How do you become a First Sergeant? The first sergeant has a military pay grade of E8 and holds more responsibility than his or her equivalent master sergeant. In the Army and the Marines, the first sergeant is a rank E-8. There are MANY more MSgts … A master sergeant is a staff NCO position at the battalion level or higher that usually isn't directly in charge of troops (but can be in some cases, such as an NCOIC of a certain section). A Master Sergeant is often specialized in certain field or subject matter. Favorite Answer In the Marine Corps, the best way I have heard it explained is that a Master Sergeant is an operations manager and a First Sergeant is a … I’m a Master Sergeant of Marines!” Sometimes 1stSgts are called “Top” but there are very few who let this happen, preferring the full “First Sergeant” name. Most do, but not all. Master Sergeant is the 9th rank in the United States Army, ranking above Sergeant First Class and directly below First Sergeant. A Master Sergeant is a senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) who serves as a brigade's NCO in Charge, equal in paygrade to a First Sergeant but with less leadership responsibilities than one. When a Marine makes Gunnery Sergeant (E7) he designates on his fitness report whether he'd like to be selected for 1stSgt or MSgt. Greater leadership qualities are expected of the FS than the MS, and he ranks slightly higher because of that. A Master Sergeant is often specialized in certain field or subject matter. In the Army, depending mostly upon your military occupational specialty (MOS) and other qualifications, when you are promoted to E-8, you become either a first sergeant or a master sergeant (who usually serves in a staff position). They are the company’s NCO in charge. The first sergeant has a military pay grade of E8 and holds more responsibility than his or her equivalent master sergeant. The first sergeant is the 10th highest rank in the Army. First Sergeant is the 10th rank in the United States Army, ranking above Master Sergeant and directly below Sergeant Major. As you know, the Army is run by the NCO company commander. A first sergeant is a Noncommissioned Officer at DoD paygrade E-8, with a starting monthly pay of $4,480. The main difference between First and Master Sergeant, is that the First Sergeant is more "visible", a father figure of sorts. However, the first sergeant […] The first sergeant is the 10th highest rank in the Army. A Master Sergeant is usually a staff position where he doesn't really lead troops where as a First Sergeant does in a company what a Sergeant Major does at … The Marine Corps has the final decision and he may not get the one he wants. Master sergeant then became the senior enlisted rank, ranking above technical sergeant and first sergeant (a positional rank/title for the senior technical sergeant in a company/battery/troop), while "sergeant major" became a "courtesy title" for the senior master sergeant in a battalion/squadron or higher headquarters. They are the company’s NCO in charge. A master sergeant is a Noncommissioned Officer at DoD paygrade E-8, with a starting monthly pay of $4,480 . As you know, the Army is run by the NCO company commander.