THE FIRST SERGEANT

The primary responsibility of the Troop First Sergeant is sustaining the troop's ability to fight. He supervises the procurement and distribution of fuel, ammunition, food, water, clothing, equipment, replacements, and repair parts. He receives incoming personnel and assigns them to subordinate elements as needed. He is responsible for the medical evacuation of sick, injured, and wounded soldiers to the supporting medical treatment facility. He is also responsible for the evacuation of soldiers killed in action to the supporting graves registration collection point. He is also responsible for the recovery and evacuation of damaged combat equipment.

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 nor any question of its importance. When First Sergeants are exceptional, their units are exceptional, regardless of any other single personality involved. Perhaps their rank insignia should be the keystone rather than the traditional one depicted here. It is the First Sergeant at whom almost all unit operations merge. The First Sergeant holds formations, instructs Platoon Sergeants, advises the Commander, and assists in training of all enlisted members.

The First Sergeant may swagger and appear, at times, somewhat of an exhibitionist, but he is not egotistical. The First Sergeant is proud of the unit and, understandably, and 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 exits between the First Sergeant and the Commander not found at another level within the Army.

In the German Army, the First Sergeant is referred to as the "Father of the Company." 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.....