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First sergeant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical first sergeant skills. We ranked the top skills for first sergeants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 20.2% of first sergeant resumes contained personnel actions as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a first sergeant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 first sergeant skills for your resume and career

1. Personnel Actions

A personnel action means any action taken which affects compensation, appointment, promotion, transfer, assignment, reassignment, reinstatement, evaluation of performance, layoff, dismissal, discipline, commendations, or any other action that affects the status of employment, etc. For example organizational reassignment, hiring an employee, or an employee leaving the company, are represented by separate personnel actions.

Here's how first sergeants use personnel actions:
  • Supervised the initiation process of personnel actions including record updates, assignments/reassignments, contingency operations, awards, and strength management.
  • Ensured compliance with Affirmative Action Employment and Equal Employment Opportunity requirements, and initiated personnel actions using automated Human Resource programs.

2. Professional Development

Professional development means to have the essential training certification or education with the purpose of earning and having a successful career. Every job requires a different set of skills. However, new skills may be needed in the future. Professional development, in this regard, helps people to develop and polish the skills and become efficient workers.

Here's how first sergeants use professional development:
  • Managed/executed professional development/logistics of department; ensured all administrative/logistical requirements were met including maintenance/accountability of all company equipment.
  • Managed professional development/evaluation of 29 non-commissioned officers.

3. General Supervision

Here's how first sergeants use general supervision:
  • Provide general supervision over enlisted members and provided a critical link to leadership in providing a mission-ready force.
  • Provided general supervision to JOC staff as well as coordinating efforts with Force Protection and Vulnerability Assessment personnel.

4. Combat

Combat is a violent conflict between two parties. Combat can be held by using weapons or unarmed. The fighting between the armed forces of different countries can also be called combat and the main purpose of the combat is to eliminate and stop your opponent from achieving their goal.

Here's how first sergeants use combat:
  • Developed Standard Operating Procedures and trained command post crews to effectively track battle operations, logistics and casualties during combat operations.
  • Developed and led a Regimental-wide, quarterly command and control communications training program to exchange combat lessons-learned between Ranger Battalions.

5. Logistical Support

Here's how first sergeants use logistical support:
  • Exercised staff responsibility for units engaged in medical supply and service operations and other logistical support throughout the South Korean peninsula.
  • Utilized extensive supply expertise with compartmentalized logistics programs to prepare checklists, inspect units, and provide critical technical logistical support.

6. Personnel Accountability

Here's how first sergeants use personnel accountability:
  • Managed organization strength changes and ensured accuracy in resolving differences between the Personnel Accountability Report and the Human Resource Authorization Report.
  • Provided leadership, maintained personnel accountability, oversaw records maintenance, and processing of administrative actions.

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7. NCO

Here's how first sergeants use nco:
  • Staff movements NCO coordinated transportation of critical personnel and mission essential equipment throughout theater of operations as needed.
  • Served as principal NCO in a mechanized infantry company and supervised the processing of intelligence information.

8. Human Resources

Human resources is a set of people in a business or a corporation that are designated to locate, interview, and recruit new employees into the company. They are also responsible to maintain the integrity of the employees and help them sort their problems out. They try to introduce and manage employee-benefit programs.

Here's how first sergeants use human resources:
  • Ensured military human resources activities were focused on readiness and effective utilization.
  • Interpreted and explained human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, and regulations to all military and civilian employees.

9. Disciplinary Actions

Disciplinary actions refer to a corrective measure taken against an employee for unsatisfactory behavior. Many work environments have a tiered system for disciplinary action, where the first warning is verbal and the second is written. Disciplinary action may be given after a weak performance review, a violation of company rules and policies, or a poor customer review.

Here's how first sergeants use disciplinary actions:
  • Reviewed/processed emergency leave; performances reports; awards/decorations; promotions/demotions; and classification, quality control, and disciplinary actions.
  • Lead disciplinary actions providing recommendations to the commander based on investigations and information provided by service members.

10. Career Progression

Here's how first sergeants use career progression:
  • Perform counseling and guidance to military supervisors and members for the purpose of resolving communication and behavioral conflicts and career progression.
  • Provided advice for entitlements, career progression, professional military education, deployment and finances.

11. Training Programs

Here's how first sergeants use training programs:
  • Assisted in the development and execution of training programs to correct deficient areas and enhance individual proficiency for Battalion.
  • Planned and executed leadership development training programs for mid-level enlisted managers; and mentoring programs for junior enlisted members.

12. Administrative Actions

Here's how first sergeants use administrative actions:
  • Ensured administrative actions such as evaluation processing, correspondence management, Defense Travel System processing and travel coordination.
  • Developed and supervised daily company operations to include personnel, administrative actions, physical training and maintenance.

13. Individual Training

Here's how first sergeants use individual training:
  • Developed and conducted training assessments, gap analysis and other processes to identify and document organizational and individual training needs.
  • Managed individual training and processing of assigned personnel in preparation for deploying to Iraq.

14. Battery

An automotive battery is usually a rechargeable battery that starts a motor vehicle. Skills around batteries include advising customers regarding battery specifications, safety, and maintenance. Other battery related work includes understanding battery failure and recommend customers with preemptive measures regarding battery maintenance.

Here's how first sergeants use battery:
  • Assisted Battery Operations Non-Commissioned Officer in daily administrative duties.
  • Supervised a deployed Field Artillery Battery.

15. Physical Fitness

Physical fitness is the ability to perform daily activities with optimal performance, endurance, and strength. It is very important for good health and is generally achieved through a good diet, moderate to vigorous physical exercise, and adequate rest. Physical fitness protects against many chronic diseases, helps control weight, lowers blood pressure, and improves sleep quality and overall heart health.

Here's how first sergeants use physical fitness:
  • Managed employee development and training which included weapons qualifications, physical fitness testing and overseas deployment training preparation.
  • Received only Distinguished Honor Graduate and Highest Army Physical Fitness Test awards
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List of first sergeant skills to add to your resume

First sergeant skills

The most important skills for a first sergeant resume and required skills for a first sergeant to have include:

  • Personnel Actions
  • Professional Development
  • General Supervision
  • Combat
  • Logistical Support
  • Personnel Accountability
  • NCO
  • Human Resources
  • Disciplinary Actions
  • Career Progression
  • Training Programs
  • Administrative Actions
  • Individual Training
  • Battery
  • Physical Fitness
  • Evaluation Reports
  • Unit Training
  • US Army
  • Corrective Action
  • Training Events
  • Administrative Functions
  • Operational Readiness
  • Personnel Issues
  • Performance Reports
  • Performance Evaluations
  • Direct Support
  • Physical Security
  • Drug Abuse
  • Professional Growth
  • Human Relations
  • Career Development
  • Personnel Management
  • Airmen
  • Technical Guidance
  • DOD
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Tactical Operations
  • Training Schedules
  • Redeployment
  • MOS
  • Professional Military Education
  • Unit Administration
  • Collective Training
  • E-8
  • Base Agencies
  • Ammunition
  • Medal
  • Bliss
  • Supply Support
  • HHC

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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