Sergeant

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

In the Union Army, sergeant is a more junior rank corresponding to a four-man fireteam leader (OR-4), while still equivalent to OR-5.

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

Union Marine Corps has several ranks that carry the title of sergeant, the lowest of which is sergeant. Marine sergeants are the fifth enlisted rank in the 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 fitness report. Sergeants serve as squad leaders or platoon guide in an infantry platoon, while staff sergeants serve in the billet of "platoon sergeant" in rifle platoons and "section leader" in Orbital Assault platoons A gunnery sergeant in the infantry is typically in charge of coordinating logistics for a company-sized group of marines (approximately 180 personnel). Junior gunnery sergeants usually serve as platoon sergeant for a MBS Platoon. The Union Marine sergeant is often referred to as the backbone of the Marine Corps.

In the Marine Corps, enlisted ranks above sergeant are referred to as staff non-commissioned officers, or SNCOs. 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".