First shirt
Encyclopedia
First Shirt is military slang
for the First Sergeant
of a unit of the United States Army
, Air Force
, or Marine Corps
. In this context, the title "First Sergeant" refers to the senior non-commissioned officer
of the unit, rather than specifically to the rank of First Sergeant
. A "First Shirt" may have the rank of First Sergeant, but that is not required.
The First Sergeant is the formal bridge between the unit's enlisted personnel and the commander. As he is on daily speaking terms with the commander, he will have more authority and influence than his nominal rank would give.
The term "First Shirt" is most often associated with the Air Force, but is also used in the Army and Marine Corps, and originated before the Air Force was made a separate service.
One origin is that when the Army's 15th Infantry Regiment was stationed in China
, the unit laundry was taken to local cleaners. The soldier with the most stripes on his shirt (the first sergeant, six stripes total) had his uniform cleaned and pressed first, hence the term "first shirt".
Another origin story derives the term from work details. This leader of a work detail would keep his shirt on, while the other member of the detail wore only t-shirts. The leader thus became referred to as "the shirt", as in "go get me the shirt."
The First Shirt, often further shortened to "Shirt," handles many administrative duties and administers corrective actions when necessary. To be told "See the first shirt" generally means one is in trouble.
A very large unit may only be authorized one "First Shirt", but need similar figures in its sub-units. These unofficial "Shirts" are informally called "Under-shirts" or "Tee-shirts."
One duty of a First Shirt is to select and train these "Under-shirts", finding and mentoring those who have the aptitude to serve as future First Shirts.
Military slang
Military slang is an array of colloquial terminology used commonly by military personnel, including slang which is unique to or originates with the armed forces. It often takes the form of abbreviations/acronyms or derivations of the NATO Phonetic Alphabet, or otherwise incorporates aspects of...
for the First Sergeant
First Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
of a unit of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, or Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. In this context, the title "First Sergeant" refers to the senior non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
of the unit, rather than specifically to the rank of First Sergeant
First Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
. A "First Shirt" may have the rank of First Sergeant, but that is not required.
The First Sergeant is the formal bridge between the unit's enlisted personnel and the commander. As he is on daily speaking terms with the commander, he will have more authority and influence than his nominal rank would give.
The term "First Shirt" is most often associated with the Air Force, but is also used in the Army and Marine Corps, and originated before the Air Force was made a separate service.
One origin is that when the Army's 15th Infantry Regiment was stationed in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the unit laundry was taken to local cleaners. The soldier with the most stripes on his shirt (the first sergeant, six stripes total) had his uniform cleaned and pressed first, hence the term "first shirt".
Another origin story derives the term from work details. This leader of a work detail would keep his shirt on, while the other member of the detail wore only t-shirts. The leader thus became referred to as "the shirt", as in "go get me the shirt."
The First Shirt, often further shortened to "Shirt," handles many administrative duties and administers corrective actions when necessary. To be told "See the first shirt" generally means one is in trouble.
A very large unit may only be authorized one "First Shirt", but need similar figures in its sub-units. These unofficial "Shirts" are informally called "Under-shirts" or "Tee-shirts."
One duty of a First Shirt is to select and train these "Under-shirts", finding and mentoring those who have the aptitude to serve as future First Shirts.
See also
- List of United States Marine Corps acronyms and expressions
- List of U.S. Navy acronyms
- List of U.S. Air Force acronyms and expressions