Sergeant First Class (SFC) is typically a senior non-commissioned officer rank, used in many countries.

A sergeant first class is typically assigned as a platoon sergeant at the company level or battalion operations non-commissioned officer in charge at the battalion level, but may also hold other positions depending on the type of unit.

[citation needed] Sergeant first class is the first enlisted rank in the U.S. Army to be selected by the centralized promotion system.

Contrary to popular belief due to a common apocryphal saying, it does not take an act of Congress to reduce a sergeant first class in rank.

For separate detachments or companies, the reduction authority will be the next higher headquarters within the chain of command.