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Sergeant (normally abbreviated to Sgt) is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.

In most armies^{[clarification needed]} the rank of sergeant corresponds to command of a squad (or section). In Commonwealth armies, it is a more senior rank, corresponding roughly to a platoon second-in-command. In the United States Army, sergeant is a more junior rank, corresponding to a four-man fireteam leader.

More senior non-commissioned ranks are often variations on sergeant, for instance staff sergeant, sergeant first class, master sergeant, first sergeant and sergeant major. The spelling serjeant is used in a few regiments of the British Army.

Usage[link]

In most non-naval military or paramilitary organizations, the various grades of sergeant are non-commissioned officers (NCOs) ranking above privates and corporals, and below warrant officers and commissioned officers. The responsibilities of a sergeant differ from army to army. There are usually several ranks of sergeant, each corresponding to greater experience and responsibility for the daily lives of the soldiers of larger units.

In medieval European usage, a sergeant was simply any attendant or officer with a protective duty. The etymology of the term is from Anglo-French sergant, serjant, from Latin servient, serviens, to serve.

Australia[link]

Defence forces[link]

Sergeant (SGT) is a rank in both the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force. The ranks are equivalent to each other and the Royal Australian Navy rank of petty officer.

Although the rank insignia of the RAAF rank of flight sergeant (FSGT) and the Australian Army rank of staff sergeant (SSG) are identical, flight sergeant in fact outranks the rank of staff sergeant in the classification of rank equivalencies. The Australian Army rank of staff sergeant is now redundant and is no longer awarded, due to being outside the rank equivalencies and the next promotional rank is warrant officer class two. The ranks of chief petty officer, warrant officer class two and flight sergeant fall in-line with US Enlisted Rank Eight (E-8). Chief petty officers and flight sergeants should provide the courtesy of calling a warrant officer class two "sir", as the Warrant Class Two holds the Queen's Warrant.

Police[link]

Police sergeant insignia

The rank of sergeant exists in all Australian police forces and is more senior than a constable or senior constable, but less senior than an inspector.

There are generally two sergeant ranks which are classed as non-commissioned officers:

• Sergeant (SGT) (three chevrons); and
• Senior sergeant (SENSGT) (three chevrons, crown surmounted by a laurel leaf)

Some state police forces have slightly different variations of the sergeant structure.

• New South Wales Police Force, for example, have the additional rank of incremental sergeant (SGT) (three chevrons and a crown). This is an incremental progression, following appointment as a sergeant for 7 years. An incremental sergeant rank is less senior than a senior sergeant but is more senior than a sergeant. Upon appointment as a sergeant or senior sergeant, the sergeant is given a warrant of appointment under the commissioner's hand and seal. In addition, the sergeant is given a navy blue backing (which replaces a light blue backing to the officer's police badge), a navy blue name plate (which replaces a light blue nameplate), and a silver chin strap positioned above his peaked cap on his headdress, replacing a black chinstrap.

• South Australia Police have the additional rank of brevet sergeant (two chevrons below an inverted arrow head) which is an authorization for a temporarily higher rank. A brevet sergeant is less senior than a sergeant.

All three sergeant ranks are informally referred to as "sergeant", "boss", or "sarge". However at the New South Wales Police College, recruits must address all ranks of sergeants as "sergeant" and this is rigidly enforced by members of the NSW Police College Professional Standards Unit.

Sergeants are usually team leaders in charge of an entire team of constables to senior constables at large stations, to being in charge of sectors involving several police stations. In country areas, sergeants are often in charge of an entire station and its constabulary. Senior sergeants are usually in specialist areas and are in charge of sergeants and thus act as middle management.

Canada[link]

Army[link]

Sergeant (Sgt) (French: sergent or sgt) is an Army or Air Force non-commissioned officer rank of the Canadian Forces. Its naval equivalent is petty officer 2nd class (French: maître de 2e classe). It is senior to the appointment of master corporal and its equivalent naval appointment, master seaman, and junior to warrant officer and its naval equivalent, petty officer 1st class. Sergeants and petty officers 2nd class together make up the cadre of senior non-commissioned officers.

In army units, sergeants usually serve as section commanders; they may often be called to fill positions normally held by warrant officers, such as platoon or troop warrant, company quartermaster sergeant, chief clerk, etc.

The rank insignia of a sergeant is a three-bar chevron, worn point down, surmounted by a maple leaf. Embroidered rank badges are worn in "CF gold" thread on rifle green melton, stitched to the upper sleeves of the service dress jacket; as miniature gold metal and rifle-green enamel badges on the collars of the army dress shirt and army outerwear jackets; in "old-gold" thread on air force blue slip-ons on air force shirts, sweaters, and coats; and in tan thread on CADPAT slip-ons (army) or dark blue thread on olive-drab slip-ons (air force) on the operational dress uniform.

Colour sergeant in the Canadian Forces is not a rank of sergeant, but a warrant officer in one of the two Foot Guards regiments (the Governor General's Foot Guards and the Canadian Grenadier Guards). Likewise, a sergeant-major (including regimental sergeant-major) is not a sergeant rank, but an appointment held by a master warrant officer or chief warrant officer.

Sergeants generally mess and billet with warrant officers, master warrant officers, and chief warrant officers, and their naval counterparts, chief petty officers and petty officers. Their mess on military bases or installations is generally named the warrant officers' and sergeants' mess.

Historically, the rank of sergeant was severely downgraded after unification of the three services in 1968. An army sergeant before unification was generally employed in supervisory positions, such as the second in command of a platoon sized unit (i.e. an infantry platoon sergeant, or troop sergeant in an armoured unit). After unification sergeants were downgraded in status to section commander, a job previously held by corporals, and the former "platoon/troop sergeant"s were replaced by "platoon/troop warrant officers."

Police[link]

Police forces across Canada also use the rank of sergeant and staff sergeant for senior non-commissioned officers above the rank of constable or corporal. Except in the province of Quebec and in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the insignia for a police sergeant is a three chevrons, worn point down. Staff sergeants rank above sergeants and are responsible for a unit or team within a station or division. The insignia for a staff sergeant is three chevrons, worn point down surmounted by a royal crown. In the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the insignia for a sergeant is three chevrons, worn point down surmounted by a royal crown (which is insignia of a staff sergeant in other Canadian police forces). The insignia of a staff sergeant in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is four chevrons worn point up.

Finland[link]

Army[link]

Kersantti is in Finnish Defence Forces the second and highest non-commissioned officer rank that a conscript can possibly reach before entering the reserve. The beginning and most common non-commissioned officer rank is alikersantti (lit. "lower sergeant"); see corporal.

Only a few non-commissioned officers in each conscript company reach the higher rank of full three-chevron kersantti. There's no difference between the 4-month squad leader training and service time of alikersantti and kersantti; all start their squad leader tour with the lower rank and the optional promotion is based on superior's assessment of individual performance and intended duties in the war-time organization; special roles such as that of platoon sergeant or company first sergeant are typically reserved for kersantti and upwards.

A corporal can also obtain the rank of sergeant (and possibly above, the next rank being four-chevron ylikersantti, which is comparable to staff sergeant) by taking some military refresher courses while in reserve, or by enlisting to (short-term) professional service in the military.

France[link]

Army[link]

There are three sergeant ranks in France, although the most junior, contract sergeant, is rare now that conscription has been suspended. In general the term sergeant is used for both contract sergeant and career sergeant. Contract sergeant is classified as the lowest NCO^[1] rank, the rank below being chief corporal.

• Contract sergeant (sergent sous contrat): One chevron, gold or silver.^[2]
  A rank used for junior sergeants, either conscripts or reservists. Junior to commonwealth sergeant but senior to commonwealth corporal. The rank insignia is used nowadays for NCOs-in-training.

• Career sergeant (Sergent de carrière): Two chevrons.
  Normal sergeant rank, though normally directly recruited from civilian life into this rank, so the rank implies less experience than for a commonwealth sergeant. Normally simply referred to as sergeant, dropping the "de carrière". With long service, promotion to chief sergeant is automatic. Equivalent to a US sergeant. Roughly equivalent to, but slightly junior to, a commonwealth sergeant.

• Chief sergeant (Sergent-chef): Three chevrons.
  With long service, a sergeant's promotion to chief sergeant is automatic. This rank corresponds exactly to a US staff sergeant. There is no commonwealth equivalent, this rank lying between commonwealth staff sergeant and commonwealth sergeant. The rank may be said to be roughly equivalent to, but perhaps slightly superior to, a commonwealth sergeant. The next rank up is adjutant.

French sergeant ranks are used by the entire air force, by the engineers, the infantry, the Foreign Legion, the Troupes de marine, the communications, the administration, all part of the French Army, and the Gendarmerie mobile, part of the Gendarmerie Nationale. Other corps in the army and the gendarmerie use three equivalent ranks of maréchal des logis ("marshal of lodgings" in English) instead.

Germany[link]

Army[link]

In German the rank of sergeant is known as Feldwebel. The rank has existed since the 18th century, with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. One important difference between sergeant and Feldwebel exists: in a typical Bundeswehr company, only one Zug (platoon) - the Alpha platoon, is under the command of a (junior) officer, while the other Zugführer (platoon leader) positions are held by Feldwebel-ranked NCOs (typically Hauptfeldwebel) with according training.

In the modern German Army, Feldwebel and Oberfeldwebel have a NATO rank code of OR-6, with Unteroffizier (historically considered generically equivalent to corporal) and Stabsunteroffizier having a rank code of OR-5.

The rank order is: Feldwebel, Fähnrich, Oberfeldwebel, Hauptfeldwebel, Oberfähnrich, Stabsfeldwebel and Oberstabsfeldwebel.

Navy[link]

In the German Navy the rank order is: Bootsmann,Fähnrich zur See, Oberbootsmann, Hauptbootsmann, Oberfähnrich zur See, Stabsbootsmann and Oberstabsbootsmann.

Hong Kong[link]

Army and air force[link]

During British rule, the rank of sergeant was held by members of the RAF (flight sergeant or sergeant (air crew)) or British Army serving in Hong Kong.

The rank was held by local enlisted men with the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) and Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) Regimental Police.

Police[link]

Hong Kong Police Force sergeants are in charge of a section or commander of a vehicle on patrol. Their ranks is symbolized by three chevrons and worn on their arm and/or lapel. The rank is also used by the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force (station sergeant (auxiliary) and sergeant (auxiliary)). There also sergeants in the Hong Kong Police Force Pipe Band, who carry their rank from their regular policing duties.

Others[link]

Two other non-military organizations use the ranks of sergeant:

• Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps

• • Sergeant instructor
  • Cadet sergeant

• Hong Kong Adventure Corps also used the rank of sergeant:

• • Staff sergeant
  • Sergeant
  • Cadet staff sergeant
  • Cadet sergeant

India and Pakistan[link]

Police[link]

In many metropolitan police forces in both India and Pakistan e.g. Kolkata Police, a sergeant is equivalent to police head constable and senior to police constable in the Indian police. Head constables or police sergeant wear three point-down chevrons on their sleeve or three bars on their epaulettes.

Army[link]

In the British Indian Army, the equivalent rank to sergeant was daffadar in cavalry regiments and havildar in other units. These ranks are still used in the armies of India and Pakistan.

Air Force[link]

In the Indian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force, the rank of sergeant is above a corporal and below of junior warrant officer. The rank insignia is a three pointed-down chevron. The rank of flight sergeant is now obsolete with the responsibilities given to junior warrant officers.

The rank of sergeant is a senior non-commissioned officer

Navy[link]

In the Indian Navy and the Pakistan Navy, the rank of petty officer is roughly equivalent to sergeant.

Ireland[link]

Army[link]

Sergeant (Sgt) (sáirsint in Irish) is the second rank of non-commissioned officer within the Irish Army. The Naval equivalent is petty officer.

The army rank insignia consists of three winged chevrons (or "stripes"). The service dress insignia consists of three wavy red chevrons 9 cm wide bordered in yellow. The main infantry role of a sergeant is as second-in-command of a platoon or commander of a fire support section of a weapons platoon, such as an anti-tank or mortar platoon. Another role is that of company clerk and instructor. There are higher ranks of company sergeant and company quartermaster sergeant. Artillery sergeants are usually assigned as detachment and section commanders, as well as in administrative roles. The difference in roles of sergeant and corporal in the artillery corps is not as clearly defined as in the infantry corps.

Sergeant is also the second rank of non-commissioned officer in the Irish Air Corps. Before 1994, the Air Corps was considered part of the army and wore army uniforms with distinct corps badges, but the same rank insignia. With the introduction of a unique Air Corps blue uniform in 1994, the same rank markings in a white colour were worn, before the introduction of a new three-chevron with wing rank marking. There are higher ranks of flight sergeant and flight quartermaster sergeant.

Police[link]

Sergeant is the second rank in the Garda Síochána.

Israel[link]

Defense forces[link]

In the Israel Defense Forces, soldiers are promoted from corporal to sergeant (Samál, originally the Hebrew abbreviation for non-commissioned officer) after approximately 18 months of service, if they performed their duties appropriately during this time, and did not have disciplinary problems. Soldiers who take a commander's course may become sergeants earlier. Sergeants get a symbolic pay raise of 1.80 NIS.

Italy[link]

Army[link]

In the Italian Army the rank of sergente, ("sergeant"), is the first rank of the warrant officers sergeant role, equivalent to NATO OR-5 grade. The two next senior ranks are sergente maggiore (literally "major sergeant") and sergente maggiore capo (literally "chief major sergeant"). For paratroopers, the ranks of sergente and sergente maggiore are bordered in blue.

Mexico[link]

Army[link]

In the Mexican Army the cabo (corporal) is junior to sargento segundo (second sergeant) and sargento primero (first sergeant).

New Zealand[link]

Only the Royal New Zealand Air Force and New Zealand Army use sergeant as a rank, identifiable by the three chevrons. The Royal New Zealand Navy has the equivalent rank of petty officer. Promotion to sergeant in the New Zealand Defence Force is usually around nine to ten years service and commands considerable responsibility and an increase in pay.

Philippines[link]

Army[link]

The ranks of enlisted personnel in Filipino are just the same as their U.S. counterparts but, they never use "specialist", "sergeant first class", "first sergeant" (for Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force except the Philippine Marine Corps), "lance corporal", "gunnery sergeant", "master gunnery sergeant" in the Philippine Army and Marine Corps. They simply start to address their ranks from private second class up to sergeant major. Sergeant majors in the AFP are only appointments rather than ranks.

Air Force[link]

In the Philippine Air Force, the rank of sergeant is used from sergeant up to chief master sergeant, the same as in its U.S. counterparts.

Poland[link]

Army[link]

In the Polish Army rank insignia system there are two grades of sergeant: sierżant (OR-6 in NATO code) and starszy sierżant (OR-7). The rank first appeared in Henryk Dąbrowski's Polish Legions in Italy in the late 18th century. Both ranks are used in the infantry, armoured forces, air force and cavalry. In the artillery the equivalent is ogniomistrz (literally firemaster). In the Polish Navy, the equivalent is bosman (literally boatswain).

Singapore[link]

Armed forces[link]

In the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), there are five different grades of sergeant: third sergeant (3SG), second sergeant (2SG), first sergeant (1SG), staff sergeant (SSG), and master sergeant (MSG). Sergeants are considered specialists in the SAF. They are equivalent to the non-commissioned officers of other militaries.

Soldiers must complete their specialist course at the Specialist Cadet School, formerly known as the School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC) or other training institutes before being promoted to third sergeant. While active duty national servicemen may be promoted to second sergeant, most personnel holding ranks above that are career soldiers.^{[citation needed]}

Promotion from third sergeant to staff sergeant takes an average of 6 years, although there are many factors which may cause a soldier's promotion to cease. These factors include failure to pass an annual physical fitness proficiency test, poor performance, or being charged for offences.^{[citation needed]}

Third sergeants are usually section commanders. They may also hold certain logistics or administrative posts such as company quartermaster sergeant. Second sergeants usually serve as platoon sergeants. First sergeants, staff sergeants and master sergeants usually serve as company sergeant majors or administrative specialists at company level or higher.^{[citation needed]}

Paramilitary force[link]

In the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Singapore Prison Service and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the rank of sergeant lies between corporal and staff sergeant.

Sri Lanka[link]

Army[link]

Sergeant (Sgt) is used as a rank in the Sri Lanka Army. It is senior to corporal and junior to staff sergeant. It is denoted by three chevrons.

Air Force[link]

Sergeant (Sgt) is also used as a rank in the Sri Lanka Air Force. It is senior to corporal and junior to flight sergeant. It is denoted by three chevrons.

Police[link]

The rank of sergeant exists in the Sri Lanka Police Service. It is senior to constable but junior to sub-inspector. There are several grades which are classed as non-gazetted officers:

• Police sergeant class 1 (PS)
• Police sergeant class 2 (PS)

South Korea[link]

Army[link]

In the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, byeong-jang (병장) is equivalent to US Army's rank of sergeant. It is typically attained after 15–18 months of service as an enlisted personnel. The rank insignia for 'byung-jang is four horizontal bars.

In addition, there are four non-commissioned officer ranks above byeong-jang: ha-sa (하사), jung-sa (중사), sang-sa (상사), and won-sa (원사). Ha-sa is equivalent to US Army's rank of staff sergeant and its rank is one chevron. Jung-sa is equivalent to US Army's sergeant first class and its rank is denoted by two chevrons. Sang-sa is equivalent to the US Army master sergeant and its rank is denoted by three chevrons. Won-sa, the most senior non-commissioned officer rank, is denoted by three chevrons and a star above the chevrons and is equivalent to the US Army sergeant major rank.

Army	Navy	Airforce

Sweden[link]

Army[link]

In Sweden, sergeant is a military rank above korpral ("corporal") and below förste sergeant ("first sergeant"). The insignia of rank was changed in 2009 to resemble American and British sergeants.

United Kingdom[link]

Police[link]

Within the British police, sergeant is the first supervisory rank. Sergeant is senior to the rank of constable, and junior to inspector. The rank is mostly operational, meaning that sergeants are directly concerned with day-to-day policing. Uniformed sergeants are often responsible for supervising a shift of constables and allocating duties to them. Large stations have a separate custody sergeant who is responsible for authorising detention of arrested persons under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, along with effective running of the custody suite.

Plain clothes detective sergeants are equal in rank to their uniformed counterparts, the prefix 'detective' identifies them as being trained in criminal investigations and part of or attached to CID.

Uniformed sergeants' epaulettes feature three down-pointed chevrons, above a personal identification number. Sergeants in service with the Metropolitan Police, which is responsible for law enforcement in Greater London, also have a divisional call sign attached to the epaulette, due to the size of the force.

Until the abolition of first class detective sergeants in 1973, Metropolitan Police detective sergeants were officially known as second class detective sergeants.

Unlike in the military, addressing a police Sergeant as "sarge" is not seen as incorrect. Constables in some forces (including the Metropolitan Police) refer to their sergeants as "skipper".

As of 1 September 2010 (2010 -09-01)^[update] the annual salary for newly-promoted sergeants is of £36,519, rising to £41,040 after four years as a sergeant.^[3]

In the case of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, sergeants' chevrons point upwards.^[4] This is derived from the practices of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who were a mounted police force and followed a tradition of upward-pointing ranks^{[citation needed]}.

Royal Marines and Army[link]

A sergeant (Sgt) in the Royal Marines and British Army wears three point-down chevrons on their sleeve and usually serves as a platoon or troop sergeant, or in a specialist position. Staff sergeant (in technical units) or colour sergeant (In the Royal Marines and the infantry), is the next most senior rank, above which come warrant officers. The Household Cavalry use the rank of corporal of horse instead, the only regiments to preserve the old cavalry tradition of having corporals but not sergeants.

A lance-sergeant (LSgt) was formerly a corporal acting in the capacity of a sergeant. The appointment now survives only in the Foot Guards and Honourable Artillery Company, where it is awarded to all corporals, a lance-sergeant wears three chevrons and belongs to the sergeants' mess, however, functionally he remains a corporal rather than an acting sergeant (e.g., he will typically command a section). In the Household Cavalry, the equivalent appointment is lance-corporal of horse.

A sergeant in infantry regiments usually holds the appointment of "platoon sergeant" and is second in command of a platoon. The Rifles still use the pre-1953 spelling "serjeant".

Air force[link]

The Royal Air Force also has the rank of sergeant, wearing the same three chevrons. The rank lies between corporal and flight sergeant (or chief technician for technicians and musicians).

Between 1950 and 1964 in technical trades there was a rank of senior technician which was the equivalent of a sergeant. Senior technicians wore their chevrons point up.

On 1 July 1946, aircrew sergeants were re-designated as aircrew IV, III or II, replacing the chevrons with one, two or three six-pointed stars within a wreath and surmounted by an eagle. This was unpopular and in 1950 they returned to the old rank, but have worn an eagle above their chevrons ever since.

Sergeants of the Royal Flying Corps wore a four-bladed propeller above their chevrons.

United States[link]

Army[link]

In the United States Army, although there are several ranks of sergeant, the lowest carries the title of sergeant (SGT). Sergeant is the enlisted rank in the U.S. Army above specialist and corporal and below staff sergeant, and is the second-lowest grade of non-commissioned officer. The rank was often nicknammed buck sergeant to distinguish it from other senior grades of sergeants.^[5]. Sergeants in the infantry, for example, lead fire teams of four men. There are two fire teams in a 9-man rifle squad, which is led by a staff sergeant.

In the United States Army, sergeants, staff sergeants, sergeants first class, and master sergeants are typically referred to in short form by their subordinates as "sergeant", except in some training environments, or "first sergeant" in the case of first sergeants and "sergeant major" in the case of sergeants major, command sergeants major and the Sergeant Major of the Army. However, it is considered a good manner to address both E-7 and junior E-8 by their full rank time allowing or always when they do request it^{[citation needed]}.

Drill sergeants are typically addressed as "drill sergeant" regardless of rank, though this term is used depending on post policy. When serving a tour as drill sergeant this is indicated by the traditional campaign hat, commonly referred to as the "brown round" or "smokey bear".^{[citation needed]} The drill sergeant will always wear the drill sergeant badge indicating he completed the school. The army drill sergeant badge appears on the right breast pocket.

American Civil War[link]

The rank was used by both the Union Army and the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. The same rank insignia was used similarly by both armies. Both varied the color of the stripes by assigning red for artillery, yellow for cavalry, blue for infantry and later in the war, green for sharpshooters. Some militia units varied these colors even further and had other colors including black and red with gold piping for various units. The rank was just below first sergeant and just above corporal. They usually commanded a section of twenty men with two corporals under him. As the war progressed these men were often in command of platoons and even companies as the units were depleted of officers during combat.

Marine Corps[link]

The United States Marine Corps has several ranks that carry the title of sergeant, the lowest of which is Sergeant (Sgt). Marine Sergeants are the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, just above Corporal and below Staff Sergeant. Once a Marine reaches Sergeant, their promotion no longer derives from a composite or cutting score; instead, they receive a Fitrep (Fitness Report). Sergeants serve as squad leaders in an infantry company while Staff Sergeants serve the billet of "Platoon Sergeant", supervising squad leaders and the platoon as a whole, and are second in command under the platoon commander.

In the Marine Corps, enlisted ranks above Sergeant are referred to as staff non-commissioned officers, known informally as "non-coms". These ranks, Staff Sergeant through Sergeant Major, are always referred to by their full rank and never merely as "sergeant". Gunnery Sergeants are commonly addressed as simply "gunny" informally.

Master Sergeants are addressed as "master sergeant" or "top" at the preference of the Marine wearing the rank and dependent on the MOS community. Master Gunnery Sergeants follow the same protocol but are commonly referred to as "master guns", or "master gunny".

Air Force[link]

The U.S. Air Force rank of sergeant (E-4) was phased out in the 1990s. Previously, senior airmen were promoted to sergeant and granted non-commissioned officer status after 12 months time in grade; this lateral promotion is no longer conferred and senior airmen compete directly for promotion to staff sergeant. The old rank of sergeant was commonly referred to in the Air Force as "buck sergeant". In today's Air Force, the term sergeant refers to all Air Force non-commissioned officers up to senior master sergeant (E-8). An airman who has achieved the rank of chief master sergeant (E-9) is referred to as "chief". This does not distract, however, from the differentiation between junior and senior non-commissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force. In the U.S. Air Force, non-commissioned officers in the grade of staff sergeant (E-5) and technical sergeant (E-6) are referred to as non-commissioned officers, while those in the grade of master sergeant (E-7) through chief master sergeant (E-9) are referred to as senior non-commissioned officers. The attainment of senior non-commissioned officer status confers additional responsibilities and obligations beyond those of non-commissioned officers, such as the ability to be the senior rater for those below senior non-commissioned officer status. In this way, the U.S. Air Force places great responsibility upon its senior non-commissioned officer corps to mentor and develop future leaders.

Police and corrections[link]

Sergeant is also a commonly-used rank within United States police departments. It ranks above "officer" and "corporal", and it represents the first level of management within the organization. The New York State Police, Chicago Police Department, Philadelphia Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Houston Police Department, San Diego Police Department, Miami-Dade Police Department, Atlanta Police Department and the New York Police Department have the rank of sergeant.

The rank of sergeant is often used in corrections. It is a supervisory rank above the rank-and-file corrections officer.

Vietnam[link]

In Vietnam People's Army, sergeant (trung sĩ) is the second highest rank of non-commissioned officer. Sergeant is below master sergeant and above corporal.

Types of sergeant[link]

"Sergeant" is generally the lowest rank of sergeant, with individual military entities choosing some additional words to signify higher ranking individuals. What terms are used, and what seniority they signify, is to a great extent dependent on the individual armed service. The term "sergeant" is also used in many appointment titles.

See also[link]

• Comparative military ranks
• Military rank
• Military unit

Notes[link]

Talay Riley (born July 10, 1990) is a British singer signed to record label Sony Music. Riley began his musical career after featuring on rapper Chipmunk's single "Look for Me". He is due to release his fourth single, Make You Mine on August 28, 2011. ^[1]

Personal life[link]

Talay Riley grew up in East London and attended St. Bonaventure's secondary school in Forest Gate. He continued further education in the joint sixth form: St. Angela's and St. Bonaventure's (also situated in Forest Gate). He was first exposed to the pop music of the early 1990s by his older brother and sister. 20-year-old urban-pop breakout star Talay Riley first remembers singing when he was five. As a boy growing up in East London, music was always around him, and he was first exposed to the pop music of the early 1990s by his older brother and sister. He doesn’t remember it, but he’s constantly reminded of moments in front of the bathroom mirror singing along to their MC Hammer CDs.

Talay’s aim is for nothing lower than the stars, naming Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce and James Brown as his greatest inspirations. But he has always been a talent hungry for a twist, and he proudly claims a strong country influence from artists like Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts in album tracks like ‘Missing You’. But he also went further, going out and studying the biggest names in indie and rock from Coldplay to The Beatles in the hope of stitching together a truly universal sound. “I knew I wanted to branch over,” he explains, “I didn’t just want to be the typical R&B black guy which I thought was what people would expect from me. So I took it upon myself to listen to all that stuff, I sat down and taught myself to enjoy it and after a while it became natural.”^{[2][dead link]}

Career[link]

At the age of 18 Talay Riley signed his first major publishing deal with Global Publishing due to his No1 co-written UK single "Oopsy Daisy". His first artist appearance in 2009, when he appeared on rapper Chipmunk's single "Look for Me" which peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. He then went on to sign with Major Label Jive/Sony Records. Talay has toured with many UK/US artists including; Ndubz, Chipmunk, Skepta, Usher's sold out Arena tour & Trey Songz. Talay's YouTube and VEVO videos have amassed over 5 million views.

Writing[link]

Talay Riley co-wrote Jessie J Top15 single "Who's Laughing Now" with over 150K single sales & UK No1 Double platinum album, co-wrote Chipmunk "Oopsy Daisy" which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on the 11 of October 2009 with over 350K single sales & co-wrote Chipmunk's "Look for Me" which entered the UK singles charts at No7 with sales over 300K & a UK No2 Platinum album, co-wrote Tinie Tempah's "Snap" on his double Platinum UK Album, co-wrote B-side to JLS No 2 UK Single "Unstoppable" & Track 8 "Take you down" on their UK No2 Album. Today he is now working on big projects such as Christina Aguilera, Cheryl Cole, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, JLS, Janet Jackson, The Saturdays, Cher Lloyd, Ellie Goulding, Chris Rene, One Direction and many more.

Discography[link]

• Chipmunk I Am Chipmunk (2009)
  • "Oopsy Daisy" (co-written)
  • "Look for me" Ft Talay Riley (co-written)
  • "Beast" Ft Loick Essien (co-written)
  • "Lose my life" Ft N-dubz (co-written)

• Tinie Tempah Disc-Overy (2010)
  • "Snap" (co-written)

• Jessie J Who You Are (2011)
  • "Who's laughing now" (co-written)

• JLS Jukebox (2011)
  • "Ustoppable" (co-written)
  • "Take you down" (co-written)

Mixtapes[link]

• Going To California (2011)

Singles/Album Chart Positions[link]

Chipmunk "Oopsy Daisy" Chart performance[link]

Chipmunk "Look for me" Chart performance[link]

Jessie J 'Who's laughing now' Chart performance[link]

Tinie Tempah Disc-Overy Chart performance[link]

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JLS "Jukebox" Album Chart performance[link]

As featured artist[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Talay Riley on Twitter
• Talay Riley on Facebook
• Talay Riley's channel on YouTube

Salvatore Augustine Giunta
Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta
Born	(1985-01-21) January 21, 1985 (age 27) Clinton, Iowa
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	2003 – 2011
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Unit	2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan
Awards	Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart

Salvatore Augustine Giunta (English pronunciation: /ˌsælvəˈtɔreɪ ˈdʒʊntə/; born January 21, 1985) is a former staff sergeant in the United States Army. He was the first living person to receive the United States Armed Forces' highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for actions that occurred after the Vietnam War. Giunta was cited for saving the lives of members of his squad on October 25, 2007 during the War in Afghanistan. He left the Army in June 2011 and is currently attending school in Colorado.^[1]

Personal life[link]

Born in Clinton, Iowa, on January 21, 1985, in a family of Italian descent,^[2] Giunta grew up in Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha. His parents, Steven, a medical equipment technician, and Rosemary, a preschool teacher, live in Hiawatha. He has two younger siblings, Mario and Katie.^[3] Giunta attended John F. Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. At age 17, while working in a Subway sandwich shop, he decided to enlist and joined the Army in November 2003.^[3][4]

Giunta and Jennifer Lynn Mueller, a native of Dubuque, were married in October 2009 after dating for several years.^[3][4] The couple are now parents of a daughter born on October 6, 2011.^[5]

Military career[link]

Giunta attended basic training and infantry school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was deployed to Afghanistan from March 2005 until March 2006 and again from May 2007 until July 2008. He was promoted to staff sergeant in August 2009. Giunta was last stationed at Caserma Ederle, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team's base near Vicenza, Italy.^[6] He served in the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team,^[7] and worked in a support role for members of his unit then deployed in Afghanistan.^[8]

In 2007, Giunta was stationed at Firebase Vegas in the Korengal Valley, an area about 9.7 by 1.6 kilometres (6.0 × 0.99 mi) near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, nicknamed by the soldiers as the Valley of Death.^[9] In late October, his company launched a six-day mission known as Operation Rock Avalanche. On October 23, Taliban fighters killed respected Staff Sergeant Larry Rougle and wounded two other infantrymen when Rougle's position on "Honcho Hill" was overrun. On October 25, company commander Captain Dan Kearney sent 2nd and 3rd Platoon back to meet with the local village elders and to recover from them the U.S. equipment that the Taliban had captured when Rougle was killed.^[10][11] 1st Platoon was tasked with providing protective cover and interdicting enemy forces from a nearby ridge.

Medal of Honor action[link]

Shortly after nightfall on October 25, 2007, rifle team leader Giunta and the rest of the seven troops of 1st Platoon had just finished a day-long overwatch of 2nd and 3rd Platoon in the valley below. Although dark, there was sufficient moonlight that night vision equipment was not needed. They were returning to Combat Outpost Vimoto and Korengal Outpost. They walked about 10 to 15 feet (3.0–4.6 m) apart through the thin holly forest, along the Gatigal Spur of Honcho Hill at about 2,438 metres (7,999 ft) elevation.^[12]

Within 50 to 100 metres (160–330 ft) of leaving their position, 10 to 15 insurgents ambushed the main body of the squad from cover and concealment only about 10 metres (33 ft) away,^[12] so near that the Apaches overhead could not provide close air support.^[13] The ambushing force was armed with AK-47 assault rifles, 10 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers and three belt-fed PKM machine guns.^[14] They fired an unusually high proportion of tracer rounds. Giunta described it later:

Ambush on October 25

The ambush was initiated with intense RPG and PKM fire

Giunta's squad used grenades to suppress enemy fire

Sergeant Joshua Brennan, leader of alpha team and one of Giunta's best friends, was walking point.^[15] He was followed by SPC Frank Eckrode, squad leader Erick Gallardo, and then Giunta, who was then a specialist. PFC Kaleb Casey and Garret Clary followed Giunta. A 13-man Headquarters (HQ) unit led by Lt. Brad Winn, including a five-man gun team from weapons squad,^[16] along with a nurse who volunteered for the mission, followed immediately behind them. When the Taliban opened fire, Brennan was struck by eight rounds and Eckrode was hit by four rounds.^[15] Gallardo attempted to sprint forward, but RPGs exploding among the thin trees and 18 inches (46 cm)-high bushes around him along with machine gun and small arms fire stopped him.^[17] Unable to advance, he fell back to join Giunta's bravo team. While backpedaling and firing at the same time, he fell and was in the same moment struck in the helmet by an AK-47 round.^[11] An RPG round struck very near Giunta, who was returning fire and directing bravo team from a small defilade. Giunta was puzzled that the lip of the small depression he lay in was not protecting him from rounds cracking by his head, that they appeared to be coming from the north as well as the west.^[13]

Giunta saw Gallardo take the bullet to his head and fall. Assuming Gallardo had been shot, Giunta rose and ran through the intense wall of fire to his side.^[14] As he helped the uninjured sergeant find cover, the ceramic plate in the front of Giunta's protective vest was struck by a bullet. Another round struck the SMAW-D weapon slung over his back.^[18][19][20] Giunta recognized that the extremely heavy tracer fire was coming not just from his west but from the north as well, a classic L-shaped ambush that threatened to roll over the squad. He ordered Casey and Clary to pull back a few steps to prevent the Taliban from flanking them.^[13] Casey was firing his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon cyclic and Clary was firing his M203 grenade launcher as well.

The platoon leader in the HQ unit, Lieutenant Brad Winn, radioed Captain Kearney to advise him that their unit had five wounded men. The squad's medic, Specialist Hugo Mendoza, was among them. He had been shot through the femoral artery at the beginning of the ambush and died. Kearney ordered Second Platoon to assist Winn's platoon, but Second Platoon was in the valley below, some distance away, and had to first cross a river to reach them.^[10]

Giunta and Gallardo gathered Casey and Clary. They were pinned down by the concentrated small arms and cyclic machine gun fire from a number of Taliban positions at close range. Less than 15 seconds into the ambush,^[17] Giunta and his men acted to disrupt the attack. They alternated throwing volleys of fragmentation grenades towards the Taliban about 15 metres (49 ft) to their west and moving north.^[9] Firing Pfc. Casey's M249, Clary's M203, and their other weapons, they advanced until they reached Eckrode. Shot twice in one leg and with two other wounds, Eckrode was attempting to unjam his M249 SAW.^[11] Gallardo, who later received a Silver Star for his actions, dressed Eckrode's wounds and called for medevac.

Giunta, seeing that Eckrode was tended to, continued with Pfc. Clary to advance over the exposed, open ground of the ridge in the dark, looking for Brennan. When they could not locate him where they expected to find him, they ran after the retreating Taliban. The anti-coalition militia covered their rear with effective small arms fire but the Americans ran after them. Giunta saw three individuals and then recognized that two of them were Afghans dragging Sgt. Brennan, one by the legs and one by his arms.^[11] Giunta pursued them, firing his M4 carbine as he ran, killing one (later identified as Mohammad Tali, considered a high-value target).^[21][22] The second Afghan dropped Brennan and fled.^[13] A Spectre AC130 gunship shortly afterward spotted someone carrying Brennan's rucksack and killed him. Giunta said, "I ran through fire to see what was going on with [Brennan] and maybe we could hide behind the same rock and shoot together ... He was still conscious. He was breathing. He was asking for morphine. I said, 'You'll get out and tell your hero stories,' and he was like, 'I will, I will.'"^[23]

After reaching Brennan, Giunta pulled him back towards the rest of the squad and cover, comforted him, and examined him for wounds in the dark. Brennan was grievously hurt.^[17] The 2nd and 3rd Platoons arrived to reinforce their squad and render aid. Giunta continued to assist the medic and adjust security while they waited for evacuation.^[9][13]

The ambush had lasted three minutes.^[11] Later the next day, Brennan died while in surgery.^[24] Gallardo told Giunta later on, "You don't understand ... but what you did was pretty crazy. We were outnumbered. You stopped the fight. You stopped them from taking a soldier."^[25] Eckrode said of Giunta, "For all intents and purposes, with the amount of fire that was going on in the conflict at the time, he shouldn't be alive."^[15]

Medal of Honor award[link]

Giunta receiving the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama on November 16, 2010

Giunta learned two days later from Captain Kearney that the captain was going to recommend him for the Medal of Honor. He was uncomfortable about being singled out and labeled a hero. "If I’m a hero, every man that stands around me, every woman in the military, everyone who goes into the unknown is a hero,” he says. “So if you think that’s a hero—as long as you include everyone with me.”^[26] Giunta insists that his actions were those of any man in his unit. “In this job, I am only mediocre. I’m average."^[26] "I did what I did because in the scheme of painting the picture of that ambush, that was just my brush stroke. That’s not above and beyond. I didn’t take the biggest brush stroke, and it wasn’t the most important brush stroke. Hearing the Medal of Honor is like a slap in the face."^[9]

On September 10, 2010, the White House announced that Giunta would be awarded the United States' highest military decoration, the first awarded to a living recipient since the Vietnam War.^[27][28]

He received the medal from President Barack Obama during a ceremony at the White House on November 16, 2010.^[29] All of his surviving squad members also attended the ceremony.

Addressing the attention he has received due to the medal, he said:

Giunta is the fourth Medal of Honor recipient from the War in Afghanistan, after Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, Army Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti, and Army Staff Sergeant Robert James Miller,^[31][32] the others being posthumously awarded the medal. All four were decorated for actions in eastern Afghanistan's small but highly lethal Kunar Province.

On December 31 of 2010, Giunta was invited by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg to attend the New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square. There, he pressed a button upon the start of a sixty second countdown to initiate the ball drop.

Post-military life[link]

Giunta chose not to re-enlist and left the Army in June 2011.^[33] He and his wife moved to Colorado where he is a student at Colorado State University.^[5]

Awards and decorations[link]

Giunta's military decorations include:^[34][35]

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Medal of Honor citation[link]

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, on October 25, 2007. While conducting a patrol as team leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, Specialist Giunta and his team were navigating through harsh terrain when they were ambushed by a well-armed and well-coordinated insurgent force. While under heavy enemy fire, Specialist Giunta immediately sprinted towards cover and engaged the enemy. Seeing that his squad leader had fallen and believing that he had been injured, Specialist Giunta exposed himself to withering enemy fire and raced towards his squad leader, helped him to cover, and administered medical aid. While administering first aid, enemy fire struck Specialist Giunta’s body armor and his secondary weapon. Without regard to the ongoing fire, Specialist Giunta engaged the enemy before prepping and throwing grenades, using the explosions for cover in order to conceal his position. Attempting to reach additional wounded fellow soldiers who were separated from the squad, Specialist Giunta and his team encountered a barrage of enemy fire that forced them to the ground. The team continued forward and upon reaching the wounded soldiers, Specialist Giunta realized that another soldier was still separated from the element. Specialist Giunta then advanced forward on his own initiative. As he crested the top of a hill, he observed two insurgents carrying away an American soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other. Upon reaching the wounded soldier, he began to provide medical aid, as his squad caught up and provided security. Specialist Giunta’s unwavering courage, selflessness, and decisive leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon’s ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American soldier from the enemy. Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army.^[36]

See also[link]

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal

• Leroy Petry
• Dakota Meyer
• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of living Medal of Honor recipients

References[link]