Why do we call First Sergeants "1st Shirt"?

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 21:52:59 -0400

Is it an Army thing, or a tradition of some sort?

Response by Sgt Tom Gilmartin made Apr 20 at 2014 1:39 AM

Sgt Tom Gilmartin — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 01:39:29 -0400

We did it in the Air Force as well

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2014 4:12 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:12:06 -0400

Soldiers address and refer to First Sergeants as TOP or First Sergeant, abbreviated 1SG. I have wondered why Airmen use the term "Shirt" just as much as I wondered why there three ranks of 1SG in the Air Force.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Apr 20 at 2014 4:38 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 16:38:07 -0400

I found this in an Air Force magazine. Seems nobody knows for sure, but they offered three theories, which all seem to go back to pre-Air Force (i.e. Army) days, though strangely enough, I've never heard of this term in the Army itself. Anyway, here are the theories:<div><br></div><div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">The first and most colorful version has it that federal troops in the early frontier days wore their shirts into tatters and eagerly awaited the supply wagon bringing new uniforms. When it came, the first sergeant, being the ranking enlisted man, got the first pick of the shirts.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">The second theory is that the first sergeant, being the most senior and usually the most experienced of soldiers, often collected more decorations and insignia than anyone else. His shirt thus was the gaudiest—the first—in the outfit.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">The third explanation is that when the Army troops removed their shirts to work in hot weather, the first sergeant continued to wear his because he was boss of the work crew and did not do manual labor. When anyone wanted instruction on some subject, he was told to see “the shirt.”</p></div>

Response by 1SG Jason Fitzpatrick made Apr 21 at 2014 7:43 AM

1SG Jason Fitzpatrick — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 07:43:12 -0400

Nobody ever called me Top or First Shirt twice in my company.  I was the First Sergeant and would be addressed as that. I didn't address my seniors as SMADGE.  It is about respect.

Response by SGT Barry Green made Apr 22 at 2014 10:30 PM

SGT Barry Green — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 22:30:09 -0400

When I was in the service we called him "TOP" or First Sergeant. I think it depended

on the situation and where you were at at the time. This was the Army in the early 70's.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jun 15 at 2014 9:04 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 21:04:46 -0400

SSgt Hirner,

Yes, it comes from colonial times (not Air Force-we go back to '47). There were two thoughts: One-he was the guy who had shirts for distribution (control, not actual issue). Two-when there was work being done, troops would take off their shirts to work and since he was not working, would leave his on, hence the phrase go talk to the Shirt.

My guys either call me Senior, SMSgt, 1stSgt or Top. Not Shirt or Sgt. Do not respond to Shirt, and Sgt is not appropriate.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2014 2:27 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 14:27:34 -0400

Good question. Why do you all do that? WE don't in the Army. First time I ever heard that was when I was talking to my fiance's dad who served almost 11 years in the USAF.

Response by SPC Stephen Bobchin made Aug 25 at 2014 3:26 PM

SPC Stephen Bobchin — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:26:26 -0400

The 1st Shirt thing is as far as I can tell an Air Force only thing, and is much like us calling our 1SGs "Top" Its meant as a sign of respect, even if some do not see it as such.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Oct 19 at 2014 11:23 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 23:23:25 -0400

Hmm....I don't think "first shirt" is an Army thing. At least not in any unit I was ever in. I think calling one of my First Sergeants that would have caused him to put his "first boot" in my "first a$$".

Response by 1SG David Niles made Oct 20 at 2014 11:29 PM

1SG David Niles — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 23:29:09 -0400

Air Force calls first sergeants first shirts army calls 1sg "top" being the top sergeant in the unit. For the Air Force an e7 can be 1stSgt or first shirt if he is the senior sergeant

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2014 7:25 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 19:25:29 -0400

It's already been said - haven't heard that in the Army. Only First Sergeant or Top.

Response by SFC Nikhil Kumra made Jan 28 at 2015 6:35 AM

SFC Nikhil Kumra — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 06:35:07 -0500

I've never heard of this first shirt business...

Now I've heard people say "1st Sausage".... If I were a 1SG, and someone called me a 1st sausage, I'd imagine their life would be bad, quick.

Response by MSgt Dani Walker made May 16 at 2015 5:20 PM

MSgt Dani Walker — Sat, 16 May 2015 17:20:57 -0400

I remember a female First Sergeant when I was stationed at Eglin that got the nickname, "First Skirt"

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Jan 31 at 2016 5:06 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 17:06:40 -0500

"1st Shirt"...???? First time I ever saw that one. We always called our 1st Sergeants "Top"... We also had a Field 1st Sergeant who was our "Top" on all of our Field Exercises as well as our Company 1st Sergeant who didn't participate in our field exercises.

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Apr 1 at 2016 7:10 AM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 07:10:45 -0400

Because you are too lazy to walk to dental to get teeth pulled?

Response by MSgt Michael Uhl made May 7 at 2016 9:17 PM

MSgt Michael Uhl — Sat, 07 May 2016 21:17:42 -0400

I'm a retired Air Force First Sergeant and I was only addressed as First Sergeant. However,when others were talking to each other they commonly referred to me as the First Shirt. When I was a young airman I did the same. From my perspective airmen did this out of respect.

Response by SSG Lawrence Clinton made Mar 20 at 2023 3:22 PM

SSG Lawrence Clinton — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 15:22:10 -0400

In the 80's we called him Top or 1st First Sergeant, and it never changed when I went back in from 2002 to 2018. Never heard of First Shirt.