The backbone of most military forces, a Sergeant will frequently lead infantry or combat vehicleplatoons or serve as the senior NCO in a company. This is the highest rank most soliders will reach in their time in the military.
A SLDF sergeant was either a recent graduate from a military academy or a three year veteran of service. Their insignia was identical to a Private's, but each section was green instead of white.[1]
The Second SLDF sergeant wore a patch that had each section rendered in black instead of the green used by the first SLDF.
In the LAAF, a sergeant will lead vehicle crews or command an infantry squad. As a result of the Federated Commonwealth Alliance, MechWarriors who graduate from a military academy will typically hold this rank. [4]. Their rank insignia is a Hunter's Point with a black circle in it.
Prior to Theodore Kurita's ascension to the Coordinatorship, the DCMS called this rank Sergeant.[5] After Theodore's reforms however, the rank was given a new Japanese name: Gunsho. [6]
In each case, the DCMS used a stylized katakana number "4" in lavender as their rank insignia. The branch of service is shown via the background color of the pin.
In the AFFS, Sergeants command vehicles, lead battle armor squads, lead technical and gunnery crews. Like their SLDF and LAAF counterparts, MechWarriors graduating from academies enter the AFFS at this rank.[7] Sergeants wear three Scars as their rank insignia, color coordinated with their branch. Academy graduates use curved Scars.
In the CCAF prior to Xin Sheng, a Lance Sergeant was the senior enlisted rank in an infantry platoon or armored vehicle lance and could temporarily assume command in the absence of the unit's CO. Within a company, one of the Lance Sergeants was considered "first among equals." After Xin Sheng the rank was retitled to Si-Ben-Bing or simply Sergeant. They wear the green bar of a corporal but with the green triangles along the outer edges removed, showing brass.[8][9]
A standard infantryman of the Warrior Houses is called a Ban-zhang, or simply Warrior, but due to their exceptional training are considered on the same level as a Sergeant.[9]
In the FWLM a Sergeant typically commands infantry and vehicle platoons. The FWLM Navy equivalent, Petty Officer, First Class typically lead work details or head up small sections. [10]
A FWLM Sergeant/Petty Officer First Class uses three gold chevrons edged in purple as their rank insignia.
As is the case with most enlisted ranks, the Clans do not use the rank of Sergeant.[12]Point Commander is the first official level of command authority. However, in certain formations that consist of a large number of warriors (solahma conventional infantry platoons or WarShip crews for example) or when dealing with Inner Sphere military forces, a clear chain of command is needed. As such a senior Warrior can be designated by the Point Commander as Point 1, Point 2, Point 3, Point 4, or Point 5. The upper ranks, Point 3, Point 4 and Point 5 could be considered equivalent to an Inner Sphere Sergeant.
In the KungsArmé this rank's Swedish name is the same as the English one, Sergeant.[21] A KungsArmé sergeant wears a blue patch with an orange tau cross tipped 90 degrees on it, surrounded by small orange squares as her rank insignia.
In the Magistracy Armed Forces, the rank of Lance Corporal is equivalent to an Inner Sphere Sergeant. Lance Corporals lead a squad or more of infantry in battle, and act as field instructors for soldiers who intend on staying in the MAF.[22][23] Their rank insignia is three silver edged blue-green diamonds stacked on each other.
In the Taurian Defense Force, a Force Sergeant commands a platoon of two to three infantry squads (20-30 troopers) or a lance of three armored vehicle maniples (6 vehicles). Within the aerospace arm, a Force Sergeant is the junior pilot of an Aerospace Fighter, while among the support branches they are low-level management positions.[24][25][26] The Force Sergeant wears the silver ring and horn of a Section Leader but adds a red center dot.
The Hegemony Armed Forces, with their focus on re-creating the Roman Empire, do not use this rank. The Latin name for the soldiers who are the senior enlisted in the HAF is miles gregarius.[27] A set of two inverted silver chevrons make up the rank insignia of a miles gregarius.
The Alliance Military Corps uses Guardian for soldiers who are known as Sergeants in the Inner Sphere. Due to the AMC's focus on AeroSpace and Naval assets, Guardians are likely to lead maintenance, technical, and gunnery crews. Their rank insignia is a single green circle with a smaller brown circle set in the center, and is worn on each lapel.[28]
