Technician third grade

Technician Third Grade (officially abbreviated as T/3, TEC3 or TEC-3) was one of three United States Army technician ranks established on January 8, 1942, during World War II. Those who held this rank were often addressed as Staff Sergeant, as they shared the same pay grade, but technicians did not have the authority to give commands as a staff sergeant would. Initially they shared the same insignia but on September 4, 1942, the three technician ranks were distinguished by a block "T" imprinted below the standard chevrons. Unofficial insignia using a technical specialty symbol instead of the T were used in some units.