First Sergeant First Sergeant is the name of a military rank used in some countries . Singapore . First Sergeant is a Specialist rank in the Singapore Armed Forces . First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists , ranking above Second Sergeant s , and below Staff Sergeant s . The rank insignia for a First Sergeant features the three chevrons pointing down shared by all Specialists , and two chevrons pointing up . In combat units , First Sergeants are often given the responsibility for independently - operating detachments of support weapons . They are often given instructional billets as well . Sweden . Förste sergeant is a new Swedish squad leader rank above Sergeant and reached after 23 to 29 months of total time in training and service . The rank is the most junior professional NCO rank ( OR6 ) and was established by the Swedish Armed Forces to align Swedish ranks better with NATO . United States . In the United States , First Sergeant is the title given to holders of certain ranks and positions within the United States Armed Forces , and generally serve as the senior enlisted advisor of a unit . While the specifics of the title may differ between the United States Army , Marine Corps and Air Force , all First Sergeants are non - commissioned officer s ( Staff non - commissioned officers in the Marine Corps ) and can be identified by the presence of a diamond shaped figure on their rank insignia . United States Army . In the United States Army , the rank of First Sergeant is above the rank of Master Sergeant and below the rank of Sergeant [ [ File : FirstSergeantStripesKhakiw . jpg | thumb | 300px ] ] Major . The rank is abbreviated as 1SG in the Army or 1stSgt in the Marine Corps . While superior in rank to Master Sergeant , it is the same pay grade ( E - 8 ) . Master Sergeants are laterally promoted to First Sergeant upon selection by the senior leadership at Battalion or higher depending on available positions ( " billets " ) and opportunities . Upon reassignment to a non - First Sergeant billet , the soldier reverts to their original rank of Master Sergeant . First Sergeants are generally the senior non - commissioned officers of company ( battery , troop ) sized units , and are unofficially but commonly referred to as " The First Shirt " , " Top " " Top Sergeant " , " Top Soldier " , " Top Asskicker " " Top Kick " , or " Top Hat " , due to their seniority and their position at the top of the company ' s enlisted ranks . They are sometimes referred to as " Second Hat " because the Company Commander may entrust them with important responsibilities , even over one of the company ' s lieutenant s . First Sergeants handle the leadership and professional development of their Non - Commissioned officers , manage the promotable soldiers within the company , and are the first step in an Article 15 ( Nonjudicial punishment ) proceeding , as well as the daily responsibilities of running the company / unit , commonly known as " Sergeant ' s Business " . Sergeant business is strictly accomplished without the input or interference of commissioned officers , such as the company commander , XO or platoon leaders . A First Sergeant holding or temporarily filling the position of Sergeant Major will be referred to as " Sergeant Major " . United States Marine Corps . In the United States Marine Corps , First Sergeant is one level below Sergeant Major and Master Gunnery Sergeant and is the next rank above Gunnery Sergeant . It is equal in grade to Master Sergeant , although the two ranks have different responsibilities . First Sergeant have a command responsibility while Master Sergeants have technical responsibilities . Unlike the First Sergeant and Master Sergeant programs in the U . S . Army , no lateral movement is possible between the two ranks in the Marine Corps . In the Marine Corps , when a Gunnery Sergeant gets promoted to First Sergeant , his MOS automatically is redesignated as " 8999 " . In their annual performance evaluations , called " fitness reports " , eligible Gunnery Sergeant s indicate whether they wish to be considered for promotion to Master Sergeant or First Sergeant . A First Sergeant is then eligible to be promoted to a Sergeant Major while a Master Sergeant would be on the promotional track for Master Gunnery Sergeant . The abbreviation for the rank of First Sergeant in the Marine Corps is " 1stSgt " . The grade of First Sergeant initially appeared in the Marine Corps in 1833 when Congress created the grade of Orderly Sergeant ; 30 billets of Orderly Sergeant were established . In 1872 the Marine Corps replaced the title of Orderly Sergeant with the title of First Sergeant . The rank of First Sergeant was another casualty of the rank realignment of 1947 . It was reestablished in 1955 as the second most senior grade , just behind Sergeant Major . United States Air Force . In the United States Air Force , First Sergeant is not a rank , but a special duty held by the senior enlisted advisor of a military unit who reports directly to the unit commander . This billet is held by individuals of pay grades E - 7 through E - 9 ( Master Sergeant , Senior Master Sergeant and Chief Master Sergeant ) , and is denoted on the rank insignia by a French lozenge , but is more often called a diamond device . Often referred to as the ' first shirt ' , or ' shirt ' , the First Sergeant is responsible for the morale , welfare , and conduct of all the enlisted members in a squadron and is the chief adviser to the squadron commander concerning the enlisted force . Most units have a Master Sergeant in this position , while larger units use Senior Master Sergeants and Chief Master Sergeants as First Sergeants . First Sergeant is also a cadet position held by a senior grade NCO at the squadron level in the Civil Air Patrol ( USAF Auxiliary ) . In keeping with USAF procedures the position of First Sergeant is also used in both Reserve Officer Training Corps ( ROTC ) and Junior Reserve Officers ' Training Corps ( JROTC ) . They perform the same function as in the USAF but to a less significant degree . In cadet programs , First Sergeants assist with drill procedures , morale control and report on squadron status .