United States
In the United States Army, a platoon sergeant is usually a Sergeant First Class and is the senior enlisted member of the platoon, and is the primary assistant and advisor to the platoon leader (and acts as the platoon leader in his or her absence). Unless the platoon leader has extensive prior experience as an enlisted member before being commissioned as a lieutenant, it is likely that the platoon sergeant will have a greater wealth of military experience due to the disparity in military service length between a new lieutenant and a Sergeant First Class (typically a platoon leader has between one and three years of service, whereas a platoon sergeant has from 7 to 15 years of service). Service experience, however, is not a prerequisite for commissioning and command. On occasion, when a Sergeant First Class is not available, either organically within the platoon or from another unit, a responsible Staff Sergeant will probably be appointed to fill the platoon sergeant position instead. Here is an excerpt from the Army's Field Manual titled "The Army Noncommissioned Officer Guide" (FM 7-22.7).
"While 'Platoon Sergeant' is a duty position, not a rank, the platoon sergeant is the primary assistant and advisor to the platoon leader, with the responsibility of training and caring for soldiers. The platoon sergeant helps the commander to train the platoon leader and in that regard has an enormous effect on how that young officer perceives NCOs for the rest of his career. The platoon sergeant takes charge of the platoon in the absence of the platoon leader. As the lowest level senior NCO involved in the company METL, platoon sergeants teach collective and individual tasks to soldiers in their squads, crews or equivalent small units."
In the United States Marine Corps, the billet of platoon sergeant is usually held by a Staff Sergeant (E-6). In 1929 the rank of Platoon Sergeant was officially authorized. During World War II the rank of Platoon Sergeant was a "line" grade whilst Staff Sergeant with a bar instead of a "rocker" was a staff grade. Today, the platoon sergeant is in charge of taking care of the Marines and the platoon's operational control while advising the platoon commander.
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