Wikipedia

Gunnery sergeant

"Gunny" redirects here. For the non-military nickname, see Gunny (nickname).
Gunnery sergeant
Gunnery sergeant insignia
Gunnery sergeant insignia
Gunnery sergeant insignia
Country United States
Service branch United States Marine Corps
AbbreviationGySgt
Rank groupNon-commissioned officer
NATO rank codeOR-7
Pay gradeE-7
FormationMarch 3, 1899; 126 years ago (March 3, 1899)
Next higher rankMaster sergeant
First sergeant
Next lower rankStaff sergeant
Equivalent ranks

Gunnery sergeant (GySgt) is the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, above staff sergeant and below master sergeant and first sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer (SNCO).[1] It has a pay grade of E-7. Gunnery sergeants are commonly referred by the nickname "Gunny".[2][3]

The gunnery sergeant insignia consists of two M1 Garands centered vertically between three chevrons and two rockers.

Responsibilities

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Gunnery sergeants in infantry units typically serve in the billet of "company gunnery sergeant"[4] or as the platoon sergeant of 23–69 Marines in a reconnaissance platoon or a crew-served weapons platoon (i.e., machine guns, mortars, assault weapons/rockets, and anti-tank missiles).[citation needed] In artillery batteries, gunnery sergeants serve as the "battery gunnery sergeant"[5] in the headquarters section of the firing battery's 94-member firing platoon. In tank and assault amphibian units gunnery sergeants may serve as a platoon sergeant of a 16-member platoon of four tanks or a 39-member platoon of 12 amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs), respectively. Tank and assault amphibian gunnery sergeants are also assigned as section leaders, in charge of either two tanks and 8 Marines or three AAVs and 9 Marines. Gunnery sergeants serving as platoon sergeants perform essentially the same duties as staff sergeant platoon sergeants, with the additional responsibility of supervising other staff non-commissioned officers (i.e., the gunnery/staff sergeants leading the organic sections of the platoon).

The company/battery gunnery sergeant serves as the unit's operations chief[6] and works with the executive officer to plan and coordinate unit training and operations. In combat, as a member of the unit's command group, he/she serves as a tactical adviser[7] to the commanding officer/battery commander regarding employment of the unit and assists in operating the command post or tactical operations center. In garrison, he/she is responsible to the company/battery commander for supervising and coordinating individual training for the enlisted members of the company or battery and may assist the company/battery first sergeant in the administration and non-tactical leadership of the unit and by supervising the property (logistics) NCO, advising the officers, mentoring subordinate ranking Marines, and performing other duties as assigned. The company/battery gunnery sergeant has been described as a "hands on disciplinarian". An approximate former equivalent in the United States Army would have been "field first sergeant".

Gunnery sergeants also serve as senior staff non-commissioned officers in military staff sections and headquarters and service companies and headquarters batteries at battalion/squadron, regiment/group, and division/wing headquarters levels.

In Command Element, Combat Logistics Element, and Aviation Combat Element organizations, gunnery sergeants serve in basically similar positions of responsibility, authority, and accountability as their Ground Combat Element counterparts, with perhaps slightly different titles, such as Division/Branch Chief/NCOIC or Department SNCOIC (Staff Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge) in the aircraft maintenance department of a Marine aircraft squadron.

History and insignia

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The rank of gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps was established by the Navy personnel act of March 3, 1899 (30 Stat. 1009) reflecting the duties of Marines in ship's detachments.[8] The original insignia was three chevrons point up with three straight "ties" with an insignia of a bursting bomb over a crossed rifle and naval gun.[9] From 1904 to 1929 the insignia went to three stripes only over a bursting bomb on top of crossed rifles. In 1929, like the rank of first sergeant, two "rockers" were added beneath the stripes with the same insignia in the middle. In 1937 the middle insignia was dropped.[10]

In December 1946, the Marine Corps eliminated the rank of gunnery sergeant, merging it with five other ranks into technical sergeant, at the second highest pay grade of E-2. Another reorganization of the ranks in 1958 restored gunnery sergeant to the rank structure.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "U.S. Military Rank Insignia". U.S. Department of War. Archived from the original on 29 January 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  2. ^ admin (22 June 2023). "USMC Slang: 164 Marine Corps Terms Only a Marine Would Know". Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  3. ^ "A Glimpse Into Service Slang". U.S. Department of War. Archived from the original on 4 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Through the Ranks: Gunnery Sergeant". DVIDS. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  5. ^ "0869 - Artillery Unit Leader MOS". COOL.mil. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Operations Chief". U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve. Archived from the original on 31 May 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Marine Corps Ranks | Marines". www.marines.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Marine ranks change over 234 years". DVIDS. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  9. ^ Perrenot, Preston B. (2011). United States Air Marine Corps Grade Insignia Since 1775 (Revised ed.). p. 98. ISBN 978-1448651450.
  10. ^ Veterans' Medals Workshop - MOA Press (30 November 2022). Marine Corps Enlisted Rank Insignia, (Marine Corps Chevrons) in WW II, Korea and Vietnam to Present!. Retrieved 17 February 2026 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ Nalty, Bernard C.; Strobridge, Truman R.; Turnbladh, Edwin T.; Gill, Rowland P. (1970). "United States Marine Corps Ranks and Grades 1775–1969" (Pamphlet). Washington, D.C.: United States Marine Corps History Division. p. 39–41.