Sergeant

The backbone of most military forces, a Sergeant will frequently lead infantry or combat vehicle platoons or serve as the senior NCO in a company. This is the highest rank most soldiers will reach in their time in the military.

Star League Defense Forces[edit]

An SLDF sergeant was either a recent graduate from a military academy or a three year veteran of service. Their insignia was identical to a Private's, but each section was green instead of white.^[1]

The Second SLDF sergeant wore a patch that had each section rendered in black instead of the green used by the first SLDF.

SLDF Rank insignia

Rank	Insignia (First SLDF)[2]	Insignia (Second SLDF)[3]
Sergeant

Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance[edit]

In the LAAF, a sergeant will lead vehicle crews or command an infantry squad. As a result of the Federated Commonwealth Alliance, MechWarriors who graduate from a military academy will typically hold this rank.^[4] Their rank insignia is a Hunter's Point with a black circle in it.

LAAF Military Rank Insignia

Rank	Insignia
Sergeant

Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery[edit]

Prior to Theodore Kurita's ascension to the Coordinatorship, the DCMS called this rank Sergeant.^[5] After Theodore's reforms however, the rank was given a new Japanese name: Gunsho.^[6]

In each case, the DCMS used a stylized kanji number "4" in lavender as their rank insignia. The branch of service is shown via the background color of the pin.

DCMS Officer Ranks by branch of service

DCMS Ranks						DCA Ranks
Rank	MechWarrior	Aerospace fighter	Infantry	Armor	Artillery	Rank	Naval crew Draconis Combine Admiralty	Technical service
Gunsho (Sergeant)						Gunsho (Sergeant)

Armed Forces of the Federated Suns[edit]

In the AFFS, Sergeants command vehicles, lead battle armor squads, lead technical and gunnery crews. Like their SLDF and LAAF counterparts, MechWarriors graduating from academies enter the AFFS at this rank.^[7] Sergeants wear three Scars as their rank insignia, color coordinated with their branch. Academy graduates use curved Scars.

AFFS Ranks by Branch of service

Rank	MechWarrior	Aerospace fighter	Infantry	Armor	Naval crew	Technical service	Administrative	Medical	Legal	Logistics/ Transportation
Sergeant

Capellan Confederation Armed Forces[edit]

In the CCAF prior to Xin Sheng, a Lance Sergeant was the senior enlisted rank in an infantry platoon or armored vehicle lance and could temporarily assume command in the absence of the unit's CO. Within a company, one of the Lance Sergeants was considered "first among equals." After Xin Sheng the rank was retitled to Si-Ben-Bing or simply Sergeant. They wear the green bar of a corporal but with the green triangles along the outer edges removed, showing brass.^[8][9]

A standard infantryman of the Warrior Houses is called a Ban-zhang, or simply Warrior, but due to their exceptional training are considered on the same level as a Sergeant.^[9]

CCAF Military Ranks

CCAF Rank	Warrior House rank	Insignia
Si-ben-bing (Sergeant)	Ban-zhang (Warrior)

Free Worlds League[edit]

In the FWLM a Sergeant typically commands infantry and vehicle platoons. The FWLM Navy equivalent, Petty Officer, First Class typically lead work details or head up small sections.^[10]

A FWLM Sergeant/Petty Officer First Class uses three gold chevrons edged in purple as their rank insignia.

FWLM Military Rank Insignia

Rank	Insignia
Private, First Class

Prior to the passage of the Military Reorganization Act of 3046, the Duchy of Andurien's Defenders of Andurien regiments used the rank of junior serjeant.^[11]

The Clans[edit]

As is the case with most enlisted ranks, the Clans do not use the rank of Sergeant.^[12] Point Commander is the first official level of command authority. However, in certain formations that consist of a large number of warriors (solahma conventional infantry platoons or WarShip crews for example) or when dealing with Inner Sphere military forces, a clear chain of command is needed. As such a senior Warrior can be designated by the Point Commander as Point 1, Point 2, Point 3, Point 4, or Point 5. The upper ranks, Point 3, Point 4 and Point 5 could be considered equivalent to an Inner Sphere Sergeant.

Clan Blood Spirit[edit]

Clan Blood Spirit Military Rank Insignia

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Cloud Cobra[edit]

Clan Cloud Cobra Military Rank Insignia

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Coyote[edit]

Clan Coyote Military Rank Insignia^[13]

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Diamond Shark[edit]

Clan Diamond Shark Military Rank Insignia

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Fire Mandrill[edit]

Clan Fire Mandrill Military Rank Insignia^[14]

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Ghost Bear[edit]

Clan Ghost Bear Military Rank Insignia

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Goliath Scorpion[edit]

Clan Goliath Scorpion Military Rank Insignia

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Hell's Horses[edit]

Clan Hell's Horses Military Rank Insignia

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Ice Hellion[edit]

Clan Ice Hellion Military Rank Insignia

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Jade Falcon[edit]

Clan Jade Falcon Point Rank Insignia by Service Branch^[15]

Rank	MechWarrior	Aerospace fighter	Elemental	Freeborn
Point 1
Point 2
Point 3
Point 4
Point 5

Clan Nova Cat (SLDF)[edit]

Clan Nova Cat Military Rank Insignia^[16]

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Smoke Jaguar[edit]

Clan Smoke Jaguar Military Rank Insignia^[17]

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Snow Raven[edit]

Clan Snow Raven Rank Insignia by service branch^[18]

Rank	MechWarrior	Aerospace fighter	Elemental	Naval crew	Armor	Infantry	Support
Point 1
Point 2
Point 3
Point 4
Point 5

Clan Star Adder[edit]

Clan Star Adder Military Rank Insignia

Point positions (MechWarrior)
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Steel Viper[edit]

Clan Steel Viper Military Rank Insignia

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

Clan Wolf/Clan Wolf-in-Exile[edit]

Clan Wolf/Clan Wolf-in-Exile Military Rank Insignia^[19]

Point positions
Point 1	Point 2	Point 3	Point 4	Point 5

ComStar/Word of Blake[edit]

Due to their unique base six structure, neither ComStar nor the Word of Blake Militia use this rank. A senior Acolyte would fill this position.^[20]

Free Rasalhague Republic[edit]

In the KungsArmé this rank's Swedish name is the same as the English one, Sergeant.^[21] A KungsArmé sergeant wears a blue patch with an orange tau cross tipped 90° on it, surrounded by small orange squares as her rank insignia.

KungsArmé Military Rank Insignia

Rank	Insignia
Sergeant

Periphery Powers[edit]

Magistracy of Canopus[edit]

In the Magistracy Armed Forces, the rank of Lance Corporal is equivalent to an Inner Sphere Sergeant. Lance Corporals lead a squad or more of infantry in battle, and act as field instructors for soldiers who intend on staying in the MAF.^[22][23] Their rank insignia is three silver edged blue-green diamonds stacked on each other.

Magistracy Armed Forces Insignia

Rank	Insignia
Lance Corporal

Taurian Defense Force[edit]

In the Taurian Defense Force, a Force Sergeant commands a platoon of two to three infantry squads (20-30 troopers) or a lance of three armored vehicle maniples (6 vehicles). Within the aerospace arm, a Force Sergeant is the junior pilot of an aerospace fighter, while among the support branches they are low-level management positions.^[24][25][26] The Force Sergeant wears the silver ring and horn of a Section Leader but adds a red center dot.

Taurian Defense Force Insignia

Rank	Insignia
Force Sergeant

Marian Hegemony[edit]

The Hegemony Armed Forces, with their focus on recreating the Roman Empire, do not use this rank. The Latin name for the soldiers who are the senior enlisted in the HAF is Miles gregarius.^[27] A set of two inverted silver chevrons make up the rank insignia of a miles gregarius.

Marian Legions Insignia

Rank	Insignia
Miles gregarius

Outworlds Alliance[edit]

The Alliance Military Corps uses Guardian for soldiers who are known as Sergeants in the Inner Sphere. Due to the AMC's focus on AeroSpace and Naval assets, Guardians are likely to lead maintenance, technical, and gunnery crews. Their rank insignia is a single green circle with a smaller brown circle set in the center, and is worn on each lapel.^[28]

Alliance Military Corps Insignia

Rank	Insignia
Guardian

Aurigan Coalition[edit]

In the Aurigan Coalition Military, Force Sergeant is the rank given to:^[29]

• In infantry: Force Sergeant commands a platoon of twenty-five troopers (two squads plus a fireteam)
• In armor units: Force Sergeant commands an armor lance

Notes[edit]

• Ranks, when not preceding a name, are not capitalized.^[30]

Ex: The major stood and rendered a salute to General DeChavilier.

• Non-English ranks, with the exception of those used by the Federated Suns or Lyrans, are italicized.^[30]

• For more information, see BattleTechWiki:Manual of Style

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Field Manual: ComStar
• Field Manual: Crusader Clans
• Field Manual: Draconis Combine
• Field Manual: Federated Suns
• Field Manual: Lyran Alliance
• Field Manual: Periphery
• Field Manual: Warden Clans
• The Star League