What exactly does an E-8 Master Sergeant in the Army do?

Jake Lang — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 19:51:52 -0400

Hello RallyPoint, hope you are all doing well. Had a bit of a question that I took all over the internet, but haven't gotten much from other sources. We know an E-8 First Sergeant is a company senior enlisted, but what does an E-8 Master Sergeant do? No matter which link or site (Wiki included) that I went to, they didn't reiterate much, just that they were the chief operations NCO at the battalion level. Like what kind of job do they do for a battalion? Or company? What EXACTLY do they do? And how does command decide to billet them over as a First Sergeant? Anyways, hope you guys are all doing well.

Response by MSG Felipe De Leon Brown made Sep 3 at 2020 10:20 PM

MSG Felipe De Leon Brown — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 22:20:16 -0400

I served in a variety of positions during my last seven years of active duty. A Master Sergeant (MSG) can be slotted in either a MSG or Sergeant Major (SGM) position. I spent time as an SFODA Operations Sergeant, a Battalion PsyOps NCOIC, the USARSO Protocol NCOIC, the Operations & Plans Division SGM for the DCSPER-1st SOCOM, a Group Plans/Training SGM and the Operations Sergeant (E-9 slot) for the JOTC at Fort Sherman, Panama before retiring. From time to time, I had to fill in as the Base Sergeant Major as well.
Master Sergeants are promoted to the rank with the knowledge that they might have to perform the duties of a Sergeant Major or First Sergeant. We are often the most senior NCO in a unit and as such have to be very proficient/skilled in our craft. Prior to promotion to MSG, I was the Chief Instructor of the Communications-Electronics Committee of the Special Forces School, a MSG/E8 billet.
Most of the billets that I experienced as a MSG didn't require being a "daddy" to many subordinates except when I had to fill in for the company 1SG. Most of the time, I had to work with Majors and above. In short, a Master Sergeant can do many things and often has to depending on the unit's missions.
Hope this helps. FYI, SGT Robert Pryor MSG Leamon Ratterree @SP5 Jim Curry SGT Robert Foti SSG Dennis R. SGT Denny Espinosa

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2020 11:01 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 23:01:02 -0400

It really won’t make sense to you right now since you don’t have any frame of reference to understand it. You won’t understand or even be in a position to understand until you are at least 15 years in the Army. For you right now it’s like explaining the difference between an i7 Intel core and and ARM processor to your friends grandparents.
As to what they do, they are one of the people WAY above you who tell your superiors what to do and when to do it for reasons you don’t yet understand

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2020 2:31 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 02:31:48 -0400

Our E-8 Master Sargent in the 82nd 505th Inf was the NCO in charge of supply, but there was a 2nd LT in charge of the supply that was learning the ropes from the E-8. Also there was a E-8 in charge of the motor pool for the 505th., but a WO was over all of the motor pool.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 4 at 2020 5:14 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 05:14:40 -0400

While your interest is a positive attribute, you should be focusing on what an E1 through E4 and maybe Sergeant. The role of an E8 is vast and dynamically different based on one of many positions at many levels, and different MOS’s. Keep the interest, but focus on areas that will help you get your career off the ground. Keep it up.

Response by 1SG Alan Boggs made Sep 4 at 2020 6:28 AM

1SG Alan Boggs — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 06:28:33 -0400

You do not find Master Sergeants at the company level with the exception of Headquarters companies which are the companies that contain the Battalion staff. While a 1SG is the senior enlisted soldier in a company and is the chief advisor to the company comander. Headquarter companies not only have a 1SG but also have master sergeants who advise the battalon staff section officers (S1, S2, S3, ect...) These are the sections that make a military organization function. Master Sergeants are basically the platoon sergeant for battalion staff sections.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Sep 4 at 2020 9:20 AM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 09:20:35 -0400

Master Sergeants are usually NCOIC's of critical sections, We had a Master Sergeant running the daily operations of the S-3 Shop, Brigade level S-4, Brigade level Retention, D-facs, Barracks Program, Post detail. The diamond just signifies that the Master Sergeant is the "first" Sergeant, or senior NCO , of a company. Much like a wreath around star signifies that the SGM is the Senior NCO of a Battalion or Brigade. Most Battalion and higher have two Sergeants Major, one that is the CSM, and one that is the OPS senior NCO.

Response by SSG Harry Outcalt made Sep 6 at 2020 2:38 AM

SSG Harry Outcalt — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 02:38:07 -0400

depends on the E-8 Master Sargeant's MOS...

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Sep 7 at 2020 8:17 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 20:17:42 -0400

You are in the Dark, but MSG normally run Battalion/Brigade Operations/Intell shops and are assistant NCOIC's at Division level shops.

Response by MSG Richard C Finley made Sep 10 at 2020 9:51 AM

MSG Richard C Finley — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 09:51:19 -0400

it use to be that Master Sargent's were is Staff positions as i was. usually S-3 Bn, Bde or Div. but sometime before i retired the S-3 Ops Sgt Position had change to a SGM. and Master Sargent is a non leadership position (no green tabs)

Response by MSG James McGuire made Sep 14 at 2020 6:34 PM

MSG James McGuire — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 18:34:29 -0400

This probably illustrates the myriad of duties and skills that I used as a Master Sergeant during my last eight years on active duty. Obviously, not every Master Sergeant is going to have the great fortune that I did with these assignments but they give you some idea of the valuable experience the military can provide you in the senior ranks. Duties, Accomplishments, and Related Skills: Non-commissioned Officer in charge of a division consisting of three branches. Interfaced with all divisions in the Intelligence and Security board to ensure the proper budget and personnel management of all test support personnel.
Non-commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) Battalion S-3 Responsible for ensuring all assigned training and live air missions were accomplished as scheduled. Responsible for ensuring national asset tasking/requests for information were processed to support our mission. Developed and implemented a computer-assisted suspense system, which alleviated the missed and not completed actions within the battalion. Assisted in identifying unit mission and requirements as tasked by higher headquarters.
Electronic Warfare/Signals Intelligence (EW/SIGINT) Analyst Operational Independent Evaluator for the All Source Analysis System (ASAS), Very Intelligent Surveillance and Target Acquisition System (VISTA), Integrated Meteorological System (IMETS), Battlefield Deception, Long Range Electro-optic system (LEROS), and Light Infantry Division Certification. Served as the Intelligence Center and Ft. Huachuca Representative for Test and Evaluation on the Source Selection Board for the Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS). Coordinated testing strategy and intelligence requirements with other headquarters (Department of the Army (DA), Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM)), laboratories (EWRSTA, SWC, HDL, and ASL), and other services. Performed in-depth analysis to support the evaluation and reporting of operational testing. Wrote detailed evaluations of IEW systems to support the Army's acquisition process. Participated in a series of conferences between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Intelligence Center and School for the integration of LANDSAT imagery and Air Force Satellite Weather data into a Geographic Information System similar to the Digital Terrain Support System. Developed and briefed General Officer and Senior Executive Service (SES) level In-Progress-Review presenting TRADOC and Military Intelligence (MI) proponent positions. S-3 Plans Non-Commissioned Officer and First Sergeant S-3 Plans NCO for Field Station Sinop Turkey planned and exercised the contingency plans for crisis and wartime utilization of assigned intelligence personnel for Turkey, four Major Commands, US Navy and Air Force, and international environments. EW/SIGINT Analyst Senior Traffic Analyst at Field Station Augsburg on the Department of the Army special project Stubby Pencil/Tracer Round. Responsible for the analysis of several years' worth of raw data on a specific target entity. Required to Isolate and extract key elements; establish an operational database, and graph activity levels. Coordinated with Field Station Berlin, the National Security Agency, and GCHQ (British Intelligence Headquarters).

Response by MSG Richard Robinson made Nov 9 at 2020 1:39 AM

MSG Richard Robinson — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 01:39:13 -0500

His position would be the Battalion Training and Operations NCO

Response by MSG Paul DePrimo made Nov 19 at 2020 7:16 PM

MSG Paul DePrimo — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 19:16:52 -0500

Shout out to all you 19z50 Mike Golfs!

Response by MSG Darrell Taylor made Dec 28 at 2020 1:13 PM

MSG Darrell Taylor — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 13:13:52 -0500

MSG in infantry units are assigned to Bn or BDE usually in the S3 shop. more times than not they are just there waiting for a 1SG spot to open up or are retired on active duty (ROAD) waiting to drop them papers!!

Response by MSG Donald Patrick made Jan 26 at 2021 1:57 AM

MSG Donald Patrick — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 01:57:23 -0500

A MSG is normally the top NCO position at Brigade and some times at Battalion, Division and even at Corps level staffs. At Corps level they are known as Chief NCO as opposed to SGM. The grade of the Staff Officer can be a determining basis for whether it be MSG or SGM. I’ve been the top NCO in an Bn S1 shop as an E6. Another time I was in an E8 position as the Chief NCO in a VII Corps Staff section. Working in Force Development I was constrained normally by TOE standards, but with TDAs I did have a wider hand.