United States Military
Staff Sergeant insignia
(U.S. Air Force)
Staff Sergeant is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Airman and below Technical Sergeant. It is the lowest form of non-commissioned officer.
Staff Sergeant insignia
(U.S. Army)
Staff Sergeant is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Army, just above Sergeant and below Sergeant First Class, and is a non-commissioned officer. They are generally placed in charge of squads, but can also act as platoon sergeants in the absence of a Sergeant First Class.
Staff Sergeant insignia
(U.S. Marine Corps)
Staff Sergeant is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, just above Sergeant and below Gunnery Sergeant, and is a non-commissioned officer.
British Army
Staff Sergeant (SSgt or S/Sgt) is also used in the British Army and ranks above Sergeant and below Warrant Officer Class 2. The rank is given a NATO code of OR-7, making it equivalent to an E-7 rank in the US forces such as a Sergeant First Class in the US Army. The insignia is the monarch's crown above three downward pointing chevrons.
In the Royal Marines the rank of Colour Sergeant is used instead. Flight Sergeant or Chief Technician are the Royal Air Force equivalents. In the Household Cavalry, the equivalent rank is Staff Corporal. Staff sergeants can also hold other appointments, such as Company Quartermaster Sergeant, and are usually known by that appointment. An infantry staff sergeant is always known as Colour Sergeant, no matter what his appointment.
British staff sergeants are never referred to as "Sergeant", which would be reducing their rank, but are referred to and addressed as "Staff Sergeant" or "Staff" ("Staff Jones", for instance) or by their appointment or its abbreviation. In some cavalry regiments (e.g. the Queen's Royal Lancers [1] (http://www.deathorglory.com/profiles/ssgt.htm)), a staff sergeant is addressed as "Sergeant Major".
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