<P> First sergeants are generally the senior non-commissioned officers of company (battery, troop) sized units, and are unofficially but commonly referred to as "top", "top sergeant", "top soldier", "top kick", "first shirt", due to their seniority and their position at the top of the company's enlisted ranks . In the Bundeswehr, the German Army, the first sergeant (German: Kompaniefeldwebel) is called "father of the unit", a concept also in place in the US Army . They are sometimes referred to as "second hat" because the Company Commander may entrust them with important responsibilities, even over one of the company's lieutenants, especially junior lieutenants . </P> <P> First sergeants handle the leadership and professional development of their soldiers, especially the non-commissioned officer development and grooming of enlisted Soldiers for promotions . They also manage pay issues, supervise administrative issues, recommend and prepare enlisted Soldiers for specialty and leadership schools, reenlistment, career development and they manage the promotable soldiers within the company . First sergeants are the first step in disciplinary actions such as an Article 15 (non-judicial punishment) proceeding . A first sergeant may place a soldier under arrest and on restriction to quarters in certain cases, as well as manage all of the daily responsibilities of running the company / unit . Logistics are a specific "first sergeant's end issue ." </P> <P> In the United States Marine Corps, first sergeant (abbreviated 1stSgt) is one rank above gunnery sergeant and one pay grade below sergeant major and master gunnery sergeant . It is equal in grade to master sergeant (E8), although the two ranks have different responsibilities . A first sergeant has command leadership responsibilities and serves as the senior enlisted adviser to the commander at the company, battery or detachment level, while master sergeants have technical responsibilities within their respective occupational fields, and serve important leadership roles within various company or battery sections . Master sergeants may also perform staff functions at the battalion / squadron level or above . Unlike first sergeants and master sergeants in the U.S. Army, no lateral movement is possible between the two ranks in the Marine Corps; they're permanent appointments and require a change in occupational specialty . Rather, gunnery sergeants elect a preference on their fitness reports, which are considered before promotion . Ultimately, those selected for either rank are appointed based on suitability, previous duty assignments, and the needs of the Marine Corps . Later in their careers, first sergeants are eligible to be considered for promotion to sergeant major, while master sergeants would be on the career track for master gunnery sergeant . </P> <P> The grade of first sergeant initially appeared in the Marine Corps in 1833, when Congress created the ranks of "first sergeant of the guard at sea" and "orderly sergeant of the post" (of which 30 billets for the rank were established). In 1872, the Corps replaced the title of orderly sergeant with the rank of first sergeant . The rank of first sergeant was another casualty of the rank realignment of 1947 . It was reestablished in 1955 . </P>

Difference between first sergeant and master sergeant usmc
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