Platoon Sergeant
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In most armies, a Platoon Sergeant is the title and position given to a senior enlisted member of a platoon, who advises and support's the platoon's commanding officer in leading the unit.
In the Singapore Armed Forces, a platoon sergeant serves as the "bridge" between the Platoon Commander and the rest of the platoon, leading the platoon in many assigned tasks and assuming command in the platoon commander's absence. In some platoons, they may be more than one platoon sergeant.
Platoon sergeants exercise authority over section commanders who are only responsible for the management of a given section in the platoon. Platoon sergeants work with the Company Sergeant Major and subordinate Section Commanders. They are responsible for the discipline and training of the men. The Platoon Sergeant is responsible for preparing the men parades and ceremonies. In exercises and operations, he is in charge of logistics, and medical aid.
Platoon Sergeants are usually selected as Third Sergeants. On completion of the Platoon Sergeant Course at School of Infantry Specialists, he is promoted to Second Sergeant, before assuming his appointment.
| Rank | Third Sergeant | Second Sergeant | First Sergeant | Staff Sergeant | Master Sergeant |
| Abbreviation | 3SG | 2SG | 1SG | SSG | MSG |
| More details at Specialist | |||||
In a United States Army, a platoon sergeant is usually a Sergeant First Class. The platoon sergeant is a senior enlisted member of the platoon, who is the primary assistant and advisor to the platoon leader and acts as the platoon leader in his or her absence. Unless the platoon leader has extensive prior experience as an enlisted member before being commissioned as a lieutenant, it is likely that the platoon sergeant will have a greater wealth of military experience due to the disparity in military service length between a new lieutenant and a Sergeant First Class; service experience, however, is not a prerequisite for commissioning and command. On occasion, when a Sergeant First Class is not available for assignment, either organically within the platoon or from another unit, a responsible Staff Sergeant will likely be appointed to fill the platoon sergeant position instead.