Editing Staff sergeant (section)

==National variations==
===Australia===
In the [[Australian Army]] and [[Australian Army Cadets|Cadets]], the rank of staff sergeant is being phased out.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Ranks/Other-Ranks |title=Other Ranks – Australian Army |access-date=2015-10-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043722/http://www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Ranks/Other-Ranks |archive-date=24 September 2015 }}</ref> It was usually held by the [[company quartermaster sergeant]] or the holders of other administrative roles. Staff sergeants are always addressed as "Staff Sergeant" or "Staff", never as "Sergeant", as it degrades their rank. "Chief" is another nickname though this is only used for the company chief clerk (in some instances the chief clerk role can be filled by another non-commissioned rank (but not warrant officer) and still be referred to as "Chief"). A staff sergeant ranks above [[sergeant]] and below [[warrant officer|warrant officer class 2]].

=== Canada ===
In the pre-Unification [[Canadian Army]], the rank of staff sergeant existed until 1968 when the [[Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces|Unification]] of the [[Royal Canadian Navy]], Canadian Army and [[Royal Canadian Air Force (1924-1968)|Royal Canadian Air Force]] into the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] occurred. Post-unification, the Canadian Armed Forces replaced the rank with that of [[Warrant officer|Warrant Officer]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Staff Sergeant |url=http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/ranks/staffsergeant.htm |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=canadiansoldiers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Warrant Officers |url=http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/ranks/warrantofficers.htm |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=canadiansoldiers.com}}</ref>

The rank is used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police<ref>{{cite web |title=About the RCMP |url=https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/about-rcmp |website=Royal Canadian Mounted Police |access-date=27 August 2024}}</ref> and other police services throughout Canada.

=== Norway ===
{{further|Military ranks and insignia of Norway}}
In the Norwegian Defence Forces, the tasks and responsibilities of the staff sergeant ({{langx|no|Stabssersjant}}) are not clear; quite recently, in January 2016, Norway replaced their old rank system, and implemented a new, which is more adapted to other NATO members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/6323bbae80bc48a2a4e27022acef98d6/no/pdfs/prp201420150111000dddpdfs.pdf|title=Prop. 111 LS (2014–2015)|publisher=The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence |access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref> In 1975, all of the Norwegian military branches abolished the system of using non-commissioned officers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/forsvaret-innforer-ny-personellordning/id2416765/|title=Forsvaret innfører ny personellordning |date=12 June 2015 |publisher=The Norwegian Government |access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> Now, however, Norway is reintroducing the Non-Commissioned Officer Corps, allowing people to become officers without graduating from a military academy or having a university degree.

=== Philippines ===
The rank of '''staff sergeant''' is used by the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]]. It is a non-commissioned officer rank currently used by [[Philippine Army]], [[Philippine Air Force]], and the [[Philippine Marine Corps]] (under the [[Philippine Navy]]). It is a rank positioned above [[sergeant]] and below the [[technical sergeant]].

===Singapore===

==== Singapore Armed Forces ====
A '''staff sergeant''' ('''SSG''') in the [[Singapore Armed Forces]] ranks above [[first sergeant]] and below [[master sergeant]]. It is the second most senior [[Specialist (Singapore)|specialist]] rank. Staff sergeants are addressed as "Staff Sergeant" or "Staff", but never "Sergeant".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/topics/ranks/specialists.html |title=SAF Military Ranks – Specialists |publisher=Mindef.gov.sg }}</ref>

Staff sergeants may be appointed as [[company sergeant major]] if they are due for promotion to master sergeant.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} They are usually addressed as "CSM" in camp, although in the past they were referred to as "Encik", which is now used to address only warrant officers.

The rank insignia consists of two chevrons pointing up and three chevrons pointing down, with the Singapore coat of arms in the middle.<ref>[http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/army/About_Us/Ranks.html Singapore Armed Forces ranks]</ref>

==== Home Team ====
In the [[Singapore Prison Service]], the rank of staff sergeant (SSGT) is above the rank of sergeant, and is below the rank of Chief Warder (1). The rank insignia of SSGT is one Singapore coat of arms and three pointed-down chevrons below it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1773|title=Singapore Prison Service / 新加坡监狱部门 – Perkhidmatan Penjara Singapura|website=uniforminsignia.org|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-11-26}}</ref>

In the [[Singapore Police Force]], the rank of staff sergeant is currently being phased out with the newly overhauled "unified police rank structure" which allows a direct-entry sergeant to be eligible for emplacement to the rank of Inspector without a degree.

In the past, the rank of staff sergeant is above the rank of sergeant, and below the rank of senior staff sergeant; with the new rank structure being introduced, the rank and insignia of staff sergeant is being phased out, and being replaced with three grades of sergeant, namely, sergeant (1), sergeant (2), and sergeant (3), before being promoted directly to senior staff sergeant. However, all three grades of sergeants don the same three-chevrons insignia.

==== Uniformed Youth Organisations ====
In the [[National Cadet Corps (Singapore)|National Cadet Corps]], staff sergeants are [[cadet]]s who have passed the 3-days 2-nights Senior Specialists Leaders Course successfully. The rank of staff sergeant is above first sergeant and below master sergeant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.acsindep.moe.edu.sg/nccland/ncc-ranks-and-badges/|title=NCC Ranks and Badges|website=Anglo Chinese School (Independent)|language=en|access-date=2018-11-20}}</ref> Staff sergeants wear a rank insignia of two pointed-up chevrons, one [[Coat of arms of Singapore|Singapore coat of arms]] and three pointed-down chevrons, with the letters 'NCC' located below the insignia to differentiate NCC [[cadet]]s from SAF personnel.

In the [[National Police Cadet Corps]] (NPCC) and the [[National Civil Defence Cadet Corps]] (NCDCC), the rank of staff sergeant is above sergeant, and below Station Inspector and Warrant Officer respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=3489|title=National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) / National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC)|website=uniforminsignia.org|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-11-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npcc.org.sg/roa.html|title=National Police Cadet Corps|website=npcc.org.sg|language=en|access-date=2018-11-20|archive-date=20 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120221035/https://www.npcc.org.sg/roa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The rank of staff sergeant generally is awarded to cadets when they are in Secondary Four, before they pass out. NPCC and NCDCC staff sergeants wear a rank insignia of one Singapore coat of arms and three pointed-down chevrons. The letters 'NPCC' and 'NCDCC' are located below the insignia so as to differentiate NPCC and NCDCC cadets from [[Singapore Police Force]] and [[Singapore Civil Defence Force]] personnel respectively.

In the [[St John Singapore|St John Brigade]] (SJB), the rank of staff sergeant (SSG) is above sergeant, and below senior staff sergeant. Staff sergeants in SJB wear a rank insignia of one St John coat of arms and three pointed-down chevrons.

===United Kingdom===
In the [[British Army]], '''staff sergeant''' ('''SSgt''' or formerly '''S/Sgt''') ranks above [[sergeant]] and below [[warrant officer|warrant officer class 2]]. The rank is given a NATO code of OR-7. The insignia is the monarch's crown above three downward pointing chevrons.

Staff sergeants can also hold other appointments, such as [[company quartermaster sergeant]], and are usually known by that appointment if held. The equivalent rank in [[infantry]] regiments is [[colour sergeant]], and holders are known by that title no matter what their appointment. In the [[Household Cavalry]] the equivalent rank is [[staff corporal]].

British staff sergeants are never referred to or addressed as "Sergeant", which would be reducing their rank, but are referred to and addressed as "Staff Sergeant" or "Staff" ("Staff Jones", for instance) or by their appointment or its abbreviation. Quartermaster sergeants are often addressed as "Q". In most cavalry regiments, staff sergeants are addressed as "Sergeant Major"{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}, which is assumed to derive from the original rank of [[troop sergeant major]], or as "Sir" by subordinates.

[[Flight sergeant]] and [[chief technician]] are the [[Royal Air Force]] equivalents. [[Chief petty officer]] is the equivalent in the [[Royal Navy]] and colour sergeant in the [[Royal Marines]].

{{UK enlisted ranks}}

===United States===
{{more citations needed|section|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name           = Staff sergeant
| image          = {{nobreak|[[File:Army-USA-OR-06 (Army greens).svg|70px]] [[File:USMC-E6.svg|70px]] [[File:E5 USAF SSGT.svg|70px]]}}
| image_size     = 
| alt            =
| caption        = Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force
| image_size2    = 
| alt2           =
| caption2       = 
| image3         = 
| image_size3    = 
| alt3           =
| caption3       = 
| country        = {{Flag|United States}}
| service branch = {{army|United States}}<br />{{marines|United States}}<br />{{air force|United States}}
| abbreviation   = SSG {{small|(USA)}}<br />SSgt {{small|(USMC and USAF)}}
| rank group     = [[Non-commissioned officer]]
| rank           = 
| NATO rank      = OR-6 {{small|(USA & USMC)}}<br />OR-5 {{small|(USAF)}}
| pay grade      = [[Uniformed services pay grades of the United States|E-6]] {{small|(USA & USMC)}}<br />E-5 {{small|(USAF)}}
| formation      = 1920
| abolished      = 
| higher rank    = [[Sergeant first class#United States|Sergeant first class]] {{small|(USA)}}<br />[[Gunnery sergeant]] {{small|(USMC)}}<br />[[Technical sergeant#United States|Technical sergeant]] {{small|(USAF)}}
| lower rank     = [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]] {{small|(USA & USMC)}}<br />[[Senior airman]] {{small|(USAF)}}
| equivalents    = '''E-6'''<br />[[Petty officer first class]] {{small|(USN & USCG)}}<br />[[Technical sergeant#United States|Technical sergeant]] {{small|(USSF)}}<br />'''E-5'''<br />[[Petty officer second class]] {{small|(USN & USCG)}}<br />[[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]] {{small|(USSF)}}
| history        = 
}}

====U.S. Army====
'''Staff sergeant''' ('''SSG''') is the [[Pay grade|E-6]] rank in the [[United States Army]], just above [[sergeant]] and below [[sergeant first class]], and is a [[non-commissioned officer]] (NCO). Unlike the Marine Corps, U.S. Army staff sergeants are not considered senior NCOs (senior NCOs of the Army begin with sergeant first class, equivalent to the Marines' gunnery sergeant). Staff sergeants are generally placed in charge of [[squad]]s, but can also act as [[platoon sergeant]]s in the absence of a sergeant first class. In support units, staff sergeants ordinarily hold headquarters positions because of the number of slots available for them in these units. Staff sergeants are typically assigned as a squad leader or company operations non-commissioned officer in charge at the company level, but may also hold other positions depending on the type of unit. Staff sergeants are referred to as "Sergeant" except in certain training environments and schools. The NATO code is OR-6.

In the early days of World War II ''flying sergeants'' with the rank of staff sergeant<ref>Pierce, Sammy Anson ''Black Sheep Ace: Flying Sergeant Sammy Alpheus Pierce'' Fulton Books, Inc. 6 May 2022</ref><ref>pp.18-20 Saunders, A. W. (Buck)  ''The Price of Glory: A Military Autobiography 1941-1965'' Turner Publishing Company 2001</ref> were qualified enlisted pilots before the rank of [[flight officer]] was introduced in September 1942.

The rank of staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, along with [[technical sergeant]] (renamed sergeant first class in 1948) and [[master sergeant]], was created by Congress after the First World War.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/arms/arms.asp |title=A Short History of the NCO<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=1 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414042727/http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/arms/arms.asp |archive-date=14 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1920 the Army combined several company/battery/troop level "staff" NCO ranks, including color sergeant, supply sergeant, radio sergeant, eleven grades of sergeant first class, three grades of sergeant, two grades of master gunner, and assistant band leader into the new rank of staff sergeant. Staff sergeant, as did the ranks it combined/replaced, then ranked above sergeant but below technical sergeant/first sergeant (which, at the time, were both in the same pay grade). At that time, sergeants served as squad or section leaders, [[platoon guide]]s, and assistants to platoon commanders (the position of platoon sergeant, nor a separate rank for the position, did not yet exist), and included several formerly separate ranks such as mess sergeant, company supply sergeant, and stable sergeant, etc. In 1940, staff sergeant became the rank title of rifle platoon sergeants and in 1942 rifle squad leaders became staff sergeants, with platoon sergeants then being promoted to technical sergeants.<ref>Perrenot, P. ''United States Army Grade Insignia Since 1776'' (2009).</ref>

====U.S. Marine Corps====
{{anchor|SSgt}}'''Staff sergeant''' ('''SSgt''') is [[Pay grade|E-6]] rank (NATO code OR-6) in the [[United States Marine Corps]] (USMC), ranking above [[Sergeant (United States)|sergeant]] and below [[gunnery sergeant]]. This grade is normally achieved after 6 years in service.

The rank of staff sergeant in the USMC was created in 1923 to coincide with the U.S. Army's ranks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ww2gyrene.org/rank_structure.htm |title=World War II era Marine Corps enlisted ranks |publisher=Ww2gyrene.org |access-date=1 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013125833/http://www.ww2gyrene.org/rank_structure.htm |archive-date=13 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Until the end of World War II, the insignia of [[platoon sergeant]] was three chevrons and a rocker (worn by "line" NCO grades), with staff sergeant having a horizontal stripe (worn by "staff" NCO grades) instead of a rocker below the chevrons. After the separate rank of platoon sergeant was eliminated, the staff sergeant rank switched over to the rocker insignia and staff sergeants held the platoon sergeant's billet.



{{US enlisted ranks}}