Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) is the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above
Staff Sergeant and below
Master Sergeant and
First Sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer (SNCO). It has a pay grade of E-7.
A Gunnery Sergeant in the infantry is typically in charge of coordinating logistics for a company-sized group of Marines, or about one hundred twenty personnel. Junior Gunnery Sergeants usually serve as platoon sergeant for weapons platoons. A U.S. Army Sergeant First Class shares the same pay grade as a Gunnery Sergeant, but not the same responsibilities. A Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant's job is to be the operations chief of a company of Marines.
Gunnery Sergeants are commonly referred to by the informal abbreviation "Gunny." This nickname is usually regarded as a title of esteem and/or camaraderie, and is generally acceptable for use in all situations except formal and ceremonial ones. Use of the term by lower-ranking personnel, however, remains at the Gunnery Sergeant's discretion.
