sgt

Sgt is an abbreviation of sergeant, a noncommissioned officer rank found in many armed forces and police services. The word comes from Old French sergent, from Latin serviens, meaning “servant” or “attendant.” It has been used in English since the Middle Ages to designate a mid-level officer who serves under a commissioned leader and who can act as a unit supervisor and a trainer.

In modern militaries, sergeant typically denotes a noncommissioned officer responsible for leading a small unit, supervising junior soldiers, overseeing training, and enforcing discipline. In the United States, the rank of sergeant generally corresponds to pay grade E-5 in the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force, and insignia commonly consist of three chevrons. Many allied forces use similar NCO structures, with higher variants such as staff sergeant or sergeant first class that add additional insignia elements.

Variations exist by country and service. While the core role as a first line NCO is common, some forces use different titles or additional ranks above or below sergeant, and insignia can vary—from three chevrons alone to combinations of chevrons with rockers or crowns in certain corps. The exact duties and progression paths depend on the specific military or police organization.

The abbreviation Sgt (with or without a period) appears in English-language writing, with American usage often including a trailing period (Sgt.), while British and some Commonwealth style guides may omit the period (Sgt). Overall, Sgt denotes a standard noncommissioned leadership position across many English-speaking armed forces and law enforcement services.