Sergeant

Inner Sphere Military Ranks
Enlisted
Field Officer
General Officer
For specific ranks see Military Ranks


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.

SLDF

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 SLDF-Sergeant-1stSL.png SLDF-Sergeant-2ndSL.png

Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance

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 SergeantLAAF.png

Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery

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-mech.png Gunsho-asf.png Gunsho-infantry.png Gunsho-armor.png Gunsho-artillery.png Gunsho
(Sergeant)
Gunsho-naval.png Gunsho-tech.png

Armed Forces of the Federated Suns

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 SergeantMW.png SergeantASF.png SergeantInfantry.png SergeantArmor.png SergeantNaval.png SergeantTech.png SergeantAdmin.png SergeantMedical.png SergeantLegal.png SergeantLogistics.png

Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

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) Sibenbing.png

Free Worlds League

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 CorporalFWL.png

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

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

Clan Blood Spirit Military Rank Insignia
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
Blood-Spirits-Point1.png Blood-Spirits-Point2.png Blood-Spirits-Point3.png Blood-Spirits-Point4.png Blood-Spirits-Point5.png

Clan Cloud Cobra

Clan Cloud Cobra Military Rank Insignia
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
CloudCobra-Point1.png CloudCobra-Point2.png CloudCobra-Point3.png CloudCobra-Point4.png CloudCobra-Point5.png

Clan Coyote

Clan Coyote Military Rank Insignia[13]
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
Coyote-Point1.png Coyote-Point2.png Coyote-Point3.png Coyote-Point4.png Coyote-Point5.png

Clan Diamond Shark

Clan Diamond Shark Military Rank Insignia
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
DiamondShark-Point1.png DiamondShark-Point2.png DiamondShark-Point3.png DiamondShark-Point4.png DiamondShark-Point5.png

Clan Fire Mandrill

Clan Fire Mandrill Military Rank Insignia[14]
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
FireMandrill-Point-1.png FireMandrill-Point-2.png FireMandrill-Point-3.png FireMandrill-Point-4.png FireMandrill-Point-5.png

Clan Ghost Bear

Clan Ghost Bear Military Rank Insignia
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
GhostBear-Point1.png GhostBear-Point2.png GhostBear-Point3.png GhostBear-Point4.png GhostBear-Point5.png

Clan Goliath Scorpion

Clan Goliath Scorpion Military Rank Insignia
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
GoliathScorpion-Point1.png GoliathScorpion-Point2.png GoliathScorpion-Point3.png GoliathScorpion-Point4.png GoliathScorpion-Point5.png

Clan Hell's Horses

Clan Hell's Horses Military Rank Insignia
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
HellsHorses-Point1.png HellsHorses-Point2.png HellsHorses-Point3.png HellsHorses-Point4.png HellsHorses-Point5.png

Clan Ice Hellion

Clan Ice Hellion Military Rank Insignia
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
IceHellion-Point1.png IceHellion-Point2.png IceHellion-Point3.png IceHellion-Point4.png IceHellion-Point5.png

Clan Jade Falcon

Clan Jade Falcon Point Rank Insignia by Service Branch[15]
Rank MechWarrior Aerospace fighter Elemental Freeborn
Point 1 JadeFalcon-TBMW-Point1.png JadeFalcon-TBASF-Point1.png JadeFalcon-TBElemental-Point1.png JadeFalcon-FB-Point1.png
Point 2 JadeFalcon-TBMW-Point2.png JadeFalcon-TBASF-Point2.png JadeFalcon-TBElemental-Point2.png JadeFalcon-FB-Point2.png
Point 3 JadeFalcon-TBMW-Point3.png JadeFalcon-TBASF-Point3.png JadeFalcon-TBElemental-Point3.png JadeFalcon-FB-Point3.png
Point 4 JadeFalcon-TBMW-Point4.png JadeFalcon-TBASF-Point4.png JadeFalcon-TBElemental-Point4.png JadeFalcon-FB-Point4.png
Point 5 JadeFalcon-TBMW-Point5.png JadeFalcon-TBASF-Point5.png JadeFalcon-TBElemental-Point5.png JadeFalcon-FB-Point5.png

Clan Nova Cat (SLDF)

Clan Nova Cat Military Rank Insignia[16]
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
NovaCat-Point1.png NovaCat-Point2.png NovaCat-Point3.png NovaCat-Point4.png NovaCat-Point5.png

Clan Smoke Jaguar

Clan Smoke Jaguar Military Rank Insignia[17]
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
SmokeJaguar-Point1.png SmokeJaguar-Point2.png SmokeJaguar-Point3.png SmokeJaguar-Point4.png SmokeJaguar-Point5.png

Clan Snow Raven

Clan Snow Raven Rank Insignia by service branch[18]
Rank MechWarrior Aerospace fighter Elemental Naval crew Armor Infantry Support
Point 1 SnowRaven-Point1-MW.png SnowRaven-Point1-ASF.png SnowRaven-Point1-Elemental.png SnowRaven-Point1-Naval.png SnowRaven-Point1-Armor.png SnowRaven-Point1-Infantry.png SnowRaven-Point1-Support.png
Point 2 SnowRaven-Point2-MW.png SnowRaven-Point2-ASF.png SnowRaven-Point2-Elemental.png SnowRaven-Point2-Naval.png SnowRaven-Point2-Armor.png SnowRaven-Point2-Infantry.png SnowRaven-Point2-Support.png
Point 3 SnowRaven-Point3-MW.png SnowRaven-Point3-ASF.png SnowRaven-Point3-Elemental.png SnowRaven-Point3-Naval.png SnowRaven-Point3-Armor.png SnowRaven-Point3-Infantry.png SnowRaven-Point3-Support.png
Point 4 SnowRaven-Point4-MW.png SnowRaven-Point4-ASF.png SnowRaven-Point4-Elemental.png SnowRaven-Point4-Naval.png SnowRaven-Point4-Armor.png SnowRaven-Point4-Infantry.png SnowRaven-Point4-Support.png
Point 5 SnowRaven-Point5-MW.png SnowRaven-Point5-ASF.png SnowRaven-Point5-Elemental.png SnowRaven-Point5-Naval.png SnowRaven-Point5-Armor.png SnowRaven-Point5-Infantry.png SnowRaven-Point5-Support.png

Clan Star Adder

Clan Star Adder Military Rank Insignia
Point positions (MechWarrior)
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
Star-Adder-Point-1.png Star-Adder-Point-2.png Star-Adder-Point-3.png Star-Adder-Point-4.png Star-Adder-Point-5.png

Clan Steel Viper

Clan Steel Viper Military Rank Insignia
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
SteelViper-Point1.png SteelViper-Point2.png SteelViper-Point3.png SteelViper-Point4.png SteelViper-Point5.png

Clan Wolf/Clan Wolf-in-Exile

Clan Wolf/Clan Wolf-in-Exile Military Rank Insignia[19]
Point positions
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
Wolf-Point1.png Wolf-Point2.png Wolf-Point3.png Wolf-Point4.png Wolf-Point5.png

ComStar/Word of Blake

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

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 FreeRasalhague-Sergeant.png

Periphery Powers

Magistracy of Canopus

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 MagistracyOfCanopus-LanceCorporal.png

Taurian Defense Force

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 TaurianConcordat-ForceSergeant.png

Marian Hegemony

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 MH-MilesGregarius.png

Outworlds Alliance

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 OA-Guardian.png

Aurigan Coalition

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

  • 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]


References

  1. The Star League, p. 112
  2. The Star League, p. 113
  3. Field Manual: ComStar
  4. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 30
  5. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 125
  6. Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 20
  7. Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 27
  8. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 71
  9. 9.0 9.1 Handbook House Liao, p. 111
  10. Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 22
  11. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 85
  12. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 11
  13. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 48
  14. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 45
  15. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 97
  16. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 112
  17. MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game, Second Edition, Color plate section
  18. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 127
  19. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 45
  20. Field Manual: ComStar
  21. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 66
  22. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 24
  23. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 86
  24. The Periphery, p. 74
  25. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 54
  26. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 112
  27. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 73
  28. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 88
  29. House Arano (The Aurigan Coalition), p.25
  30. 30.0 30.1 Per Line Developer Ray Arrastia, 02Aug2022 (screencap)

Bibliography