Technical sergeant is the name of two current and two former enlisted ranks in the

United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is ...

, as well as in the U.S.

Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded mem ...

. Outside the United States, it is used only by the

Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) (Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the A ...

, Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Marine Corps.

Philippines

The rank of technical sergeant is used by the

Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The ...

. It is a non-commissioned officer rank used by

, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Marine Corps (under the Philippine Navy). The rank stands above the rank of

Staff sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. History of title In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administrative, supe ...

and below Master sergeant. File:PHIL ARMY TSG WOODLAND.svg, File:PAF TSG SL.svg, File:PMC TSG Slv.svg,

United States

Technical sergeant is a rank in the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army S ...

United States Space Force The United States Space Force (USSF) is the Space force, space service branch of the United States Armed Forces, U.S. Armed Forces, one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and the world's only inde ...

, and

. It is a former rank in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

and

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through ...

Army

The rank of technical sergeant existed from after World War I until 1948 when the rank was renamed sergeant first class. In 1920 the army combined several battalion/squadron level "staff" NCO ranks, including

battalion quartermaster sergeant Regimental quartermaster sergeant (RQMS) is a military rank in some militaries, and an appointment in others. Irish Defence Forces Battalion quartermaster sergeant (BQMS, ''ceathrúsháirsint cathláin'' in Irish) is a rank in the Irish Army an ...

, battalion supply sergeant, ordnance sergeant, hospital sergeant, three grades of master sergeant (junior grade), and six additional senior-level technical and specialist ranks into the new technical sergeant rank. In 1944 when rifle squad leaders became

staff sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. History of title In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administrative, supe ...

s, platoon sergeants were promoted to technical sergeants. In 1948 the army renamed technical sergeant as sergeant first class. US Army WWII TSGT.svg, Technical sergeant insignia, U.S. Army (1920–1948)

Marine Corps

Technical sergeant was a rank in the

until 1958. From 1941 until 1946, the rank was equivalent to grade 2, ranking with gunnery sergeant and other technical ranks. From 1947 until 1958, the rank was reclassified as E-6 and became the sole rank in this grade. The rank was renamed gunnery sergeant and elevated to E-7 after the reorganization of grades in 1959. File:USMC-TSG 1941.svg, Technical sergeant insignia, U.S. Marine Corps (1941–1946) File:USMC-TSG 1954.svg, Technical sergeant insignia, U.S. Marine Corps (1946–1959)

Air Force

Technical sergeant, "tech sgt" or "TSgt" in informal parlance, is the sixth enlisted rank ( pay grade E-6) in the U.S. Air Force, just above

and below master sergeant. A technical sergeant is a

noncommissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...

and abbreviated as TSgt (with no period in official USAF and other military correspondence). Official terms of address are "technical sergeant" or "sergeant", although many use "tech sergeant" in informal situations. File:E6 USAF TSGT.svg, U.S. Air Force technical sergeant insignia

Civil Air Patrol

The

(CAP), a

non-profit corporation A nonprofit corporation is any legal entity which has been incorporated under the law of its jurisdiction for purposes other than making profits for its owners or shareholders. Depending on the laws of the jurisdiction, a nonprofit corporation may ...

Congressionally chartered to operate as the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, has a quasi-military structure which includes the rank of technical sergeant. The grade of technical sergeant is above

and beneath master sergeant. Former military enlisted personnel who held the rank of technical sergeant in the

may retain that rank as members of the CAP. File:CAP-OR-6.svg, Civil Air Patrol technical sergeant insignia

Space Force

On February 1, 2021, the

announced its permanent rank structure, establishing the grade of technical sergeant as its permanent E-6 grade. This continued its usage from the Air Force. The grade of technical sergeant is above sergeant and beneath master sergeant. USSF TSgt Flat.svg, U.S. Space Force technical sergeant insignia

References

{{US enlisted ranks Enlisted ranks of the United States Air Force Enlisted ranks of the United States Space Force Military ranks of the United States Army Air force ranks United States military enlisted ranks