The History of the First Sergeant

The History of the First Sergeant by SGM Bryan A. Pinkney Student # 117 SGM Schell- MOl 28 Feb 05 -------_.._._------------------- ------- --------------------------------- I. Introduction: A. References: A History ofthe NCO Corps ofthe U.S. Anny(ERNEST F. FISHER, JR), Online Websites: Squad Leader.com and First Sergeant.com B. The purpose ofmy research was to learn about when the First Sergeant was established and the importance ofthe position. In this research I determined that the position of the First Sergeant is the lifeblood ofa unit. II. Body: During this briefing I will discuss the following: A. How was the position of the First Sergeant established; I will cover information on how the U.S. Anny got the idea from Baron Von Steuben. B. Duties and Responsibilities of a First Sergeant; I will inform you on the duties and responsibilities ofa First Sergeant; past and present. C. The importance ofthe First Sergeant; I will brief you on; it is the First Sergeant at whom all unit operations merge. D. I will cover how prestigious the position ofFirst Sergeant has become. III. Conclusion: First Sergeants have enormous responsibilities; someone just waiting to check the block for promotion cannot fill this position. Being the first Sergeant requires dedication, competence and commitment. BRYAN A. PINKNEY SGM, USA 2 ~---~------------- The role ofthe First Sergeant has been an ever-changing one. This paper will explore and highlight some ofthe more significant events in the History ofthe First Sergeant. As the role ofthe Army has evolved so has the role ofthe First Sergeant. This ever-developing role has morphed into that of not only one that maintains the formations, but that of a leader of units. While officers may command units, First Sergeants run them. It is this daily leadership that places First Sergeants at the forefront ofleadership. There is no doubt that the First Sergeant has come from a long and distinguished linage. It was the work and efforts ofsome ofthe best soldiers of our past that developed a First Sergeant that is truly peerless. When one looks at the armies of the world and studies the First Sergeants Responsibilities you can see with ease how the First Sergeant truly earns the title as "TOP ". The following passages will look at four major areas for understanding the First Sergeant History and what enormous responsibilities the First Sergeant has. This paper will examine the History of the First Sergeant, The importance ofthe First Sergeant, Duties and Responsibilities and the Day in the Life of a First Sergeant. Prior to Roman times the military world ofthe private was plunged in darkness. First Sergeants didn't exist and chaos and discipline ruled. However, by 16 B.c. the Roman Army Under Emperor Augustus created the logical position, the right arm of the centurion or company Commander. They called the soldier who held this position the signifier or standard-bearer. He Was responsible not only for guarding and caring for the Verillium or guidon, but also for the Administration ofthe company. The signifier wore lion or bearskins over their armor, to Highlight the importance of their position. Thanks to the signifier, the Roman Army moved from success to success until, like all empires, the Romans grew lazy and were conquered by there neighbors. 3 Once again, the world ofthe private soldier grew shadowy as the dark ages rolled over the known world and the first sergeant was forgotten. Then, in 1630, Gustavus Adolphus became King ofSweden and joined the 30-year War raging in Central Europe. He swiftly reorganized his army and gave authority and responsibility back to the NCO, especially to the senior NCO in each company. He also introduced standard uniforms and badges ofrank that allowed the senior sergeant or first sergeant to stand out as he had done in Roman times. Seeing how good the Swedish army was, others rushed to copy it and to the great joy ofprivates in all successful armies the position of first sergeant endures to this day. (This history can be found at Squad Leader.com). As is clearly demonstrated in the passage above, the Armed Forces cannot operate without First Sergeants. In setting up the American Army, General Washington relied heavily on the talents of General Baron Von Steuben. During this time, Von Steuben wrote what is referred to as the "Blue Book of Regulations". This "Blue Book" covered most ofthe organizational, administrative, and disciplinary details necessary to operate the Continental Army. While Von Steuben outlined the duties of such NCOs as the Sergeant Major, Quartermaster Sergeant and other key NCO's, it was the Company First Sergeant, the American equivalent ofthe Pruss ian Feldwebel(Mother ofthe Company), that he directed most ofhis attention. While directing most ofhis attention to the Duties ofa First Sergeant, he took the duties of a Prussian Feldwebel(Company Sgt) from the 17th century Prussian Army. We will discuss the duties ofa Prussian Feldwebel and see the similarities of Today's First Sergeant. This noncommissioned officer was chosen by the officers ofthe company, (Rank did not matter they chose who they felt was the best man for the job, They regarded patience and sobriety as vital characteristics). The conduct ofthe troops, their exactness in obeying orders and 4 the regularity of their manners, would "in large measure, depend upon the (Company Sergeant's) First Sergeant's vigilance." Standing at the top of the noncommissioned hierarchy ofrank, they were the "Overseers" ofthe company's enlisted soldiers. To this end, they kept the Hauptman, or Company Commander, informed of everything that went on in the company; whether NCOs were performing their duties in a satisfactory manner, that training was properly accomplished, and finally, at the end ofa busy day, all soldiers were accounted for in their quarters. They were the only noncommissioned officers allowed to strike a soldier. An especially disorderly soldier could be given three or four blows, with the Feldwebel's cane. (Now this type ofbehavior cannot be tolerated in today's Army, so this duty is not for Today's First sergeant) They were forbidden to flog a soldier, and the Feldwebel who overstepped his authority in this manner could themselves be punished. Moreover, they were to see that none ofthe NCOs beat their soldiers." Their tasks ofmaintaining the duty roster in an equitable manner, taking daily orders in a book and showing them to their officers, making the morning report to the captain of the state ofthe company in the form prescribed, and at the same time, acquainting them with anything material that may have happened in the company since the preceding report," all closely resembled the duties of the 17th century company sergeant. (http://usmilitary.about.com) The First Sergeant also kept a company Leaders book under the captain's supervision. These Leader books listed the names, ages, heights, places of birth, and prior occupations of all soldiers in the company. The Army maintained the books until about the first decade ofthe 20th century when the "Morning Report" finally replaced them. Since the First Sergeant was responsible for the entire company, he was, in Von Steuben's words, "not to go on duty, unless with the whole company, but is to be in camp quarters to answer any call that may be made". On the march or on the battlefield, they were "Never to lead a platoon or section, but 5 always to be a file-closer in the fonnation ofthe company, their duty being in the company like the adjutant's in the regiment For any First Sergeant who has received a telephone call at 0230 from the military Police or marched at the rear ofthe Squadron Mass, there may be reason to believe that little has changed since Von Steuben. But there has been significant changes since Von Steuben, On 16 June 1942, the Pay Readjustment Act established a new enlisted grade system, making the first sergeant equal to a master sergeant.(Squad Leader.com) The first sergeant and master sergeant shared honors as the senior NCOs oftheir day. Company commanders still appointed and dismissed first sergeants, but first sergeants now equaled a battalion or regimental sergeant major in rank. In addition, the greater number of NCOs in the company also added to the first sergeant's prestige. The new regulations stated that the first sergeant was to be chosen from the first line sergeants, not supply, mess, or motor sergeants. The regulations made it clear that the first sergeant would be chosen for his ability to lead men. This emphasis on leadership in subsequent regulations continued in Anny Regulation 600-201, dated 20 June 1956, which established the NCO as an enlisted commander of troops. It set principles and criteria for the identification, development and recognition ofthe prerogative and privileges to be accorded NCOs. A soldier's promotion was now recognized Anny-wide, not just in his regiment. The custom that the "stripes stayed with the unit" passed into oblivion. For the first time, the company commander lost his ability to appoint and dismiss first sergeants on his or her own initiative.(squad leader. com) The 1950 NCO handbook described the first sergeant's role as the maintainer of the continuity. This NCO guidebook also stated that the first sergeant "issues his orders through the platoon sergeants and others in the chain ofcommand. He does not deal directly with the men in platoons except in emergencies." This was a change for first sergeants. There were several 6 reasons for distancing the first sergeant from his men. While the basic nature ofthe first sergeant's duties changed little with time, the structure ofthe company and the requirements to administer the company grew.

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