeants as "Sergeant".
Sergeants are usually Team Leaders in charge of an entire team of Constables to Senior Constables at large stations, to being in charge of sectors involving several police stations. Senior Sergeants are usually in specialist areas and are in charge of Sergeants and thus act as middle management.
United States
Army
U.S. Army Sergeant's sleeve insignia
In the
United States Army, although there are several ranks of sergeant, the lowest carries the title of 'Sergeant' ('SGT'), colloquially referred to as ''buck sergeant'' when needed to distinguish it from the higher ranks. Sergeant is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Army, just above
Specialist and
Corporal and below
Staff Sergeant, and is the second-lowest grade of
non-commissioned officer. Sergeants typically command squad-sized elements.
Sometimes the senior U.S. Army sergeant holding the rank first sergeant or acting first sergeant are called "top" in reference to their being the Top (senior ranking) enlisted soldier in the unit.
Drill Sergeants are always addressed as "Drill Sergeant", regardless of rank (only when on an instruction tour indicated by the traditional World War I campaign hat, commonly referred to as the "Brown Round".) For example; if a Drill Sergeant is done with his/her instruction tour, they go back to wearing their beret and are called sergeant again. The Drill Sergeant will always wear the Drill Sergeant badge indicating they completed the school. The Army Drill Sergeant badge appears on the right upper shirt pocket.
Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant's sleeve insignia
Similarly, the
United States Marine Corps has several ranks which carry the title of Sergeant, the lowest of which is 'Sergeant' ('Sgt'). Marine Sergeants are the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, just above
Corporal and below
Staff Sergeant.
In the Marine Corps, enlisted ranks above Sergeant are referred to as Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (Staff NCOs or SNCOs). These ranks, Staff Sergeant through Sergeant Major, are always referred to by their full rank and never merely as "Sergeant". Gunnery Sergeants are commonly addressed as simply "Gunny", Master Sergeants as "Top", and Master Gunnery Sergeants as "Master Guns". A Marine Corps Sergeant is always addressed as "Sergeant" and never "Sarge" or any sort of nickname or abbreviation, and 1st Sergeants and Sergeants Major are always addressed by full rank title.
Air Force
The
U.S. Air Force rank of 'Sergeant' (E-4) was phased out in the 1990s. Previously,
Senior Airmen were promoted to Sergeant and granted NCO status after 12 months time in grade; this lateral promotion is no longer conferred and Senior Airmen compete directly for promotion to
Staff Sergeant. In today's Air Force, the term Sergeant refers to all Air Force NCOs up to and including
Chief Master Sergeant.
Police
Sergeant is also a commonly-used rank within United States
police departments. It is often the first rank above "officer" and represents the first level of management within the organization.
Types of Sergeant
"Sergeant" is generally the lowest rank of Sergeant, with individual militaries choosing some additional words to signify higher ranking individuals. What terms are used, and what seniority they signify, is to a great extent dependent on the individual armed service. The term "sergeant" is also used in many appointment titles.
Ranks
★
Chief Master Sergeant
★
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
★
Colour Sergeant
★
Command Sergeant Major
★
Company Sergeant
★
First Sergeant
★
Flight Sergeant
★
Gunnery Sergeant
★
Master Gunnery Sergeant
★
Master Sergeant
★
Senior Master Sergeant
★
Senior Sergeant
★
Senior Staff Sergeant
★
Sergeant First Class
★
Sergeant Major
★
Sergeant Major of the Army
★
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
★
Staff Sergeant
★
Station Sergeant
★
Technical Sergeant
Appointments
★
Academy Sergeant Major
★
Band Sergeant Major
★
Battery Quartermaster Sergeant
★
Battery Sergeant Major
★
Company Quartermaster Sergeant
★
Company Sergeant Major
★
First Sergeant
★
Garrison Sergeant Major
★
Lance Sergeant
★
Platoon Sergeant Major
★
Provost Sergeant
★
Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor
★
Recruiting Sergeant
★
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
★
Regimental Sergeant Major
★
Sergeant Major Instructor
★
Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant
★
Squadron Sergeant Major
★
Staff Sergeant Major
★
Troop Sergeant Major
External links
★
United States Army sergeant duties
★
U.S. Army Enlisted Rank Insignia - Criteria, Background, and Images
See also
★
Military unit
★
Military rank
★
Comparative military ranks
★
British Army Other Ranks rank insignia
★
RAF enlisted ranks
★
Irish Army Enlisted Rank Insignia
★
U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia
★
U.S. Marine Corps enlisted rank insignia
★
Regimental Sergeant Major
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