First shirt

First shirt

First shirt is military slang for the First Sergeant of a US military unit. The first shirt, often further shortened to "shirt," handles many administrative duties and administers minor punishments when necessary to members under the commander's authority. As the "first shirt" is on daily speaking terms with the unit commander, he or she will have more power than his rank would otherwise indicate. To be told to "see the shirt" generally means one is in trouble. The term "first shirt" is most often associated with the United States Air Force.

The term originates from work details; a person would say "go get me the shirt". This meant the person in charge of the work detail was the only one wearing a shirt, others wore only t-shirts.

Very large units may only be authorized one first shirt but have a need for the position in subordinate units. These un-official shirts are informally called "Under-shirts."


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