Sergeant

Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt and capitalised when used as

Common military ranks in English
a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed Navies Armies Air forces
organizations, principally military and policing forces. Its Commissioned and Non-commissioned officers
origin is the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the Admiral of Field marshal or Marshal of
French term sergent. the fleet General of the Army the air force
Admiral General Air chief marshal
The term "sergeant" refers to a non-commissioned officer
Vice admiral Lieutenant general Air marshal
placed above the rank of a corporal and a police officer
immediately below a lieutenant or, in the UK below an Rear admiral Major general Air vice-marshal
Inspector.[1][2] In most armies the rank of sergeant Brigadier or
Commodore Air commodore
Brigadier general
corresponds to command of a squad (or section). In
Commonwealth armies, it is a more senior rank, Captain Colonel Group captain
corresponding roughly to a platoon second-in-command. Commander Lieutenant colonel Wing commander
In the United States Army, sergeant is a more junior rank Lieutenant Major or
Squadron leader
corresponding to a four-soldier fireteam leader. commander Commandant
Lieutenant Captain Flight lieutenant
More senior non-commissioned ranks are often variations Lieutenant or
Sub-lieutenant Flying officer
on sergeant, for example staff sergeant, first sergeant and First lieutenant
sergeant major. Ensign Second lieutenant Pilot officer
Midshipman Officer cadet Flight cadet
Many countries use sergeant rank, whether in English or
using a cognate with the same origin in another language. Enlisted grades
The equivalent rank in Arab armies is raqeeb, meaning Warrant officer or Warrant officer or
Warrant officer
Chief petty of ficer Sergeant major
"overseer" or "watcher".
Petty officer Sergeant Sergeant
Leading seaman Corporal Corporal
Seaman Private or Aircraftman
Contents Trooper
1 History TalkView
2 Types of sergeant
2.1 Ranks
2.2 Appointments
3 Current adaptations
3.1 Australia
3.2 Canada
3.3 Finland
3.4 France
3.5 Germany
3.6 Greece
3.7 Hong Kong
3.8 Indonesia
3.9 India and Pakistan
3.10 Ireland
3.11 Israel
3.12 Italy
3.13 Mexico
 3.14 Netherlands
3.15 New Zealand
3.16 Philippines
3.17 Poland
3.18 Russian Federation
3.19 Singapore
3.20 South Korea
3.21 Taiwan
3.22 Sweden
3.23 Turkey
3.24 United Kingdom
3.25 United States
3.26 Vietnam
4 See also
5 Notes

History
A Royal Air Force flight sergeant
In medieval European usage, a sergeant was simply any attendant or officer with
a protective duty. Any medieval knight or military order of knighthood might
have "sergeants-at-arms", meaning servants able to fight if needed. The etymology of the term is from Anglo-French sergant, serjant
"servant, valet, court official, soldier", from Middle Latin servientem "servant, vassal, soldier".

Later, a "soldier sergeant" was a man of what would now be thought of as the "middle class", fulfilling a slightly junior role to the
knight in the medieval hierarchy. Sergeants could fight either as heavy to light cavalry, or as well trained professional infantry, either
spearmen or crossbowmen. Most notable medieval mercenaries fell into the "sergeant" class, such as Flemish crossbowmen and
spearmen, who were seen as reliable quality troops. The ser
geant class was deemed to be 'worth half of a knight' in military value.

A specific kind of military sergeant was the serjeant-at-arms, one of a body of armed men retained by English lords and monarchs.
The title is now given to an officer in modern legislative bodies who is charged with keeping order during meetings and, if necessary,
forcibly removing disruptive members.

The term had also civilian applications quite distinct and dif
ferent from the military sergeant, though sharing the etymological origin -
for example the serjeant-at-law, historically an important and prestigious order of English lawyers.

Types of sergeant
"Sergeant" is generally the lowest rank of sergeant, with individual military entities 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 manyappointment titles.

Ranks Appointments
Chief master sergeant Academy sergeant major
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Band sergeant major
Colour sergeant Company quartermaster sergeant
Command sergeant major Company sergeant major
Company sergeant Drill Sergeant
First sergeant First sergeant
Flight sergeant Garrison sergeant major
Gunnery sergeant Lance sergeant
 Master gunnery sergeant Petty officer
Master sergeant Platoon sergeant
Senior master sergeant Platoon sergeant major
Senior sergeant Provost sergeant
Senior staff sergeant Quartermaster sergeant instructor
Sergeant first class Recruiting sergeant
Sergeant major Regimental quartermaster sergeant
Sergeant Major of the Army Regimental sergeant major
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sergeant major instructor
Staff sergeant Sergeant pilot
Station sergeant Squadron quartermaster sergeant
Technical sergeant Squadron sergeant major
Staff sergeant major
Troop sergeant major

Current adaptations
In most non-naval military or paramilitary organizations, the various grades of sergeant are non-commissioned officers (NCOs)
ranking above privates and corporals, and below warrant officers and commissioned officers. The responsibilities of a sergeant differ
from army to army. There are usually several ranks of sergeant, each corresponding to greater experience and responsibility for the
daily lives of the soldiers of larger units. 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. In country areas, sergeants are often in
charge of an entire station and its constabulary. Senior sergeants are usually in specialist areas and are in charge of sergeants and thus
act as middle management.

Australia
Sergeant (Sgt) is a rank in both the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air
Force. The ranks are equivalent to each other and the Royal Australian Navy rank of
petty officer.

Although the rank insignia of the RAAF rank of flight sergeant (Flt Sgt) and the
Australian Army rank of staff sergeant (SSgt) are identical, flight sergeant in fact
outranks the rank of staff sergeant in the classification of rank equivalencies. The
Australian Army rank of staff sergeant is now redundant and is no longer awarded,
due to being outside the rank equivalencies and the next promotional rank is warrant
officer class two. Chief petty officers and flight sergeants are not required to call a
warrant officer class two "sir" in accordance with Australian Defence Force
Regulations 1952 (Regulation 8). Army sergeant insignia

The rank of sergeant exists in all Australian police forces and is of higher ranking
than a constable or senior constable, but lower than aninspector.

The sergeant structure varies among state police forces, generally two sergeant ranks are commonly classed as non-commissioned
officers:

Sergeant (Sgt) (three chevrons); and

Senior sergeant (Sen Sgt) (three chevrons, crown surmounted by a laurel leaf)
South Australia Police has the additional rank of brevet sergeant (two chevrons below an inverted arrow head) which is an
authorization for a temporarily higher rank. A brevet ser
geant is less senior than a sergeant.
New South Wales Police Force has the additional rank of incremental sergeant (three chevrons and a
crown). This is an incremental progression, following appointment as a sergeant for seven years. An
incremental sergeant rank is less senior than a senior sergeant but is more senior than a sergeant.

Upon appointment as a sergeant or senior sergeant, the sergeant is given:

a warrant of appointment under the commissioner's hand and seal.

A navy blue backing (which replaces a light blue backing to the of
ficer's police badge)
A navy blue nameplate (which replaces a light blue nameplate)
A silver chinstrap positioned above his peaked cap on his headdress, replacing a black
chinstrap.
Within the NSWPF, sergeant is a team leader or supervisory rank, whilst the rank of senior sergeant is a
middle management rank with coordination responsibilities over human and physical resources.
The insignia of
All three sergeant ranks are informally referred to as "sergeant", "boss", or "sarge". However at the New an Australian
police sergeant
South Wales Police Academy, recruits must address all ranks of sergeants as "sergeant", and senior sergeant
as "senior sergeant".

Canada

Army
Sergeant (Sgt) (French: sergent or sgt) is an Army or Air Force non-commissioned
officer rank of the Canadian Armed Forces. Its naval equivalent is petty officer 2nd
class (French: matre de 2e classe). It is senior to the appointment of master corporal
and its equivalent naval appointment, master seaman, and junior to warrant officer
and its naval equivalent,petty officer 1st class. Sergeants and petty officers 2nd class
are the only senior non-commissioned officers in the Canadian Armed Forces, as
WOs, MWOs and CWOs are warrant officers, not senior NCOs in accordance with
the Queens Regulations and Orders. V
olume 1, Article 102 "Definitions".

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 three-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 thread on CADPAT slip-ons (army) or dark
blue thread on olive-drab slip-ons (air force) on theoperational dress uniform.

Colour sergeant in the Canadian Armed 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 (i.e. an infantry
platoon sergeant, or troop sergeant in an armoured unit). After unification, sergeants were downgraded in status to section
commander, a job previously held by corporals, and the former "platoon/troop sergeants" were replaced by "platoon/troop warrant
officers."

Police
Police forces across Canada also use the rank of sergeant and staff sergeant for senior non-commissioned officers above the rank of
constable or corporal. Except in the province of Quebec and in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the insignia for a police sergeant
is a three chevrons, worn point down. Staff sergeants rank above sergeants and are responsible for a unit or team within a station or
division. The insignia for a staff sergeant is three chevrons, worn point down surmounted by a royal crown. In the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, the insignia for a sergeant is three chevrons, worn point down surmounted by a royal crown (which is the insignia of
a staff sergeant in other Canadian police forces). The insignia of a staff sergeant in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is four
chevrons worn point up.

Finland

Army
Kersantti is in Finnish Defence Forces the second and highest non-commissioned officer rank that a
conscript can possibly reach before entering the reserve. The beginning and most common non-
commissioned officer rank is alikersantti (lit. "lower sergeant"); see corporal.

Only a few non-commissioned officers in each conscript company reach the higher rank of full three-
chevron kersantti. There's no difference between the 4-month squad leader training and service time of
alikersantti and kersantti; all start their squad leader tour with the lower rank and the optional promotion is
The collar and
based on superior's assessment of individual performance and intended duties in the wartime organization; sleeve insignia
special roles such as that of platoon sergeant or company first sergeant are typically reserved for kersantti of kersantti
and upwards.

A corporal can also obtain the rank of sergeant (and possibly above, the next rank being four-chevron ylikersantti, which is
comparable to staff sergeant) by taking some military refresher courses while in reserve, or by enlisting to (short-term) professional
service in the military.

France

Army
French sergeant ranks are used by the air force, engineers, infantry, Foreign Legion, Troupes de marine, communications,
administrative service, and Gendarmerie mobile. Other branches of the army and gendarmerie use the equivalent ranks of marchal
des logis ("marshal of lodgings" in English) instead of ser
geant ranks.

There were three sergeant ranks in France, although the most junior, contract sergeant, has been superseded by student sub-officer
now that conscription has been suspended. When the army contained a large proportion of conscripts, contract sergeant was very
common as a rank for conscripts considered to have leadership potential. In general the term sergeant was used for both contract
sergeant and career sergeant. Contract sergeant was classified as the lowest sub-officer[3] rank, the rank below being chief corporal.

Student sub-officer, lve sous-officier (formerly "contract sergeant",sergent sous contrat): One chevron, gold or
silver.[4]
"Contract sergeant" was a rank used for junior sergeants, either conscripts or reservists. The rank insignia is used
nowadays for students. After a certain amount of time, a student sub-of
ficer is entitled to be addressed "sergeant".
 Sergeant, sergent (formerly "career sergeant",sergent de carrire): Two chevrons.
Normal sergeant rank, though normally directly recruited from civilian life into the sub-
officer ranks, so the rank implies less experience and higher academic requirements
than for a commonwealth sergeant. As a typical rank for the command of a squad
(typically eight soldiers), this rank is roughly equivalent to a commonwealth corporal
or a US staff sergeant.
Principal sergeant, sergent-chef: Three chevrons.
With long service, a sergeant's promotion to chief sergeant is automatic.ypically
T
being a platoon second-in-command, the holder of this rank is therefore equivalent to
a commonwealth sergeant or a US s" ergeant first class". The next rank up is adjutant.

Sergeant Principal
Germany
sergeant
(Infantry)
Army
In modern-day usage within the German Bundeswehr the rank of sergeant is known as
Unteroffizier, historically it was the German army rank of corporal.[5] The rank has existed since the 18th century, with
usage as a title dating back to the Middle Ages. The ranks of the Unteroffiziere (NCOs) are divided into two categories,
the Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee making up the cadre of junior non-commissioned officers and the Unteroffiziere mit
Portepee making up the cadre of senior non-commissioned officers. The duties of a sergeant Unteroffizier can vary
greatly with its rank: In a typical Bundeswehr company, the Unteroffizier ohne Portepee (OR-5) are only leading one
Zugtrupp (squad) whereas the position of Zugfhrer (platoon leader) are held by a higher ranked NCOs (typically
Hauptfeldwebel OR-7) with according training. The platoon's "second in command", is usually held by a "Feldwebel /
Oberfeldwebel" (OR-6).

The German Army rank order is: Unteroffizier OR-5, Fahnenjunker OR-5, Stabsunteroffizier OR-5, Feldwebel OR-6, Fhnrich OR-
6, Oberfeldwebel OR-6, Hauptfeldwebel OR-7, Oberfhnrich OR-7, Stabsfeldwebel OR-8 and Oberstabsfeldwebel OR-9.

Navy
Maat is a naval rank of the German navy equivalent to the army rank of Unteroffizier. A Maat is considered the
equivalent of a junior petty officer in the navies of many other nations.

The term is derived from the low German mt (comrade). Via the Dutch language, the word became a nautical term and
described the assistant to a deck officer. Since the second half of the 17th century Maate were the lowest class of non-
commissioned officers aboard a warship.

The German Navy rank order is: Maat OR-5, Seekadett OR-5, Obermaat OR-5, Bootsmann OR-6, Fhnrich OR-6, Oberbootsmann
OR-6, Hauptbootsmann OR-7, Oberfhnrich OR-7, Stabsbootsmann OR-8 and Oberstabsbootsmann OR-9.

Greece
The rank of sergeant in the Hellenic armed forces corresponds to NATO grade OR-6 according to STANAG 2116, and it is called the
following in the three branches: lochas (Greek: ) in the land army, sminas (Greek: ) in the air force and kelefsts
(Greek: ) in the navy. There are differentiations depending on permanence and studies of the personnel. In the land army,
the insignia are colored differently depending on the command in which the personnel belongs, e.g., red-orange for infantry and
green-blue for armoured cavalry.
 Insignia of sergeants in the Hellenic armed forces
Branch Land Army Air Force Navy
Category

Conscripts

Temporary

Permanent

Hong Kong

Army and air force

During British rule, the rank of sergeant was held by members of the RAF (flight sergeant or sergeant (air crew)) or British Army
serving in Hong Kong.

The rank was held by local enlisted men with the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) and Royal Hong Kong Regiment
(The Volunteers) Regimental Police.

Police
Hong Kong Police Force sergeants are in charge of a section or command a vehicle on patrol. Their rank is symbolized by three
chevrons and worn on their arm and/or lapel. The rank is also used by the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force (station sergeant
(auxiliary) and sergeant (auxiliary)). There also sergeants in the Hong Kong Police Force Pipe Band, who carry their rank from their
regular policing duties.

Others
Two other non-military organizations use the ranks of sergeant:

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps

Sergeant instructor
Cadet sergeant
Hong Kong Adventure Corps

Staff sergeant
Sergeant
Cadet staff sergeant
Cadet sergeant
Indonesia

Military

Indonesian Army Indonesian Navy Indonesian Air Force

In the Indonesian military, the rank "sergeant" is known as sersan. There are four levels, which are: second sergeant (sersan

dua), first sergeant (sersan satu), master sergeant (sersan kepala), and sergeant major (sersan mayor).

Police force
In the ranking system of the Indonesian police force, this rank is known as brigadir or "brigadier" which is roughly equivalent to the
police constable ranks.

Indonesian Police
brigadier rank

India and Pakistan

Police
In many metropolitan police forces in both India and Pakistan, a ser
geant (called armed sub-inspectors in some states) is equivalent to
a police sub-inspector. They are subordinate to police inspectors in rank but are senior to assistant sub-inspectors, head constables,
naiks (corporals) and police constables in Indian police forces. In British-India days, the practice began of transferring British Army
NCOs to Indian constabularies to teach them foot and rifle drill and weapons handling (called "musketry") and to maintain
disciplinary standards. This is the historical origin of the rank of sergeant in the forces of todays Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata
(their equivalents in state forces are called armed sub-inspectors). Sergeants have always served in the non-investigative branches of
the 'protective police' [e.g., armed and mounted branches; port, river and traffic police, reserve forces, etc.] and one per police station.
Their use is focused more upon security and public order situations than investigating routine domestic, commercial and street crime
which is the purview of the investigative branches of the 'detective police' where their counterparts are called sub-inspectors. Head
constables (not to be confused with sergeants) wear three chevrons (rank insignia) point-down on their sleeve or three bars on their
epaulettes.

Army
In the British Indian Army, the equivalent rank to sergeant was daffadar in cavalry regiments and havaldar in other units. These
ranks are still used in the armies ofIndia and Pakistan.

Air Force
In the Indian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force, the rank of sergeant is above a corporal and below of junior warrant officer. The
rank insignia is a three pointed-down chevron. The rank of flight sergeant is now obsolete with the renomination given as junior
warrant officer.

The rank of a sergeant is designated as asenior non-commissioned officer.

Ranks of the Indian Air Force enlisted ranks

Junior commissioned officer Enlisted

Shoulder

Arm

Sleeve

Master Junior
Warrant Leading
Rank warrant warrant Sergeant Corporal Aircraftsman
officer aircraftsman
officer officer

Navy
In the Indian Navy and the Pakistan Navy, the rank of petty officer is roughly equivalent to sergeant.

Ireland

Army
Sergeant (Sgt) (sirsint in Gaelach) is the second rank of non-commissioned officer within the Irish Army. The Naval
equivalent is petty officer.

The army rank insignia consists of three winged chevrons (or "stripes"). The service dress insignia consists of three
wavy red chevrons 9 cm 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 in
fantry corps.

Sergeant is also the second rank of non-commissioned officer 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 offlight sergeant and flight quartermaster sergeant.

Police
Sergeant is the second rank in theGarda Sochna, above Garda and below Inspector.

Sergeants appointed as detectives use the rank title 'Detective Sergeant (DS)'. They do not out rank regular Sergeants, the 'Detective'
prefix indicates that they are permanently allocated to detective duties.

Israel

Defense forces

For further information, see Israel Defense Forces ranks.

In the Israel Defense Forces, soldiers are promoted from corporal to sergeant (, originally the Hebrew
abbreviation for non-commissioned officer) after approximately 18 months of service, if they performed
their duties appropriately during this time, and did not have disciplinary problems. Soldiers who take a
commander's course may become sergeants earlier. Sergeants get a symbolic pay raise of 1.80 NIS. The Hebrew name for the rank is
saml originated as an acronym for segen mi-khutz la-minyan ("supernumerary lieutenant") (inspired by the
abbreviation "NCO"). Nowadays is no longer treated as an acronym or an abbreviation[6] (in Hebrew).

Israel Defense Forces ranks : hogrim - enlisted

IDF NCO
Rank Turai Rav turai Samal Samal rishon
NATO OR2 OR3 OR4
" "
Abbreviation
Turai Rabat Samal Samar
Corresponding
Private Corporal Sergeant Staff sergeant
Rank

Insignia

More details at Israel Defense Forces ranks& IDF 2012 - Ranks (idf.il, English)

Italy

Army
In the Italian Army the rank of sergente, ("sergeant"), is the first rank of the warrant officers sergeant role, equivalent to NATO OR-5
grade. The two next senior ranks are sergente maggiore (literally "major sergeant") and sergente maggiore capo (literally "chief
major sergeant"). For paratroopers, the ranks ofsergente and sergente maggiore are bordered in blue.

Mexico

Army
In the Mexican Army the corporal is junior tosargento segundo (second sergeant) and sargento primero (first sergeant).
Netherlands

See Military ranks of the Dutch armed forces

The Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy and Royal Netherlands Air Force all use the rank of sergeant. Within the
cavalry, artillery and in the Royal Marechaussee a sergeant is called a "wachtmeester". Within the air force and navy a sergeant is
identified by three chevrons. In the army a sergeant has one gold chevron (or silver if awachtmeester).

New Zealand
Only the Royal New Zealand Air Forceand New Zealand Army use sergeant as a rank, identifiable by the three chevrons. The Royal
New Zealand Navy has the equivalent rank of petty officer. Promotion to sergeant in the New Zealand Defence Force is usually
around nine to ten years service and commands considerable responsibility and an increase in pay
.

Philippines
The rank of sergeant (Spanish: sargento) existed during the Philippine Revolution. The badge of rank was two chevrons sewn onto
the Rayadillo sleeve.

The ranks of sergeant, staff sergeant, master sergeant and chief master sergeant are today used in the Philippine Army, Philippine
Marine Corps and Philippine Air Force. Rank insignia is very similar to that used in the United States. First chief master sergeant is
an appointment rather than a rank and is somewhat equivalent to a ser
geant major in the United States.

Sergeant, Army and Marine Sergeant, Air Force, service

Corps, battledress collar dress insignia
insignia

Poland

Army
In the Polish Army rank insignia system there are two grades of sergeant: sierant (OR-6 in NATO code) and starszy
sierant (OR-7). The rank first appeared in Henryk Dbrowski's Polish Legions in Italy in the late 18th century. Both
ranks are used in the infantry, armoured forces, air force. In the cavalry the equivalent is wachmistrz (literally
wachtmeister). In the artillery the equivalent is ogniomistrz (literally firemaster). In the Polish Navy, the equivalent is
bosman (literally boatswain).

Russian Federation

Army
There are three ranks in the Russian Armed Forces which are explicitly sergeant ranks: junior sergeant ( , mladshy
serzhant), sergeant (, serzhant) and senior sergeant ( , starshy serzhant). There is also a rank called
"starshina" (), which is often translated as "master ser
geant". These ranks are inherited from the army of theSoviet Union.
In the Soviet army, most sergeants (with the exception of the aforementioned starshina) were not career non-commissioned officers
but specially trained conscripts; the rank of starshina was reserved for career non-commissioned officers. In the modern Russian
army, there are attempts to change this system and make most or all sergeants career non-commissioned officers; they are met with
limited success.

Junior sergeant OR-5 Sergeant OR-6 Senior sergeant OR-7

Police
Unlike most police forces of the world, in the Russian police sergeant is a starting, entry-level rank. Ranks of "policeman" or "senior
policeman" are not used in Russia (the rank of "private of police" technically exists but is rare, and most recruits become sergeants
right away). It is divided into three grades the same way as the army ser
geant rank.

Singapore

Armed forces
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 the Specialist Cadet School, formerly known as the 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 third sergeant to staff sergeant 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, or
being charged for offences.

Third sergeants are usually section commanders. They may also hold certain logistics or administrative posts such as company
quartermaster sergeant. Second sergeants usually serve as platoon sergeants. First sergeants, staff sergeants and master sergeants
usually serve as company sergeant majors or administrative specialists atcompany level or higher.

Paramilitary force
In the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Singapore Prison Service and Immigration and Checkpoints
Authority, the rank of sergeant lies between corporal and staff sergeant. Unlike most police forces in the world, the rank of sergeant
has been changed since the late 1990s to an entry-level rank for Diploma/GCE "A" Level holders rather than a supervisory one.

Uniformed Youth Organsiations

In the National Police Cadet Corps, National Cadet Corps (Singapore) and the National Civil Defence Cadet Corps, the rank of
Sergeant is attained in the second or third year out of the 4 to 5 years a secondary school student is in the organisation. To attain the
rank, cadets must attain certain proficiency badges which will be specified by their individual units. For the National Police Cadet
Corps, the rank of Sergeant is usually the rank where most cadets are appointed as Non-Commissioned Officers in their units,
however, some cadets are appointed at corporal rank.

Sri Lanka

Army
Sergeant is used as a rank in theSri Lanka Army. It is senior to corporal and junior to staff sergeant. It is denoted by three chevrons.

Air Force
Sergeant is also used as a rank in the Sri Lanka Air Force. It is senior to corporal and junior to flight sergeant. It is denoted by three
chevrons.

Police
The rank of sergeant exists in the Sri Lanka Police Service. It is senior to constable but junior tosub-inspector.

Police sergeant class 1 (PS)

Police sergeant class 2 (PS)

South Korea
South Korean armed forces share the same rank system to each other's (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine). So here we only note the
army.

Army
In the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, byeong-jang (Korean: ) is the highest enlisted rank below non-
commissioned officers. It is typically attained after 17 months of service as an enlisted personnel. The rank
insignia for 'byung-jangis four horizontal bars.

In addition, there are four non-commissioned officer ranks above byeong-jang: ha-sa (Korean: ), jung-sa (Korean: ), sang-
sa (Korean: ), and won-sa (Korean: ). Ha-sa is equivalent to U.S. Army's rank of staff sergeant and its rank is one chevron.
Jung-sa is equivalent to the U.S. Army's sergeant first class and its rank is denoted by two chevrons. Sang-sa is equivalent to the U.S.
Army master sergeant and its rank is denoted by three chevrons. Won-sa, the most senior non-commissioned officer rank, is denoted
by three chevrons and a star above the chevrons and is equivalent to the U.S. Army ser
geant major rank.

Taiwan
Sergeant (Chinese: ; pinyin: Shng Shi) of the R.O.C Armed Forces in Taiwan ranks above Staff Sergeant
and below Master Sergeant Third Class,[7] making it different from the armed forces of other countries where
sergeant ranks lower than staff sergeant. The rank of Sergeant exists in the Army, Air Force and the Marine
Corps, and is equivalent to the Petty officer 1st Class in the Navy.[8]

Sweden

Army
In Sweden, sergeant is a military rank above korpral ("corporal") and below frste sergeant ("first sergeant"). The insignia of rank
was changed in 2009 to resemble American and British ser
geants.
Turkey

Army
In Turkey, the rank of avu (Sergeant) is above the rank of Onba (Corporal).

United Kingdom

Royal Marines and British Army

A sergeant in the Royal Marines and 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 (in technical units) or colour sergeant
(In the Royal Marines and the infantry), 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 only in the Foot
Guards and Honourable Artillery Company, where it is awarded to all corporals. A lance-sergeant wears three chevrons and belongs
to the sergeants' mess, however, functionally he remains a corporal rather than an acting sergeant (e.g., he will typically command a
section). In the Household Cavalry, the equivalent appointment islance-corporal of horse.

A sergeant in infantry regiments usually holds the appointment of "platoon sergeant" and is second in command of a platoon. In the
Royal Marines a sergeant is sometimes the commander of a platoon-sized Close Combat Rifle Troop[9]. Until 1953, the official
spelling was "serjeant", although "sergeant" was already commonly in use by the First World War and the official spelling was rarely
used outside official documents. The Rifles, however, still always use the spelling "serjeant", as didThe Light Infantry before them.

Royal Air Force

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 in technical trades there was a rank of senior technician which was the equivalent of a
sergeant. Senior technicians wore their chevrons point up.

On 1 July 1946, aircrew sergeants were re-designated 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.

The spelling "serjeant" was never used in the Royal Air Force.

Police

Within the British police, sergeant is the first supervisory rank. Sergeant is senior to the rank of constable, and junior to inspector.
The rank is mostly operational, meaning that sergeants are directly concerned with day-to-day policing. Uniformed sergeants are
often responsible for supervising a shift of constables and allocating duties to them. Prisoner-handling stations will also have one or
more separate custody sergeants who are responsible for authorising and supervising the detention of arrested persons in accordance
with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, along with the daily management and effective running of the custody suite.
Detective sergeants are equal in rank to their uniformed counterparts; only the prefix 'detective' identifies
them as having completed at least one of the various detective training courses authorising them to conduct
and/or manage investigations into serious and/or complex crime. In British police services, not all officers
deployed in plain clothes are detectives, and not all detectives are deployed within the CID. Thus, it is not
unusual for detectives to supervise uniformed officers and vice versa.

Uniformed sergeants' epaulettes feature three down-pointed chevrons, below a personal identification
number. Sergeants (and constables) in service with the Metropolitan Police responsible for law
enforcement in Greater London, have a "shoulder number", analogous to the collar number of regional
Patrol
forces, which is distinct from the warrant number on their warrant card. This is a simply a management
sergeant's
device to help order what is by far the largest police service in the UK. In the case of the Police Service of epaulette
Northern Ireland, sergeants' chevrons point upwards.[10] This is derived from the practices of the Royal
Irish Constabulary, who were a mounted police force and followed a tradition of upward-pointing ranks
.

Until the abolition of first-class detective sergeants in 1973, Metropolitan Police detective sergeants when initially promoted were
officially known as second-class detective sergeants.

Unlike the military and allowing for regional variations, addressing a police sergeant as "sarge" is not always seen as incorrect.
Additionally in some forces (especially the Metropolitan Police) sergeants are referred to as "skippers" and again allowing for
regional variations, context and expectations it is not necessarily wrong for a constable to address his/her sergeant as "skip" or
"skipper".

United States

Army
In the United States Army, although there are several ranks of sergeant, the lowest carries the
title of sergeant. Sergeant is the enlisted rank in the U.S. Army above specialist and corporal
and below staff sergeant, and is the second-lowest grade of non-commissioned officer. The
rank was often nicknamed "buck sergeant" to distinguish it from other senior grades of
sergeants.[11] Sergeants in the infantry, for example, lead fire teams of four men. There are two
fire teams in a 9-man rifle squad, which is led by a staff sergeant. Sergeants are normally
section and team leaders and are a critical link in the NCO channel. These non-commissioned
U.S. Army U.S. Army
officers live and work with their soldiers every day and are responsible for their health, welfare sergeant's sergeant's
and safety. These section and team leaders ensure that their soldiers meet standards in personal sleeve insignia shoulder
appearance and teach them to maintain and account for their individual and unit equipment and insignia
property. The NCO enforces standards and develops and trains soldiers daily in their military
occupational specialty and unit mission.[12]

In the United States Army, sergeants, staff sergeants, sergeants first class, and master sergeants are typically referred to in short form
by their subordinates as "sergeant", except in some training environments. Higher ranked sergeants are referred to as "first sergeant"
in the case of first sergeants and "sergeant major" in the case of sergeants major, command sergeants major and the Sergeant Major of
the Army.

Drill sergeants are typically addressed as "drill sergeant" regardless of rank, though this term is used depending on post policy. When
serving a tour as drill sergeant this is indicated by the traditional campaign hat, commonly referred to as the "brown round" or
"smokey bear". In late 1971, Headquarters, Continental Army Command (CONARC) received approval from the Chief of Staf
f of the
Army for permission to include women in the Drill Sergeant Program. In February 1972, six Woman Army Corps (WAC)
noncommissioned officers from Fort McClellan, Alabama, were enrolled in the Drill Sergeant Program, at Fort Jackson, South
Carolina(ArmyStudyGuide.com,n.d.). Upon graduation, the women were authorized to wear the female drill sergeant campaign hat.
Today, women drill sergeants are also referred to as "Drill Sergeant", regardless of their rank. Both men and women drill sergeants
will always wear the drill sergeant badge indicating they completed the required training program at an authorized drill sergeant
academy. The army drill sergeant badge appears on the right breast pocket(ArmyStudyGuide.com, n.d.).

The rank of sergeant was inherited from its use in the British Army and American colonial regulars and militia of the several
colonies. The sergeant has historically been the senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank immediately subordinate to an officer
and superior to corporal. Commonly, in the British Army and American colonial forces there was one sergeant for each officer with
the sergeants serving as the senior NCO of a section/squad (the two terms were often used interchangeably), or platoon/company (the
platoon, in the British and American colonial single-platoon system simply being the company formed for battle, much as the
battalion was the regiment deployed in battle formation).

In British and American colonial forces, infantry companies usually had three officers and three sergeants, with the sergeants
primary role in combat being to protect the officers. In battle formation, the company was marched into formation as a single platoon
of three ranks consisting of the rank and file (i.e., the corporals and privates), also referred to as the bayonet strength, in order to
present volley fire by rank or massed bayonets for assault or defense. Therefore, the sergeants played little direct leadership role in
combat as the massed company/platoon was under the direct control of the of
ficers.

Beginning in 1775, the American Continental Army began to organize under the Continental European (i.e., Prussian-French) model,
which in addition to organizing infantry companies into two platoons and forming each platoon into two ranks by section/squad, vice
the three ranks of the British model, gave a more direct leadership role to sergeants by assigning two sergeants to each platoon as
section/squad leaders. Sergeants began to transition from serving as battlefield body-guards of aristocratic officers into being
combat leaders integral to the tactical situation. In 1781, a fifth sergeant was authorized in each company to serve as company first
sergeant, although a separate grade of rank was not established until 1831. However, from 1775, each regiment/battalion (these two
terms were also used interchangeable during this time period as mentioned above) was authorized a sergeant major and a
quartermaster sergeant.

While the number of sergeants (including the first sergeant) authorized in an infantry company fluctuated from three to five during
various periods of history, by the American Civil War it was relatively fixed at four sergeants, a first sergeant, and a company
quartermaster sergeant (added in 1861). In 1898 the infantry company was expanded to three platoons, increasing the number of
sergeants in each company to six, along with a first sergeant and a company quartermaster sergeant. In 1905 the company
quartermaster sergeant was renamed as companysupply sergeant and a mess sergeant was added to the company.

In 1917, the Army reorganized under the square division plan. The size of units from company up increased significantly and there
were now four rifle platoons and 12 sergeants per company, along with three staff NCOs (first sergeant, supply sergeant, and mess
sergeant). While there were still two sergeants assigned as section leaders in each platoon, a new position of assistant to platoon
commander was filled by the senior ranking sergeant of the three assigned to assist the lieutenant in leading the unit.

The 1939 triangular division reorganization eliminated sections in rifle platoons. In 1940, rifle squad leaders, who had been
corporals, became sergeants (with two staff sergeants one as a platoon leader and the other as a platoon guide in the platoon
headquarters; the lieutenant was still titled platoon commander), with three squads/sergeants per rifle platoon. In 1942, sergeants
became assistant squad leaders, with staff sergeants as squad leaders (and a technical sergeant and a staff sergeant, as platoon leader
and platoon guide, respectively, in the platoon headquarters).

In 1943 platoon leaders (technical sergeants) were re-designated as platoon sergeants, while platoon commanders (officers usually
second or first lieutenants) became platoon leaders, with only company and higher-level commanding officers known as a
"commander". (Of note, while the U.S. Marine Corps followed the Army's lead in re-designating the senior NCO in a platoon from
"assistant to platoon commander" to platoon leader and then as the platoon sergeant, the Marine Corps continues to style an officer
commanding a platoon as "platoon commander". In 1948, squad leaders again became sergeants (with corporals as assistant squad
leaders) and finally, in 1958, sergeants became fire-team leaders under a staff sergeant as squad leader.

American Civil War

The rank was used by both the Union Army and the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. The same rank insignia was
used similarly by both armies. Both varied the color of the stripes by assigning red for artillery, yellow for cavalry, blue for infantry
and later in the war, green for sharpshooters. Some militia units varied these colors even further and had other colors including black
and red with gold piping for various units. The rank was just below first sergeant and just above corporal. They usually commanded a
section of twenty men with two corporals under him. As the war progressed these men were often in command of platoons and even
companies as the units were depleted of officers during combat.

Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corpshas several ranks that include the title of "sergeant", the lowest of which is sergeant
(E-5). Marine sergeants are the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, ranking above corporal and below staff
sergeant, and are often referred to as the backbone of the Marine Corps.

Infantry sergeants typically serve as squad leaders in either a rifle or weapons platoon or as the platoon guide (i.e.,
assistant platoon sergeant) in a rifle platoon.

Once a Marine attains the rank of sergeant, promotions no longer derive from a composite and cutting score-based system; instead,
they receive a Fitness Report, or FITREP (i.e., a formal written evaluation, grading attributes from appearance and bearing to
leadership and technical proficiency).

In the Marine Corps, enlisted ranks above sergeant are referred to as staff non-commissioned officers, or SNCOs. These ranks, staff
sergeant through sergeant major, are always referred to by their full rank and never merely as "ser
geant".

Staff sergeant is usually the lowest enlisted rank that reports directly to an officer. In the infantry this would typically be as a rifle
platoon sergeant or as a section leader in a weapons platoon (i.e., machine guns, mortars, anti-tank/assault weapons).

Infantry gunnery sergeants usually serve as platoon sergeants for weapons platoons before moving up to a company gunnery sergeant
billet. This position is filled by an experienced gunnery sergeant who is typically in charge of coordinating operations, logistics, and
individual training for a company-sized group of Marines (approximately 180 personnel). Owing to their involvement in the
management of unit supply/re-supply the "Company Gunny" is colloquially known to be in charge of the "3 Bs": beans, bullets, and
band-aids. Gunnery sergeants are commonly addressed as "Gunny", but never officially. Use of this informality by subordinates is
permitted solely at the rank holder's discretion.

Infantry master sergeants typically serve as the operations chief of a weapons company (in lieu of the Company Gunnery Sergeant
located in the rifle companies) or as the assistant operations chief in the headquarters of an infantry regiment. Master sergeants are
addressed as either "Master Sergeant" or "Top" at the preference of the incumbent and dependent upon the commonly accepted
practice within the MOS community. For example, in Intelligence (the 02 MOS field), use of "Top" is common; in the Infantry (the
03 MOS field) its use is nearly unheard of and aggressively discouraged.

First sergeants serve as the senior enlisted advisor (SEA) to a company or battery commander and are always addressed by their full
rank title as "First Sergeant".

Infantry master gunnery sergeants serve as the operations chief in the headquarters of an infantry battalion or higher level
organization (viz., Marine Expeditionary Unit, regiment, Marine Expeditionary Brigade, division, Marine Expeditionary Force) and
follow the same verbal address protocol as master ser
geants but are commonly referred to as "Master Guns", or "Master Gunny".

Sergeants major serve as the SEA to a battalion or squadron, or higher level, commander, and are always addressed by their full rank
title as "sergeant major".

The history of the rank of sergeant in the USMC roughly parallels that of the USA until 1942. From 1775 until WWII the Marine
Corps used essentially the same rank and organizational structure as its common British and colonial forebearers with the Army, as
well as the later Continental and U.S. Armies. In 1942, as the Army modified its triangular-division infantry organization to best fight
in the European/North African/Middle Eastern theatre, the Marine Corps began modifying the triangular-division plan to best employ
its amphibious-warfare doctrine in the Pacific Theatre. This meant that for the Corps, squad leaders would remain as sergeants and
the rifle squad would be sub-divided into three four
-man fire teams, each led by a corporal.

Air Force
The U.S. Air Force title "Sergeant" (E-4, equivalent to an Army or Marine Corporal and Navy/Coast Guard
Petty Officer Third Class), commonly and informally referred to as "buck sergeant", was used beginning in
October 1967 in the hope that the prestige of being an NCO would increase the re-enlistment rate. The title
was phased out again in the 1990s.
Old U.S. Air
Force Sergeant
From 1952 through October 1967, E4s were titled "Airman First Class" (A/1c) and there was no rank titled
rank insignia.
"Sergeant", though A/1cs were often called "sarge" or "sergeant" informally. During the period when the E4
title was "Sergeant", senior airmen, earlier known as Airmen Second Class (A/2c, pay grade E3), were
promoted to sergeant and granted non-commissioned officer status after 12 months time in grade; this lateral promotion is no longer
conferred and senior airmen compete directly for promotion to staff sergeant. The current title for airmen at the E4 grade is "Senior
Airman". From 1976 - 1995) senior airman rank insignia had a subdued central star (light blue vice silver for sergeant and above), as
did airman first class (E3) and airman (E2) (Airman Basic, E1, has no rank insignia).

In today's Air Force, the term sergeant refers to all Air Force non-commissioned officers up to senior master sergeant (E-8). An
airman who has achieved the rank of chief master sergeant (E-9) is referred to as "Chief". Those in the grade of staff sergeant (E-5)
and technical sergeant (E-6) are referred to as non-commissioned officers, while those in the grade of master sergeant (E-7) through
chief master sergeant (E-9) are referred to as senior non-commissioned officers.

Police departments and prisons

Sergeant is also a commonly used rank within United States police departments. It ranks above "officer" and
"corporal", and it represents the first level of management within the organization. Most major departments,
including the Atlanta Police Department, Baltimore Police Department, Chicago Police Department, Dallas Police
Department, Detroit Police Department, Houston Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Maryland
State Police, Miami-Dade Police Department, Michigan State Police, New Jersey State Police, New Orleans Police
Department, New York State Police, New York Police Department, Philadelphia Police Department, San Diego
Police Department, San Jose Police Department, Seattle Police Departmentand the Virginia State Police have the rank of sergeant.

The rank of sergeant is also often used in American prisons. It is a supervisory rank above the rank-and-fileprison officer.

Vietnam
In Vietnam People's Army, sergeant (trung s) is the second highest rank of non-commissioned officer. Sergeant is below master
sergeant and above corporal.

See also
Media related to Sergeant at Wikimedia Commons
Comparative military ranks
Military rank
Military unit

Notes
1. "UK Police Rank Structure | PoliceUk.com"(https://policeuk.com/police_ranks.php). policeuk.com. Retrieved
2017-11-09.
 2. "sergeant" (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sergeant). www.dictionary.com. dictionary.com. Retrieved 12 March
2016.
3. The French military, as many others, does not use the term "non-commissioned officer" but instead sous-officier,
meaning "sub-officer" (compare to Germanunteroffizier).
4. The color of the chevrons of the sergeant depends on his unit: the vast majority of infantry units use gold, but a few
,
such as the chasseurs alpins, use silver.
5. Duden; Origin and meaning of "Korporal", in German.[1] (http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Korporal)
6. Avraham Akavia, "Milon le-munkhey tzava" (1951), p. 220, 270; Avraham Even-Shoshan, "Ha-milon ha-khadash"
(1967), vol. 4., p. 1814 ; Yaakov Kna'ani, "Otzar ha-lashon ha-ivrit" (1972), p. 4078; Zeev Shiff, Eitan Habber,
"Leksikon le-bitkhon Yisrael" (1976), p. 114; "Milon Sapir" (ed. Eitan Avnian) (1998), vol. 5, p. 2019; Avraham Even-
Shoshan, "Milon Even-Shoshan be-shisha krakhim" (2003),ISBN 965-517-059-4, vol. 4, p. 1302; "Entziklopedya
Karta" (5th edition, 2004),ISBN 965-220-534-6, p. 409; "Milon Ariel" (ed. prof. Daniel Sivan and prof. Maya
Fruchtman) (2007), ISBN 978-965-515-009-4, p. 765.
7. "Act of Commission for Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Armed Forces Commission Act for Of
ficers
and Noncommissioned Officers of the Armed Forces ()" (http://law.mnd.gov.tw/FLAWDAT
0202.asp?lsid=FL005419). Laws and Regulations Database , Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.
Archived (https://
archive.is/PBV1) from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2016-12-28.
8. "Chinese-English translation chart
( )" (http://mildp.kcg.gov.tw/Bilingual-Contrast.php). Military Service
Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government. Archived (https://archive.is/N77Y4)from the original on 2016-12-28. Retrieved
2016-12-28.
9. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/brochures/royal-marines/ranks-and-roles
10. "Join PSNI" (http://www.joinpsni.co.uk/resources/1/PSNI%20Badges%20of%20Rank%20pictures.doc). Retrieved
15 September 2016.
11. p.21 Morton, Jerry Reluctant Lieutenant: From Basic to OCS in the SixtiesTexas A&M University Press, 13/04/2004
12. Non-Commissioned Officer GuideFM 7-22.7 page 2-22

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