Sergeant

This article is about the rank of sergeant. For alternate meanings see Sergeant (disambiguation).

In most non-naval military 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. Although even the highest sergeant is officially lower in rank than the lowest lieutenant, an experienced sergeant will have considerable personal power and know how to exercise it. A wise junior officer will heed the advice of the senior sergeant.

U.S. military

In the U.S. Army, although there are many ranks of sergeant the lowest carries the title Sergeant, 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 Corporal and below Staff Sergeant, and is the second-lowest grade of non-commissioned officer.

Similarly, the U.S. Marine Corps has many ranks which carry the title of sergeant, the lowest of which is Sergeant. U.S.M.C. Sergeants are the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, just above Corporal and below Staff Sergeant.

British Military

The Sergeants (Sgt) of the British Army wear three point-down chevrons on their sleeves and usually serve as platoon or troop sergeants, or in specialist positions. Staff 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.

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 use the ranks of Sergeant and Colour Sergeant.

The Royal Air Force also has sergeants, wearing the same three chevrons. The next highest rank is 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. 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.

In the British Indian Army, the equivalent rank was Daffadar in cavalry regiments and Havildar in other units.

Related articles

• Military unit
• Military rank
• Comparative military ranks
• U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia
• U.S. Marine Corps enlisted rank insignia
• Regimental Sergeant Major