Editing Master sergeant (section)

== United States ==
{{Infobox military rank
| name           = Master sergeant
| native_name    = 
| image          = {{nowrap|[[File:Army-USA-OR-08b (Army greens).svg|50px|E-8 insignia]] [[File:USMC-E8-MSG.svg|50px|E-8 insignia]]}}
| image_size     = 
| alt            =
| caption        = Army and Marine insignia
| image2         = {{nowrap|[[File:E7a USAF MSGT.svg|50px|Master sergeant insignia]] [[File:USSF MSgt Flat.svg|50px|Master sergeant insignia]]}}
| image_size2    = 
| alt2           =
| caption2       = Air Force and Space Force insignia
| image3         = 
| image_size3    = 
| alt3           =
| caption3       = 
| country        = {{Flag|United States}}
| service branch = {{army|United States|name=U.S. Army}}<br />{{marines|United States|name=U.S. Marine Corps}}<br />{{air force|United States|name=U.S. Air Force}}<br />{{space force|United States|name=U.S. Space Force}}
| abbreviation   = MSG {{small|(USA)}}<br />MSgt {{small|(USMC, USAF, USSF, & CAP)}}
| rank group     = [[Non-commissioned officer]]
| rank           = 
| NATO rank      = OR-8 {{small|(USA & USMC)}}<br />OR-7 {{small|(USAF, USSF, & CAP)}}
| Non-NATO rank  = 
| pay grade      = [[Uniformed services pay grades of the United States|E-8]] {{small|(USA & USMC)}}<br />E-7 {{small|(USAF, USSF, & CAP)}}
| formation      = 
| abolished      = 
| higher rank    = [[Master gunnery sergeant]] {{small|(USMC)}}<br />[[Sergeant Major#United States|Sergeant major]] {{small|(USA & USMC)}}<br />[[Senior master sergeant#United States|Senior master sergeant]] {{small|(USAF, USSF, & CAP)}}
| lower 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, USSF, & CAP)}}
| equivalents    = 
| history        = 
}}
'''Master sergeant''' is a senior [[non-commissioned officer]] rank used within the [[United States Armed Forces]] by the [[United States Army]], [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], and [[United States Space Force|Space Force]]. It is ranked differently depending on the service branch. The [[Civil Air Patrol]] also has the rank of master sergeant.

=== U.S. Army ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2022}}
{{see also|United States Army enlisted rank insignia}}
Master sergeant (MSG) is the eighth enlisted grade (E-8), ranking above [[sergeant first class]] and below [[Sergeant Major#United States Army|sergeant major]], [[command sergeant major]], [[Sergeant Major of the Army]], and equal in grade but not authority to a [[First sergeant#United States Army|first sergeant]]. It is abbreviated as ''MSG'' and indicated by three chevrons above three inverted arcs, commonly referred to as "rockers".

A master sergeant may be assigned as a brigade-level section noncommissioned officer in charge and serves as the subject matter expert in their field, but may also hold other positions depending on the type of unit. The equivalent-grade first sergeant is the senior noncommissioned officer of a company, battery, or troop.

When holding the position of first sergeant, while uncommon, the master sergeant is referred to as "first sergeant"; however, when not in the position of first sergeant, master sergeants are addressed as "sergeant". This is the standard address for all pay grades E-5 through E-8. Use of the term "top" or "master sergeant" is not a requirement, but is considered courteous, and remains to be at the discretion of the one addressing the master sergeant, though "top" is preferred, due to the long tradition of its use in the U.S. Army, which has, since the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], emphasized the importance of senior [[Non-commissioned officer|NCO]]s closely advising and instructing newly commissioned [[second lieutenant]]s, [[first lieutenant]]s and [[captain]]s.

In 1920, the Army combined several regimental level "staff" NCO ranks, including four grades of sergeant major, three grades of quartermaster sergeant, regimental supply sergeant, senior ordnance sergeant, senior band sergeant, four grades of senior master sergeant, and seven additional master-level technical and specialist ranks into the new master sergeant rank. Master sergeant then became the senior enlisted rank, ranking above technical sergeant and first sergeant (a positional rank/title for the senior technical sergeant in a company/battery/troop), while "sergeant major" became a "courtesy title" for the senior master sergeant in a battalion/squadron or higher headquarters.

In 1942, the rank of first sergeant was elevated one grade and was then considered as a junior version of master sergeant, because while first sergeants served as senior NCOs at the company/battery/troop level, master sergeants held positions as the senior NCO in their [[United States military occupation code|MOS]] at battalion/squadron and higher level headquarters. In 1958, both first sergeant and master sergeant were elevated one grade to the new E-8 pay grade, while the rank of sergeant major was restored as the senior enlisted rank at the new pay grade of E-9.

=== U.S. Marine Corps ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2022}}
{{see also|United States Marine Corps rank insignia}}
The eighth enlisted grade, ranking above [[gunnery sergeant]] and below [[master gunnery sergeant]], [[Sergeant major#United States Marine Corps|sergeant major]], and [[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps]]. It is equal in grade to [[First sergeant#United States Marine Corps|first sergeant]], and is abbreviated ''MSgt''. In the U.S. Marine Corps, master sergeants provide technical leadership as occupational specialists at the E-8 level.

Most infantry master sergeants serve as the operations chief of a weapons company, in place of the gunnery sergeant found in the company headquarters of a rifle company. Infantry master sergeants also serve as the assistant operations chief in the S-3 section of the headquarters of an infantry regiment and Marine Expeditionary Unit and in the G-3 section of the headquarters of a Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The Marine division and Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters contains two infantry master sergeants, one as the training SNCO and the other as the readiness chief.

Some combat support battalions have master sergeants at the company level (e.g., one as the tank leader, again replacing the company gunnery sergeant, in the operations section of the tank company headquarters, and two in the company headquarters of an assault amphibian company, one master sergeant as the company gunnery sergeant in the headquarters section and the other as the section leader of the company headquarters [[Landing Vehicle Tracked|AMTRAC]] Section).

In Marine aircraft squadrons MSgts usually serve as SNCOICs of the ordnance and avionics divisions in the aircraft maintenance department. The Aircraft Maintenance Chief/SNCOIC is usually a MGySgt [[Master Gunnery Sergeant#Modern role|(q.v.)]], and there are eight aviation-related MSgt billets in each [[List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units#Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons|Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS)]]. (A MALs is organic to each [[List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups#Active Marine Aircraft Groups (MAG)|Marine Aircraft Group (MAG)]] and performs intermediate aviation supply, aircraft maintenance (including aviation life support equipment and avionics), and aviation ordnance support for its supported aircraft squadrons.)

Most non-infantry master sergeants serve as section chief/SNCOIC of their MOS type staff section in a battalion or higher level headquarters. General command leadership at this paygrade is provided by the separate rank of first sergeant.

Only in the Marine Corps are master sergeants required to be addressed by their full rank. In the Marine Corps, master sergeants may be referred to by the nickname of "Top". This usage is an informal one, however, and would not be used in an official or formal setting. Use of this nickname by Marines of subordinate rank is at the rank holder's discretion. In the U.S. Armed Forces, all master sergeants (Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps) are senior non-commissioned officers (i.e., pay grades E-7 through E-9). However, in the U.S. Marine Corps, the non-commissioned officer ranks of [[staff sergeant]] and above, are classified as Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs), a classification that is unique in U.S. usage to the USMC.

=== U.S. Air Force ===
{{see also|United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia}}
{{multiple image
 | width = 60
 | image1 = E7a USAF MSGT.svg
 | caption1 = Air Force master sergeant
 | image2 = E7b USAF 1STSGT1.svg
 | caption2 = Air Force master sergeant serving as [[first sergeant]]
 | image3 = E7 USAF MSgt 1967-1991.svg
 | caption3 = Obsolete master sergeant insignia<br />(until 1991)
}}

The seventh enlisted grade, ranking above [[technical sergeant]] and below [[senior master sergeant]]. It is abbreviated as ''MSgt''. Advancement to master sergeant is one of the most significant promotions within the enlisted Air Force and Space Force. At the rank of master sergeant, the airman enters the senior non-commissioned tier and transitions his or her duties from front line technicians and supervisors to operational leaders.<ref name="USAF">{{cite web |author=[[United States Air Force]] |title=AFI 36-2618, Enlisted Force Structure |date=23 March 2012 |page=5 |url=http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2618/afi36-2618.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625175458/http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/afi36-2618.pdf |archive-date=2008-06-25}}</ref> An operational leader develops his or her leadership and management skills since this rank carries increased broad leadership, supervisory, and managerial responsibilities rather than technical performance.<ref name="USAF"/>

Per Air Force Instruction 36–2618, master sergeants do serve in positions as squadron superintendents, flight chiefs, section chiefs, and non-commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC). Air Force first sergeants occupy the pay grades of E-7 through E-9 and are referred to officially as "first sergeant" regardless of pay grade, and unofficially as "first shirt" or "shirt".

In 1991, the Air Force changed its NCO insignia so that a maximum of five stripes, or rockers, were placed on the bottom of the chevrons. The master sergeant rank insignia was changed by removing the bottom (sixth) rocker, and relocating it above as a single chevron, on top of the five lower stripes.  The single chevron above visually identifies Senior NCO status for E-7 master sergeants along with two chevrons above for E-8 senior master sergeants and three chevrons above for E-9 chief master sergeants in the Air Force NCO insignia. In 2015, the Air Force announced its promotion overhaul and newly established boards for master sergeant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Losey |first=Stephen |title=First master sgt. promotion board begins May 27 |url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2015/04/23/first-master-sgt-promotion-board-begins-may-27/ |access-date=2021-06-20 |website=www.airforcetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>

==== Civil Air Patrol ====
[[File:CAP-OR-7.svg|thumb|50px|Insignia of a Civil Air Patrol master sergeant]]
The [[Civil Air Patrol]] (CAP), a [[non-profit corporation]] [[Congressional charter|Congressionally chartered]] to operate as the [[Auxiliaries|civilian auxiliary]] of the U.S. Air Force, has a quasi-military structure which includes the rank of master sergeant. The grade of master sergeant is below [[senior master sergeant]] and above [[technical sergeant]]. Former military enlisted personnel who held the rank of master sergeant in the [[United States Armed Forces]] may retain that rank as members of the CAP.<ref>{{cite web |author=Office of the National Commander – Civil Air Patrol |date=4 September 2018 |title=Memorandum for all CAP Members |url=https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/ICL_1806_R201_4_Sep_18_865613378A514.pdf |access-date=26 September 2021 |website=gocivilairpatrol.com}}</ref>

=== U.S. Space Force ===
On February 1, 2021, the United States Space Force announced its permanent rank structure, establishing the grade of master sergeant as its permanent E-7 grade. This continued its usage from the Air Force. The grade of master sergeant is above [[technical sergeant#United States Space Force|technical sergeant]] and beneath [[senior master sergeant]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Rachel S. |date=2021-01-29 |title=Space Force to Adopt 'Specialist,' Other New Ranks Feb. 1 |url=https://www.airforcemag.com/space-force-to-adopt-specialist-other-new-ranks-feb-1/ |access-date=2021-01-29 |website=[[Air Force Magazine]] |language=en-US}}</ref>