Officers and workers following drill perhaps (9)

I believe the answer is:

sergeants

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'officers' is the definition.
(sergeant is a kind of officer)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for sergeants that I've seen before include "Greatness among NCOs" , "Greatness observed in NCOs" , "Odd greatness of these army and police ranks" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.

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