Historical rank in the Imperial Japanese Army, equivalent to sergeant. Not used in the modern Self-Defense Forces.
His grandfather served as a sergeant during the war.
軍曹 is a broader term for sergeant; 三等軍曹 specifies the third-class sergeant rank in the old Japanese military hierarchy.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical military rank.
Variant using numeral ３; less common but attested.
Compound of 三等 (third class) and 軍曹 (sergeant), reflecting the rank structure of the Imperial Japanese Army.