Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.

Australia

In the Australian Army, Staff Sergeant is usually a rank held by the Company Quartermaster Sergeant or the holders of other administrative roles. Staff Sergeants are always addressed as " Staff Sergeant" or "Staff", never as "Sergeant" as it degrades their rank. "Chief" is another nickname, usually for those who hold the Quartermaster's role. Staff Sergeant ranks are now slowly being phased out. A Staff Sergeant ranks above a Sergeant and below a Warrant Officer Class 2.

Singapore

A Staff Sergeant (SSG) in the Singapore Armed Forces ranks above 1st Sergeant (1SG) and below Master Sergeant (MSG). It is the second most senior Specialist (also known as non-commissioned officer) rank. The rank insignia is two point up and three point down chevrons, with a Singapore coat of arms in the middle.

Staff Sergeants usually fill senior specialist billets such as Company Sergeant Major. Staff Sergeants should not be addressed as "Sergeant", which would be reducing their rank. They are usually addressed as either "Staff" or "Encik" (a Malay term of respect).

In the Singapore Police Force, Staff Sergeants rank between Sergeants and Senior Staff Sergeants.

United Kingdom

In the British Army, Staff Sergeant (SSgt or S/Sgt) ranks above Sergeant and below Warrant Officer Class 2. The rank is given a NATO code of OR-7. The insignia is the monarch's crown above three downward pointing chevrons. In the Household Cavalry, the equivalent rank is Staff Corporal.

Staff Sergeants can also hold other appointments, such as Company Quartermaster Sergeant, and are usually known by that appointment if held. An infantry Staff Sergeant is always known as a Colour Sergeant, no matter what his appointment.

British Staff Sergeants are never referred to or addressed as "Sergeant", which would be reducing their rank, but are referred to and addressed as "Staff Sergeant" or "Staff" ("Staff Jones", for instance) or by their appointment or its abbreviation. In some cavalry regiments (e.g. the Queen's Royal Lancers ^*), a Staff Sergeant is addressed as "Sergeant Major" (probably because the rank was formerly Troop Sergeant Major). Quartermaster Sergeants are often addressed as "Q".

In the Royal Marines, the rank of Colour Sergeant is used instead. Flight Sergeant and Chief Technician are the Royal Air Force equivalents.

United States

Staff Sergeant (SSG) is E-6 rank in the U.S. Army, just above Sergeant and below Sergeant First Class, and is a non-commissioned officer. Staff Sergeants are generally placed in charge of squads, but can also act as platoon sergeants in the absence of a Sergeant First Class. The NATO code is OR-6.

Staff Sergeant (SSgt) is E-6 rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, just above Sergeant and below Gunnery Sergeant. A Marine Staff Sergeant differs from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force in that it is a staff non-commissioned officer rank.

Staff Sergeant (SSgt) is E-5 in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Airman and below Technical Sergeant, with a US Military Pay Grade of E-5. It is the Air Force's first non-commissioned officer rank as well as the first Air Force rank to which promotion is on a competitive basis. Senior Airmen are considered for promotion if they attain that rank on or before March 1st of that testing year (this is so that they will have a minimum of 6 months time-in-rank before the first promotion date of that testing year - September 1st). Staff Sergeants are expected to be technically proficient and function as first-line supervisors within a workcenter. After being selected for promotion Senior Airmen must attend Airman Leadership School, which teaches them basic leadership and how to write performance reports.

External links

United States Army Staff Sergeant duties

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Staff Sergeant

Australia

Singapore

United Kingdom

United States

External links

See also