first sergeant

American  

noun

U.S. Army.

1. the senior noncommissioned officer of a company, squadron, etc., responsible for personnel and administration.

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Etymology

Origin of first sergeant

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

When I asked the first sergeant why he thought that wasn’t a good idea, he shrugged.

From Slate • Jul. 17, 2024

Mr. Andes, Mr. Davis and their first sergeant all left the Army without any official record that their brains may have been injured by mortar blasts.

From New York Times • May 2, 2024

She also befriended Hillary, a former reporter whose marriage to a first sergeant meant that the couples could not socialize as a group — the Army still maintains many rank-based rules and traditions.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2024

Driver’s first sergeant told him that he was too injured for the deployment.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 21, 2019

The first sergeant paused for a moment—he saw me moving and must’ve figured his tantrum had done the trick.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore