Gunnery Sergeant

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OR-7 Badge of Rank
Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

Gunnery Sergeant ( GySgt ) is a sub-officer rank ( nco - non-commissioned officer ) of the US Marine Corps (USMC). He is located directly above the Staff Sergeant and below the Master Sergeant and is paid according to salary level E-7. The corresponding NATO rank code is OR-7. The rank is thus comparable to a Sergeant / hauptbootsmann the Bundeswehr and the Chief Petty Officer of the US Navy .

tasks

The Gunnery Sergeant is usually the first sergeant of a train ( platoon used) and the platoon leader ( platoon commander ) reports directly. However, it is also possible to work as a training instructor ( DI - drill instructor ) for three years at either the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego ( California ) or Parris Island ( South Carolina ). However, before you can take on this task, you will be specially trained ( Drill Instructor School ).

Salutation

Gunnery Sergeants are commonly addressed as "Gunny" by senior soldiers and officers. This moniker is considered an expression of appreciation and also camaraderie and is always used except in formal and ceremonial moments. Whether younger soldiers are allowed to address the GySgt with "Gunny" is entirely at the discretion of the GySgt.

Emergence

Gunnery Sergeant's Badge
Gunnery Sergeant 1904-1929
Gunnery Sergeant 1929-1937
Gunnery Sergeant 1937-1959
Gunnery Sergeant since 1960
GySgt from 1904–1929 GySgt from 1929-1937 GySgt from 1937-1959 GySgt since 1960

During the Spanish-American War in 1898, the US Marine Corps introduced the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. The badge consisted of three upright angles, three underlying stripes and a rifle crossed with a naval cannon behind the USMC emblem "Globe, Anchor and Eagle" in the middle.

In 1904 the badges were changed. At the time, the GySgt's badge consisted of three upright angles and two crossed rifles underneath, and an exploding bomb on a red background.

Since almost half of the Marines were deployed aboard ships of the US Navy by 1900 , GySgt were originally sergeants who were competent in the field of handguns, communications and naval gunnery.

After the First World War , GySgt were often not used in the naval artillery in a technically specialized manner , but were also entrusted with other tasks. They were used as office workers, chauffeurs, security guards and military policemen. When the rank of Staff Sergeant was introduced in early 1923 , the Commandant of the Marine Corps prohibited GySgt from continuing to be used in this manner. Instead, they now had to qualify in fields such as repair, flight mechanics, communication or gun technology. In 1929 two arches were added below the badge.

When the Second World War was over, the rank structure of the US Marine Corps was changed again, not least to abolish many technician ranks that were necessary during the war. Among other things, the First Sergeant , Platoon Sergeant , Quartermaster Sergeant and Sergeant Major were abolished. At that time, the GySgt's badge was very similar in shape to today's one (three ascending angles and two subsequent arcs). In fact, the rank of GySgt was also given up in this reform, or replaced by the rank of Technical Sergeant , with many being informally addressed as "Gunny". In addition, the badge had already lost the exploding bomb in the middle in 1937.

From 1958 to January 1, 1963, the ranking system for NCOs was changed again, including a transition phase. The transition phase was created so that veteran Marines would not lose stripes. Acting or acting ranks were introduced so the Marines could keep their titles, badges and privileges. Then they were promoted to the new ranks during the transition period. In the course of this reform, however, the Technical Sergeant was dropped again and the Marines in this rank became acting Gunnery Sergeants . The prefix acting was then abolished on August 1, 1960 by order of the commandant.

The GySgt's rank had an eventful history from its introduction in 1898 to its last change in 1959. In the 1960s , only two crossed rifles were added in the center of the badge.

swell

  1. ↑ Michael O'Quinlivan: Enlisted Rank Insignia in the US Marine Corps 1798-1958, Washington, DC, United States Government Printing Office , 1959. The design prescribed for the gunnery sergeant consisted of three chevrons and three bars with the "device of the school of application "- a crossed rifle and naval gun behind a globe, anchor and eagle - in the center.
  2. ^ Henry Pavlovic: US Marine Corps In World War I 1917-1918, Osprey 1999, p. 45. It originally denoted a shipboard sergeant proficient in smallarms, signaling and naval gunnery, and institution of the rank played a symbolic part in the Navy's internal struggle over whether the Marines were primarily to stay on board ship and serve as part of the vessel's guncrew. In 1900 half of the Corps was based on board ships;
  3. ↑ United States Marine Corps Ranks And Grades 1775–1969, HQMC 1970, p. 138. Instead, they were required to qualify in some phase of engineering or post maintenance, aviation, communications, motor transportation, or ordnance.
  4. ↑ USMC Ranks And Grades, pp. 162-174. Effective December 1, 1946, the new designations of rank went into effect.
  5. ↑ USMC Ranks And Grades, pp. 178ff. This was achieved by establishing "acting" ranks, so that all Marines would be able to retain their existing titles, insignia, and privileges. Upon promotion, they would assume the new rank titles. The prefix "acting", however, wasabolished by the Commandant on August 1, 1960, and the end of the transitional period for all grades was moved up to July 1, 1963. [...] Marines holding that rank were designated acting gunnery sergeants.

See also