General
buck sergeant
What does buck sergeant mean?
A sergeant at the E-5 pay grade, the junior of the sergeant ranks; 'buck' connotes the entry level of the grade.
"He pinned on buck sergeant last month."
Origin
US Army slang.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'buck sergeant'?
It's a sergeant at the E-5 pay grade — the junior of the sergeant ranks in the US Army. 'Buck' signals the entry level of the grade.
Why is an E-5 called a 'buck' sergeant?
'Buck' connotes the basic or bottom rung of a rank, the same way a 'buck private' is the lowest private. It marks the most junior sergeant.
Where does 'buck sergeant' come from?
It's US Army slang used to distinguish an E-5 sergeant from the higher NCO grades like staff sergeant and above.
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