Gino is exactly correct. (Again!) A First Sgt is a duty position first, and a "rank" second (distinguished by the addition of a diamond in the middle of the stripes. The pay grade in the Army for 1SG is always E-8.

As Gino said, the 1SG is the Commander's right hand man, and a solid relationship will make or break a unit. Lower level units in the Army (i.e. platoons) vitrually never have a "commander", but have platoon "leaders". (You can say the same thing at the platoon level about the Platoon SGT).

The first level in the Army which is usually designated a "command" position is the Battery/Company/Troop level (there are some exceptions, but not too many). This is usually a Captain's slot, and at the Company level that senior NCO is known as the 1st SGT.

At all levels above that (i.e. battalion, brigade, etc), the senior NCO is known as the "Command" Sergeant Major, and this is also a duty position, distinguised from a regular "Sergeant Major", by the wreath surrounding the star in the middle of the chevrons. This position is always an E-9 pay grade.


And it's the SAME pay grade whether a CSM works for an LTC as a battalion CSM, or a 4 star General Theater Army Commander. As you'd expect, the CSM at higher levels is more senior w/respect to time in service, and has usually served in the position at lower levels. They just don't get "promoted". Even though the "Sergeant Major of the Army" (who actually has two stars in his chevrons) does make over $1,000 a month more than any other E-9, technically he is the same grade as all the rest.

Tom

Funny how one thread can reveive a memory of an older one . To the original question, in addition to the duties listed on page one are a slew which we all forgot to add: TLABSPAP. It's one of the acronyms that just pops into your head sometimes. Artillery guys know it well.

Too FUNNY! I JUST did a search to find that for Alan for his M101A1 Vietnam diorama! Should have looked here first.

Actually it has changed slightly over the years. According to FM6-50 the "S" stands for "second circle". The old memory aid used to be something like LASBAP, and the "S" stood for "site to crest", something you wanted to make sure you took into account in Germany. Guess when you're in the desert, it doesn't matter!! :-) :-)

Tom

Oh man, acronym flashback time. This was one drilled into me when I was a field steamie:

When Tall Texans And Long C**** Become Queer, Good For F*** All Except Muff Diving

Now, to remember the full mnemonic...I might have the Load in teh wrong place. I seem to recall it coming later in the GPO initial sequence of orders.

Warning Order
Type of Engagement
Trajectory
Ammunition
LOAD
Converge
Bearing
Quadrant Laying
Gun Correction
Fuze Correction
Fuze Setting
At My Command
Elevation
Method of Adjustment or FFE
Description of Tgt