I AM A FIRST SERGEANT

My job is people -- Every One is My Business.  I dedicate my time and energy to their needs; their health, morale, discipline, and welfare.  I grow in strength by strengthening my people.  My job is done in faith; my people build faith.  My job is people -- EVERY ONE IS MY BUSINESS.

If the NCOs are the backbone of the armed forces, then the First Sergeant is the heart and soul. No other enlisted person carries near the responsibility and authority of the First Sergeant, no other person in the squadron or company, including the commissioned officers, possesses the First Sergeant's breath of experience, professional knowledge, or education. A First Sergeant MUST be an unqualified expert in promotions, demotions, military law, civilian law, counseling, discipline, leave & passes, evaluations, inspections, public speaking, billeting, PCS moves, TDYs, pay problems and procedures, child and family support, bad checks, budgeting, loans, requisitions, dress and appearance, awards and decorations, unit history, parades, ceremonies, family advocacy, medical benefits and requirements, re enlistments, retirements, weight control, professional military education, ID card privileges, off limit areas, restrictions, etc. The First Sergeant is the primary liaison with the commander on all matters concerning the enlisted corps. He or she is the eye and ear for the commander, and the mouth for the enlisted force. The First Sergeant carries a beeper or cell phone with him or her 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and never complains when he/she is called out at 2 AM to get a drunk out of jail, then called out again at 4 AM to settle a domestic dispute.

I am proud to be part of that brother and sisterhood. I spent 11 tough years as an Air Force First Sergeant. I was the "shirt" of a medical group, a security police squadron, an F-15 fighter squadron, a maintenance squadron, an A-10 fighter squadron, an HH-60 combat rescue squadron, and a supply squadron.

Army First Sergeant Insignia. All Army First Sergeants are in the rank of E-8. Official DOD image

The First Sergeant is so important, that all of the services, with the exception of the Navy and Coast Guard use them. The Navy and Coast Guard split the duties of the First Sergeant between various Chief Petty Officers, the COB (Chief of the Boat), and the Squadron XO's (Executive Officers).

In the Army and the Marines, the First Sergeant is a rank (E-8). In the Army, depending mostly upon your MOS, and other qualifications, when you are promoted to E-8, you become either a First Sergeant, or a Master Sergeant (who usually serves in a staff position). In the Army, the First Sergeant retains his or her original MOS. In other words, an Infantry MOS becomes an Infantry First Sergeant, a Medical MOS becomes a Medical First Sergeant, etc. In the Marine Corps, selective E-7s are chosen to become First Sergeants upon promotion to E-8. These selective few are then awarded a new MOS, and can be assigned first sergeant duties in any type of unit, regardless of their original MOS.

In the Air Force, the position of First Sergeant is a volunteer-only occupation, that can be held by an E-7, an E-8, or an E-9. In the Air Force, if a

Air Force First Sergeant Insignia. Unlike the Army and Marines, an Air Force first sergeant can be in the grades of E-7, E-8, or E-9. Official DOD images

senior NCO wishes to become a First Sergeant, they must first volunteer. After a records check, if selected, they must "shadow" another First Sergeant for several months. If they still wish to proceed, they meet a grueling board consisting of experienced field grade commanders, first sergeants, and the Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant. The average board lasts two hours, full of rapid-fire questions. If they pass the board, they attend the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. From that point on, they can hold the position of First Sergeant in any kind of squadron, and remain a First Sergeant until they are removed for cause, voluntarily return to their previous career field, or retire.

In all the services, however, you can note the first sergeant because of the diamond (or French lozenge), centered on the chevrons, which was first authorized for wear for First Sergeants in the Army in 1847.

The First Sergeant has always held a highly visible, distinctive, and sometimes notorious position in the military unit. While there is little written history and many obscure gaps, we are able to follow some of the evolution of the First Sergeant.

The 17th century Prussian Army appears to have been the starting point for what was later called the First Sergeant in the American Army. The Prussian Army Feldwebel, or Company Sergeant, by today's practice seems to have combined the duties of not only the First Sergeant, but of Sergeant Major as well. Standing at the top of the noncommissioned hierarchy of rank, they were the "Overseers" of the company's enlisted personnel. To this end, they kept the Hauptman, or Company Commander, informed of everything that went on in the company; whether NCOs were performing their duties in a satisfactory manner, that training was properly accomplished, and finally, that at the end of a busy day, all soldiers were accounted for in their quarters. They were the only noncommissioned officers allowed to

Marine Corps First Sergeant Insignia. Like the Army, all Marine Corps First Sergeants are in the grade of E-8. Official DOD image

strike a soldier; an especially disorderly soldier could be given three or four blows, with the Feldwebel's cane. They were forbidden to flog a soldier, and the Feldwebel who overstepped his authority in this manner would them self be pilloried. Moreover, they were to see that none of the NCOs beat their soldiers.

In setting up the American Army, General Washington relied heavily on the talents of General Baron Von Steuben. During this time, Von Steuben wrote what is referred to as the "Blue Book of Regulations." This "Blue Book" covered most of the organizational, administrative, and disciplinary details necessary to operate the Continental Army.

While Von Steubon outlined the duties of such NCOs as the Sergeant Major, Quartermaster Sergeant and other key NCOs it was the Company First Sergeant, the American Equivalent of the Prussian Feldwebel, that he directed most of his attention. This noncommissioned officer, chosen by officers of the company, was the linchpin of the company and the discipline of the unit. The conduct of the troops, their exactness in obeying orders and the regularity of their manners, would "in a large measure, depend upon the First Sergeant's vigilance." The First Sergeant therefore must be "intimately acquainted with the character of every soldier in the company and should take great pains to impress upon their minds the indispensable necessity of the strictest obedience as the foundation of order and regularity." Their tasks of maintaining the duty roster in an equitable manner, taking "the daily orders in a book and showing them to their officers, making the morning report to the captain of

"Unofficial" First Sergeant emblem. Image copyright © 1999 by Rod Powers

the state of the company in the form prescribed, and at the same time, acquainting them with anything material that may have happened in the company since the preceding report," all closely resembled the duties of the 17th century company sergeant.

The First Sergeant also kept a company descriptive book under the captain's supervision. These descriptive books listed the names, ages, heights, places of birth, and prior occupations of all enlisted in the company. The Army maintained the books until about the decade of the 20th century when they were finally replaced by the "Morning Report."

Since the First Sergeant was responsible for the entire company, he was, in Von Steuben's words, "not to go on duty, unless with the whole company, but is to be in camp quarters to answer any call that may be made."

On the march or on the battlefield, they were "Never to lead a platoon or section, but always to be a file closer in the formation of the company, their duty being in the company like the adjutant's in the regiment."

In the Army and Marines, the first sergeant is often referred to as "Top," or "Top Kick." The nickname has obvious roots in that the first sergeant is the "top" enlisted person in the unit, and a "kick in the pants" is a motivation tool (not literally, at least in today's military) to get the troops into gear. In the Air Force, a first sergeant is often referred to as "shirt." In spite of the fact that the Air Force is a fairly young service (1947), nobody seems to know where the nickname "shirt" originated (Note: Prospective first sergeants who are "shadowing" Air Force first sergeants as part of the selection process are known as "Under Shirts").

[Original Author of First Sergeant History Unknown. Updated by Rod Powers in 1999 & 2002)