The Command Sergeant Major carries out policies and standards of the performance, training, appearance, and conduct of enlisted personnel. He advises and initiates recommendations to the Commander and staff in matters pertaining to the local NCO support channel.

Perhaps slightly wiser and more experienced than the First Sergeant, he is ecpected to function completely without supervision. Like the old sage of times past, his counsel is expected to be calm, settled, and unequivovally accurate, but with an energy and enthusiasm that never wanes, even in the worst of times.

Assignable to any billet of the Army, the Command Sergeant Major is all those things, and more, of each of the preceding grades of rank.

The Sergeant Major is generally the key enlisted member of staff elements at levels higher than battalion. His experience and ability are equal to that of the Command Sergenat Major, but his sphere of influence regarding leadership is generally limited to those directly under his charge.

When you are talking about the First Sergeant you are talking about the life-blood of the Army. There can be no substitute of this position not any question of its importance. WHen they are exceptional, their units are exceptional, regardless of any single personality involved. Perhaps their rank insignia should be the keystone rather than the trasitional one depicted here. It is the First Sergeant at whom almost all unit operations merge. He holds formations, instructs platoon sergeants, advises the commander, and assists in training of all enlisted members.

He may swagger and appear, at times, somewhat of an exhibitionist, but he is not egotistical. He is proud of his unit and, understandably, wants others to be aware of his unit's success.

For the first time, the title of address for this grade is not Sergeant, but First Sergeant! There is a unique relationship of confidence and respect that exists between the First Sergeant and his Commander not found at any other level within the Army.

In the German Army, he is referred to as the father of the company--and that he is! The provider, the disciplinarian, the wise counselor, the tough and unbending foe, the confidant, the sounding board, everything that we need in a leader during our personal success or failure. The father of the company...

The Master Sergeant serves as the principal NCO in staff elements at battalion and often higher levels. Although not charges with the enormous leadership responsibilities of the First Sergeant, he is expected to dispatch his leadership and other duties with the same professionalism and to achieve the same results as the First Sergeant.

The position title of Platoon Sergeant is considered key in the command structure of the Army. The Platoon Sergeant generally has several Staff Sergeants who work under his direct leadership.

The Platoon Sergeant is the key assistant and advisor to the Platoon Leader. In the absence of the Platoon Leader, he commands the platoon. During the Vietnam era, he was affectionally referred to as the "Plat-Daddy" and although the term has since faded, his role remains that of the father of the platoon.

The Sergeant First Class may serve in a position subordinate to the Platoon Sergeant or he may serve as the NCOIC of his section with all the attendant responsibilities and duties fo the Platoon Sergeant.

Whether Platoon Sergeant or Sergeant First Class, this is the first level at which the term senior NCO properly applies. He generally has 15 to 18 years, or more, of military experience and is rightfully expected to bring that experience to bear in quick, accurate decisions that are in the best interest of the mission and the soldier.

The Platoon Sergeant is expected to embody all the traits of a leaser. Watching a successful Platoon Sergeant operate on a daily basis is an unforgettable experience. Ther, he is training his platoon or section in their collective tasks, her, he is checking maintenance. There, he is planning, executing, perpetual motion: a blur: the personification of a military leader and hot stuff.

The grade of rank closely parallels that of the Sergeant in duties and responsibilities, in fact, the basic duties and responsibilities of all the NCO ranks never change, bu there are differences, significant differences, between this step in the NCO structure and the precedin one.

Understanding these diferences is vital. The Staff Sergeant is a more excperienced leader of soldiers. He has considerable more time in the Army than the Sergeant. It is proper to expect that he can bring the benefits of that experience to bear in any situation and under all circumstances.

The major difference between the Staff Sergeant and the Sergeant is not, as often mistakenly believed, his authority but rather his sphere of influence. The Staff Sergeant is in daily contact with large numbers of soldiers and generally has more equipment and other property to maintain.

The Staff Sergeant will often have one or more Sergeants who work under his direct leadership. He is responsible for their continued successful development as well as that of other soldiers in his section, squad, or team.

More often than not, the lack of understnading of the function of this important NCO position by leaders is the cause of disruption and failure in small unit training.

If NCO's are "The Backbone" of the Army, then Staff Sergeants are the elements of which backbones are made. The complexities of the job of the Staff Sergeant increases as his responsibilities broaden. His technical competence is measured by SQT or other medium. His professional competence is measured by how well he can develop, maintain, and use the full range of human potential of his soldiers. His success, more than any other grade of the NCO rank, leads the path to the Army's success, and the footprints you will see behind those of out great military leaders are propably those of a Staff Sergeant, where he stood confident, proud, and eager to assist.

The Sergeant operates in an environment where sparks fly. He or she can accurately be described as being where the axe meets the stone. Although not the lowest level of rank where command is exercised, this level is the first at which enlisted soldiers are referred to as Sergeant, and of all the grades of the NCO, this one, very possible, has the greatest impact on the lower ranking soldiers. Privates, who care the basic manpower strength and the grade of the Army, generally have Sergeants as their NCO leader. It is the grade Sergeant that the Private will look to for example.

Like the next grade, the Staff Sergeant, the Sergeant is responsible for the individual training, personal appearance, and the cleanliness of their soldiers.

The Sergeant is also responsible for ensuring that:

       a. Each member of their unit is trained to competency in his or her MOS as prescribed in the appropriate soldier's manual.

       b. All government property issued to members of their units is properly maintained and accounted for at all times and discrepancies are promptly reported.

       c. While on duty status, they will be ready at all times to report to the location and activity of all members of their unit.

       d. Their unit is trained to function in its primary mission role.

       e. The authority of the Sergeant is equal to that of any other grade or rank of the NCO, often, however, a lack of delegation of authority by superiors improperly limits the Sergeant's ability to act. Profesionally competent leaders inherently command respect for their authority and the Sergeant must be unquestionably competent in order to carry out his mission correctly, accomplish each task, and care for his soldiers.

The rank of Sergeant is not a position for learning how to become a leader, no apprenticeship here. While certainly the new Sergeant will be developing new skills, strengthening old ones, and generally getting better, he is a Sergeant!!! And is, therefore, no less a professional than those grades of rank to follow.