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

The first sergeant in charge of Mr. Andes’ platoon, she said, was having trouble, too.

From New York Times • May 2, 2024

The 73-year-old was a retired first sergeant and served in Vietnam, she said.

From Washington Post • Jun. 2, 2022

Among the dead is Romero, 45, a retired first sergeant who served for 21 years in the Colombian army.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2021

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