1st Sergeant Diamond

[Huey Driver]

Quick question. Can you just put a 1st Sergeant Diamond above whatever enlisted rank you want? I was at a wing level event and a bunch of us were questioning a C/SrA about it.

Couldn't find it quickly in the regs so I thought I'd ask here.

[Eclipse]

No.

[titanII]

If it were allowed (not my opinion, just a hypothetical situation), how would you even go about doing it? I've never seen "First Sergeant Diamond" (just the diamond) for sale on Vanguard... 

[MIKE]

It exists: http://www.vanguardmil.com/civil-air-patrol-cadet-grade-insignia-first-sergeant-chevron-p-7020.html

[ßτε]

If it were allowed (not my opinion, just a hypothetical situation), how would you even go about doing it? I've never seen "First Sergeant Diamond" (just the diamond) for sale on Vanguard... 

I guess you didn't look very hard.
http://www.vanguardmil.com/civil-air-patrol-cadet-grade-insignia-first-sergeant-chevron-p-7020.html

[Abby.L]

Oh boy... You may have just opened up a firestorm...
Okay, so, the lozenge, by itself, DOES exist. It really should be used for sergeants only, in case there are no senior NCOs in a squadron. That use, in itself, is fine. But, transferring it to a Sra is very similar to putting a MSgt as squadron commander: Just wrong.

But, this is just me. And here's a link for the separate diamond. http://www.vanguardmil.com/civil-air-patrol-cadet-grade-insignia-first-sergeant-chevron-p-7020.html

Darnit! I been beaten.

[ßτε]

Assuming First Sergeant insignia is authorized, it shouldn't be worn to wing activities.

[Abby.L]

Assuming First Sergeant insignia is authorized, it shouldn't be worn to wing activities.

It shouldn't, I do agree. But sometimes, it is all the cadet has. As for the Sra who had it, he/she could take the diamond off, as it is a separate entity entirely. For a MSgt though, I wouldn't buy 2 pairs of insignia.

[Extremepredjudice]

Assuming First Sergeant insignia is authorized, it shouldn't be worn to wing activities.

Depends on the activity.

At competitions you always see people wearing them

[Huey Driver]

Okay, thanks. Just checking. It looked pretty bad just loosely pinned right above his chevrons. We'll be sure to suggest that he's going to keep wearing them, to only have them on at the squadron and not to a Wing activity again. He is the highest ranking cadet in his squadron though (for at least enlisted).

But, transferring it to a Sra is very similar to putting a MSgt as squadron commander: Just wrong.

On a personal note, my squadron did have a 2 year member SrA who was commanding the cadets... 

Edit: @Extremepredjudice ... really?

[Extremepredjudice]

He should be a flight sergeant, not 1st sgt.


Edit:
Jersey, I saw the painted diamond at competitions and the other diamond at an airshow.

[Noble Six]

This diamond was never intended for cap use.  It was created by Glendale or the paradestore back before vanguard sold cap items. They tried marketing it to cap/afjrotc.  Then when vanguard sent out C&D letter the paradestore stopped selling them and vanguard picked them up because well they can.  I have never seen one before in person.

[a2capt]

Wait, what, really?

A C&D for a blue framed diamond? That doesn't even say CAP on it at all? Come on.

[Noble Six]

No the actual C&D was for everything else cap.  They carried everything.  But since the diamond was also under the cap section on paradestore website it was included.

[Hawk200]

This diamond was never intended for cap use.  It was created by Glendale or the paradestore back before vanguard sold cap items. They tried marketing it to cap/afjrotc.  Then when vanguard sent out C&D letter the paradestore stopped selling them and vanguard picked them up because well they can.  I have never seen one before in person.

The add-on diamond was used for Air Force First Sergeants back when the Master Sergeant ranks had six stripes down. There was a pin-on version for the small metal pin-on stripes, and a cloth version for the sleeve stripes.

People keep buying it, so Vanguard keeps making and selling it. It wasn't created for CAP, but it keeps getting used.

[lordmonar]

There is so much that is wrong here I don't know where to start.

1)  Commanders are the ones who appoint people to positions.  C/MSgt as commanders C/SrA as First Sergeants.  Now we can argue all day long about is it approprate and the somantics of titles et al.  Bottom line it is up the commander.
2)  You don't take off insignia just because you are at a wing function.  NEVER EVER. 
3)  The First Segeant diamon is still autorised as per KB.  Yes it is not in 39-1 but there is a lot thing that are not in 39-1...let's all accept that 39-1 sucks and move on.

[MSG Mac]

First Sergeanr is a position, not a grade. The Commander can name people to any irrregardless of grade. At one pointThe the Air Force consdered the First Sergeant as a careerfield (AFSC, MOS) beginning at SSG. 

[titanII]

I guess you didn't look very hard.

Well I haven't actually looked for it. I just haven't "happened upon it" before. My fault for not specifying.

[abdsp51]

 1st Sgt is a special duty in the AF for MSgt thru CMSgt.  It is an 8F000.

[Dad2-4]

3)  The First Segeant diamon is still autorised as per KB...

Please forgive my accronym ignorance. What's "KB".

...The Commander can name people to any irrregardless regardless of grade.

No offense intended, but I'm a school teacher and that one really bugs me.