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The Household Cavalry, in which even the lowliest trooper was once a gentleman, have never used the rank of Sergeant, as it originates from the word servant. I've seen this asserted in any number of places, but never with a credible source.
Sergeant was originally an infantry rank only: no cavalry regiments had sergeants. (Nor did the artillery, for that matter.) All we have here is typical adherence to tradition by one of Britain's most conservative units.
More precisely: British cavalry regiments used to come in two flavours, horse and dragons. Horse regiments were always cavalry, and had no sergeants: dragoons were originally mounted infantry, and so did have sergeants.
By the middle of the eighteenth century, dragoons were indistinguishable from horse in equipment and tactics: however, they were paid less. As a cost-cutting exercise, the Government started converting horse regiments to dragoons: presumably they acquired sergeants at this time, or not long after.
The only horse regiments that escaped this conversion were ancestors of the current Household Cavalry regiments. Hence, no sergeants.
In hierarchical societies, service is not demeaning in itself: what matters is the status of your master and the capacity in which you serve. The word serjeant appeared in the titles of many offices of high social status (serjeant-at-arms, serjeant-at-law, serjeant-major-general), and in grand serjeanty, a form of land tenure under which e.g. the office of Lord High Constable was held.
I therefore submit that it is a myth that the Household Cavalry has no sergeants because sergeant=servant, and ask that it be knocked on the head. Franey 15:46, 19 Apr 2005 (UTC)
... isn't actually part of the naming conventions. Shouldn't this article be at British Army Other Ranks insignia? Or perhaps British Army non-commissioned rank insignia? Alai 16:59, 22 October 2005 (UTC)
In my 25 years in the British Army, I rarely came across the term 'Officers and other ranks'. The more likely term was 'Officers and soldiers'. I assume that was because it was deemed more acceptable?
RASAM 20:12, 22 June 2006 (UTC)
While the article does dip into the quagmire that is 'variations' of ranks, there are still many others that could be included:
The bomb or grenade above a Royal Engineers sergeant/staff sergeant's stripes.
The rank of WO ll Quartermaster Sergeant (QM Sgt), could also apply to 'Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor (QMSI). I realise that 'QMSI' is an appointment, not a rank, but so is 'QM Sgt' an appointment.
I seem to remember many years ago seeing a SNCO in the Queen Dragoon Guards (QDG) with four stripes (point at the bottom)and a crown. I think he might have been the Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant (SQMS).
I believe the 'Serjeant' spelling is still in use in the Light Infantry, as are such terms as 'Arms Cote' (Armoury).
I was hoping to find examples of different ranks' duties, so if there are any enthusiasts looking for something to add...
RASAM 20:12, 22 June 2006 (UTC)
I agree with the comment regarding QMSI above and this should apply equally to other appointments like Artificer Quarter Master Sergeant (AQMS) and Staff Quarter Master Sergeant (SQMS) - Queen's Regulations refers.
N.B. As an aside "Arms Cote" is still in common usage in the more conservative infantry regiments. (FROGSMILE (talk) 19:48, 20 April 2011 (UTC))
On both this and the Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies Enlisted entry, the table showing British ranks and their insignia seem to have been replaced with Thailand. Any idea what's happened, and where the right insignia have gone? Torak 15:31, 24 November 2006 (UTC)
Some images of chevrons or insignia wouldnt hurt either. J. ORLY? (talk) 01:54, 21 October 2010 (UTC)
After seeing it on the page for comparative NATO ranks, I posted on the talk page. Seeming, the NATO Army ranks page has not been edited and these images have spread, despite being wrong. I shall reiterate.
all points above are correct. Non-Commissioned ranks are worn, embroidered onto khaki felt, on the upper arm and Warrant Officer ranks are worn on the lower arm/wrist (either embroidered onto khaki felt, or in Shirt Sleeve Order, a metal badge on a wrist strap). Some units use brassards in Shirt Sleeve Order to preserve the shirt's material. Chest epaulets are worn in current combat dress (CS95) for all ranks, using a "Rank Slide" with the appropriate badge of rank embroidered. 89.243.50.168 (talk) 03:10, 22 August 2011 (UTC)
It's a bit of a mess. Can someone with wikimarkup skills tidy it up? --Dweller (talk) 10:27, 15 April 2015 (UTC)
Would something like this be clearer (and more accessible)? --RexxS (talk) 16:13, 15 April 2015 (UTC)
Nato code | Insignia | Rank | Typical Command Size or Appointment:[1] | Typical promotion to after:[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|
OR-9 | Warrant Officer Class 1 | Referred to individually by their appointment e.g. Regimental Sergeant Major. The most senior advisers to battalion commanding officers. Responsibility for discipline and equipment of officers and men | 18 years | |
OR-8 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Referred to individually by their appointment e.g. Company Sergeant Major. A senior management role focussing on the training, welfare and discipline of company/battery/ squadron | ||
OR-7 | Senior role combining man and resource management in company/battery/ squadron, or serves as platoon commander. | After a few years as a sergeant | ||
OR-6 | Sergeant | Second in command of a troop or platoon | 12 years depending on ability | |
OR-5 | No Equivalent | |||
OR-4 | Generally commands a section | 6–8 years | ||
OR-3 | Second in command of section, leader of fireteam | 3 years or after a five week programme known as Phase 2 training:[3] | ||
OR-2 | No Insignia | Private (or equivalent) |
||
OR-1 |
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