Senior master sergeant

Military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries

Senior master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries.

Philippines

Armed forces

Senior master sergeant is the second-highest attainable rank for enlisted personnel of the Philippine Army, the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Marine Corps (a component of the Philippine Navy).

The rank stands above that of master sergeant and below that of chief master sergeant.

  • Senior master sergeant insignia Philippine Army
    Senior master sergeant insignia
    Philippine Army
  • Senior master sergeant insignia Philippine Air Force
    Senior master sergeant insignia
    Philippine Air Force
  • Senior master sergeant insignia Philippine Marine Corps
    Senior master sergeant insignia
    Philippine Marine Corps

Philippine National Police

As of February 8, 2019, a new ranking classification for the Philippine National Police was adopted, eliminating confusion of old ranks. The Police Senior master sergeant is third highest non-commissioned officer rank on the service. It stands above the rank of Police Master sergeant and below the Police Chief master sergeant.

  • Police Senior master sergeant (P/SMSg) Philippine National Police
    Police Senior master sergeant (P/SMSg)
    Philippine National Police

United States

Senior Master Sergeant
E-8 insignia E-8 insignia
Air Force and Space Force insignia
Country United States
Service branch U.S. Air Force
 U.S. Space Force
AbbreviationSMSgt
Rank groupNon-commissioned officer
NATO rank codeOR-8
Pay gradeE-8
Formation1958
Next higher rankChief master sergeant
Next lower rankMaster sergeant

Senior master sergeant (abbreviated SMSgt) is the second-highest enlisted rank (pay grade E-8) in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, just above master sergeant and below chief master sergeant, and is a senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO).

According to Air Force Instruction 36-2618, The Enlisted Force Structure:

SMSgts are key, experienced, operational leaders, skilled at merging their personnel's talents, skills, and resources with other teams' functions to most effectively accomplish the mission. SMSgts continue to develop their leadership and management skills in preparation for expanded responsibilities and higher leadership positions. SMSgts normally operate at the operational level of leadership.

Promotion to senior master sergeant is the most difficult enlisted promotion to attain in the Air Force and Space Force. It is the second enlisted grade in which results of a central promotion board is the only factor in selection for promotion. Usually, less than ten percent of eligible master sergeants are selected for promotion to senior master sergeant in most years. Selectees typically have vast technical and leadership experience gained from a broad variety of assignments at both line and staff functions during their careers. Additionally, the successful candidate typically has completed an associate or bachelor's degree in their Air Force and Space Force specialty as well as the Senior Non-commissioned Officer Correspondence Course, and has had his or her latest performance report endorsed by a senior rater, usually a colonel or brigadier general.

in preparation for promotion to the rank of chief master sergeant, senior master sergeants typically assume superintendent duties, overseeing enlisted members' efforts to accomplish a major segment of a unit's mission. They are expected to serve as mentors for non-commissioned and junior commissioned officers.

U.S. Air Force senior master sergeant insignia serving as first sergeant.

Public Law 107-107, the "National Defense Authorization Act", establishes senior enlisted strength levels for all branches of the United States Armed Forces. Currently, only 2.5 percent of the Air Force's total active duty enlisted strength may hold this rank.[1]

Senior master sergeants are sometimes referred to by the nickname of "Senior." In the past, this was a casual nickname that was inappropriate in formal situations.[2] However, on 12 July 2018, new Air Force regulations were issued that made "Senior" one of the official terms of address for senior master sergeants, in addition to the pre-existing "Senior Master Sergeant" and "Sergeant" addresses.[3]

Senior master sergeants in the first sergeant special duty serve as first sergeants of larger units than those employing master sergeants as first sergeants. These first sergeants (pay grades E-7 to E-9) are referred to officially as "First Sergeant" (regardless of their pay grade), and unofficially as "First Shirt" or simply "Shirt".[4]

Historical note

Senior master sergeant insignia (obsolete).

Although the Air Force had been an independent service since 1947, the rank of senior master sergeant did not come into being until the authorization of the Military Pay Act of 1958. This act established the pay grades of E-8 and E-9 but without title. It was not until late 1958 that the title of "senior master sergeant" (and the accompanying rank insignia) was decided upon after the enlisted force was polled. At that time, the senior master sergeant rank had only a single chevron above and six below, and a chief master sergeant two above and six below. In 1994 the Air Force changed its non-commissioned officer insignia so that a maximum of five stripes were placed on the bottom of the chevrons, adding one above to each of the top three grades, resulting in the present form.

Civil Air Patrol

Civil Air Patrol senior master sergeant insignia.

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP), a non-profit corporation Congressionally chartered to operate as the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, has a quasi-military structure which includes the rank of senior master sergeant. The grade of senior master sergeant is below chief master sergeant and above master sergeant. Former military enlisted personnel who held the rank of senior master sergeant in the United States Armed Forces may retain that rank as members of the CAP.[5]

See also

References

  • Air Force Instruction 36-2618, The Enlisted Force Structure
  • Technical Sergeant Spink, Barry L. "A Chronology of the Enlisted Rank Chevron of the United States Air Force, 19 February 1992." Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  1. ^ "10 U.S.C. § 517". law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Air Force Instruction 36-2618, Section 5.2.2" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2013. (188 KB)
  3. ^ "July 12, 2018 Updated Air Force Instruction 36-2618, Section 5.2.2" (PDF). (188 KB)
  4. ^ Barnett, Robert (12 December 2012). "Air Force first sergeants work to help Airmen". Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  5. ^ Office of the National Commander – Civil Air Patrol (4 September 2018). "Memorandum for all CAP Members" (PDF). gocivilairpatrol.com. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  • v
  • t
  • e
United States enlisted ranks
Branch of service
 E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 E-6 E-7 E-8 E-9 Special
Army
 Private
PVT 		Private 2
PV2 		Private first class
PFC 		Specialist Corporal
SPC – CPL 		Sergeant
SGT 		Staff Sergeant
SSG 		Sergeant first class
SFC 		Master Sergeant First Sergeant
MSG – 1SG¹ 		Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major
SGM – CSM 		Sergeant Major of the Army Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
SMA – SEAC
Marine Corps
 Private
Pvt 		Private first class
PFC 		Lance Corporal
LCpl 		Corporal
Cpl 		Sergeant
Sgt 		Staff Sergeant
SSgt 		Gunnery Sergeant
GySgt 		Master Sergeant First sergeant
MSgt – 1stSgt¹ 		Master Gunnery Sergeant Sergeant Major
MGySgt – SgtMaj 		 Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
SMMC – SEAC
Navy
 Seaman recruit
SR 		Seaman apprentice
SA 		Seaman
SN 		Petty Officer Third Class
PO3 		Petty Officer Second Class
PO2 		Petty Officer first class
PO1
CPO 		Senior Chief Petty Officer Command Senior Chief Petty Officer
SCPO – CMDCS 		Master Chief Petty Officer Command Master Chief Petty Officer Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer / Force Master Chief Petty Officer
MCPO – CMDCM – FORCM, FLTCM 		Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
MCPON – SEAC
Air Force
 Airman basic
AB 		Airman
Amn 		Airman first class
A1C 		Senior Airman
SrA 		Staff Sergeant
SSgt 		Technical sergeant
TSgt 		Master Sergeant Master Sergeant
MSgt – 1st Sgt¹ 		Senior Master Sergeant Senior Master Sergeant
SMSgt – 1st Sgt¹ 		Chief Master Sergeant Chief Master Sergeant Command Chief Master Sergeant
CMSgt – 1st Sgt¹ – CCM 		Senior Enlisted Advisor for the National Guard Bureau Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
SEANGB – CMSAF – SEAC
Space Force
 Specialist 1
Spc1 		Specialist 2
Spc2 		Specialist 3
Spc3 		Specialist 4
Spc4 		Sergeant
Sgt 		Technical sergeant
TSgt 		Master sergeant
MSgt 		Senior master sergeant
SMSgt 		Chief master sergeant
CMSgt 		Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Space Force Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
CMSSF – SEAC
Coast Guard
 Seaman Recruit
SR 		border
SA 		border
SN 		Petty Officer Third Class
PO3 		Petty Officer Second Class
PO2 		Petty Officer first class
PO1 		Chief Petty Officer
CPO 		Senior Chief Petty Officer
SCPO 		Master Chief Petty Officer Command Master Chief Petty Officer Area Command Master Chief Petty Officer, CMC Reserve
MCPO – CMC – DMCPOCG2 		Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
MCPOCG
  1. For the Army and Air Force, first sergeants are temporary and lateral ranks and are senior to their non-diamond counterparts, while Marine Corps first sergeants have no lateral movement within paygrade and is a permanent rank.
  2. The rank insignia is used by other Coast Guard senior enlisted leaders.