Maréchal-des-logis

Maréchal-des-logis (literally translated as "Marshal-of-Lodgings") is a sub-officer rank used by some units of the French Armed Forces. It is traditionally a horse units rank. There are three distincts ranks of maréchal des logis. These ranks are equivalents of sergeant ranks.

Maréchal des logis-chef (equivalent to sergent-chef) : Three chevrons, gold or silver^[1]. The higher rank of maréchal des logis. A MDC-chef is commonly referred as simply "chef".

Maréchal des logis de carrière (equivalent to sergent) : two chevrons. A maréchal des logis rank is shortened "margis".

Maréchal des logis sous contrat : one chevron. This rank is increansingly uncommon in the french military since the end of the conscription.

Both ranks are roughly equivalent to a British or Commonwealth sergeant. The Maréchal des logis-chef corresponds quite closely to the US use of the rank of staff sergeant.

The rank of maréchal des logis is used by the Armoured Cavalry, the Artillery, the Materiel, the Commissary and the Transport corps, all of the French Army, and by the Gendarmerie Nationale.

^ The color of the chevrons of the maréchal des logis depends on his unit : the vast majority of armoured cavalry units uses silver, but a few of them, like the spahis, uses gold.