Ever wonder what in the world a "Shirt" is or who it is?
In the Air Force, “first sergeant” or shirt is not a grade but a special duty designation. He or she reports directly to the unit commander on matters of enlisted morale, welfare, and conduct, and is the chief enlisted advisor to the commander on all of these factors.
The position normally is filled by noncommissioned officers with the permanent ranks of master sergeant, senior master sergeant, or chief master sergeant. They can be identified by the diamond device that they wear on the center of their rank insignia.
Specifically, the first shirt helps provide a commander with a mission-ready enlisted force and prepares enlisted personnel for deployments. He advises the commander on a wide range of topics including the health of his airmen and their esprit de corps, discipline, well-being, career progression, and professional development. The first sergeant works with fellow senior NCOs and supervisory personnel to ensure equitable discipline.
He ensures that supervisors set an appropriate example for subordinates and provides guidance. He oversees training in leadership, customs and courtesies, dress and personal appearance, self-discipline, adherence to standards, drill and ceremony, and safety. The first sergeant helps enlisted members adapt to the military environment and adjust to the organization and manages care and upkeep of unit dormitories and adjacent grounds. He coordinates with supervisors to schedule unit functions, duties, leaves, and passes.
Above is from the airforce-magazine.com
MSgt Kelly Riedel - 366 MDG First Shirt
He is also a call away if your ride falls through and you have had too much to drink.
Don't risk a DUI - call the shirt.
How Did "First Sergeants" Become "First Shirts"?
The term “first shirt” has been applied to the duty for years, and it seems that no one can authoritatively
document the origin. However, there are three main theories.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.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.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.”
