What exactly is the difference between a Master Sergeant and a 1st Sergeant? Is one technically higher than the other?

SGT Gunderson,
I believe that you are mistaken for this is simply a training issue for the majority of Command Staff. I am the 1SG of a Field Artillery Battery but am currently deployed as part of a Joint Staff. The 2nd day on ground, I took off the diamond and am referred to as “Master Sergeant” by all the Navy and Air Force personnel on ground. They do not know that I am a First Seargeant and when I attempt to explain to them that when I came to a “Staff” position, I lose the diamond for I am not part of the “Command Team”.
His Drill Sergeants did not fail him for it is something you learn after a while after you start to earn your technical and tactical experience.

I find it odd that wasn't explained in basic.

Go find yourself a MSG and ask. Go straight to the source. It's the quickest way to get the answer. Don't be a pussy, SPC. Or be a Pussy Specialist. I don't fucking care, just get an exhaust sample of the commanders track over to the motorpool.

1st Sgt is Top Gun by the book by designated authority in the same manner Old School 'Green Tab' NCO may command any US ARMY combat formation; nevertheless, natural leaders sometimes emerge. The NCO is the backbone of the US ARMY. Initiative without orders must be requisite. For example, a E-4 once commanded Lt. Col. Andres' 1/33 AR 2 BDE 3 AD SPEARHEAD.

What I understand is that the Master Segeant is a subject matter expert albeit enlisted advisor, unlike a warrant officer. A Sergeant Major and First Sergeant is a manpower manager. They have similar skillsets when it applies to leadership but billet wise they serve one or the other purpose as mentioned earlier.

Yes, First Sergeants run the Army.

Technically they are the same except for the Diamond . It signifies that diamond is in charge of a Company... as a Master sergeant just assist anyway they can .....

Both are Senior Non-Commissioned Officers. However, the First Sergeant requires the rank of a MSgt as a minimum. It’s a dictinctive senior position in an organization. The 1Sgt is solely charged with managing the welfare of the enlisted personnel in the organization they are assigned, on behalf of the Unit Commander.

Sorry I hit E-9 rather than E-8. They are bothe senior enlisted soldiers but the 1st Sgt would be considered the NCOIC in this case even though they are both E-8 in Rank. I apologize for the first post, my damn fingers are too big for these letters and numbers. The eyesight of this old man doesn’t help either....

I hope this helps....

Yes, 1st Sgt is an E-9 which is a higher rank and the highest rank of an Enlisted person...