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

United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...

, as well as in the U.S.

Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a Congressional charter, congressionally chartered, federally supported Nonprofit corporation, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliaries, auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CA ...

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

Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) () is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare. , it had an estimated strength of 143,100 soldiers The service branch was established on December ...

, 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) () are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Philippine Army, Army, the Philippine Air Force, Air Force, and the Philippine Navy, Navy (including the P ...

. It is a enlisted personnel rank used by

, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Marine Corps (under the

Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy (PN) () is the naval warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It has an estimated strength of 24,500 active service personnel, including the 10,300-strong Philippine Marine Corps. It operates 91 combat ...

). The rank stands above the rank of

staff sergeant Staff sergeant is a Military rank, 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 administr ...

and below

master sergeant A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries. Israel Defense Forces The (abbreviated "", master sergeant) is a non-commissioned officer () rank in the Israel Defense Force ...

. 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 force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

United States Space Force The United States Space Force (USSF) is the space force branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces, armed forces of the United States and one of the eight uniformed services of the Unite ...

, and

. It is a former rank in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

and

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

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, 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

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 gunnery sergeant replaced it 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

. A technical sergeant is a noncommissioned officer 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.

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 ma ...

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

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

may retain that rank as members of the CAP. Cadets in the Civil Air Patrol can hold the grade of cadet technical sergeant (abbreviated C/TSgt). The grade of cadet technical sergeant is above cadet staff sergeant and beneath cadet master sergeant. Cadet technical sergeants typically serve as flight sergeants File:CAP-OR-6.svg, Civil Air Patrol technical sergeant insignia File:CTSgt.svg, Civil Air Patrol cadet 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 Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...