María V. Martínez
Encyclopedia
Command Sergeant Major María V. Martínez (born c. 1960) is the first Puerto Rican
female to reach the rank of Command Sergeant Major in the United States Army
. She serves as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director of the Army Diversity Office in the Pentagon, Washington D.C.. Recipient of two Legion of Merit
medals, Martínez was recognized in 1989, as the "Soldier of the Year " by the Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion.
, the capital of Puerto Rico
. Her family moved to Chicago, Illinois when she was a child. There she received her primary and secondary education.
, Missouri
. After graduating from basic training, she was sent to Fort Lee, Virginia
, for advanced individual training.
During her years of servitude, she was assigned to various jobs and advanced through her military promotions from Private
(E-1) to Staff Sergeant
. Among her many assignments were the following: Specialist
with the 1/7th Air Defense Artillery, Fort Bliss, Texas; Supply Sergeant, 97th General Hospital, Federal Republic, Germany, Supply Sergeant for A-2-3 Basic Training Company, Fort Leonard wood, Missouri.
In 1987, Martínez was selected by Department of Army as an Army Recruiter and assigned to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Recruiting Battalion. She was promoted to Sergeant First Class in 1989 and was assigned as leader of the Kenosha, Wisconsin Recruiting Station as Commander/Instructor.
. In the U.S. Army, "Sergeant Major" refers to both a military rank
and a specific administrative position. The rank refers to the highest enlisted rank
, just above Master Sergeant
and First Sergeant, with a pay grade of E-9, NATO rank OR-9. The leadership position, "Command Sergeant Major", is the senior enlisted advisor
to the commanding officer
and carries with it certain ceremonial functions such as caring for the unit's colors (flag). Additionally, they serve as monitors of, and advocates for, the enlisted men in the command. This position mostly exists in units of battalion
size and larger.
Because the Command Sergeant Major represents all of the enlisted soldiers in the command, she does not wear the collar insignia of her career specialty
(e.g., infantry, quartermaster, intelligence, inter alia), but instead wears the Command Sergeant Major (formerly "branch immaterial") collar insignia. The insignia is a gold-color rendering of the coat of arms of the United States; like the branch of service insignia of all U.S. Army enlisted soldiers, it is placed upon a gold-colored metal disk, one inch in diameter.
As a Command Sergeant Major, Martínez has served at the Baltimore Maryland Recruiting Battalion; Senior Enlisted Advisor 1ST Recruiting Brigade and Fort Meade, Maryland; and HQ USAREC G-3 Operations as Directorate Sergeant Major at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Martínez currently serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director of the Army Diversity Office in the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
On August 26, 2010, Martínez participated in the conference "The United States Army observance of Women's Equality Day and the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote" as a presenter and panelist. In the conference Martínez was quoted as saying:
Foreign badge
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
female to reach the rank of Command Sergeant Major in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. She serves as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director of the Army Diversity Office in the Pentagon, Washington D.C.. Recipient of two Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
medals, Martínez was recognized in 1989, as the "Soldier of the Year " by the Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion.
Early years
Martínez(birth name: María Victoria Martínez) was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico a section of San JuanSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, the capital of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Her family moved to Chicago, Illinois when she was a child. There she received her primary and secondary education.
Military career
On January 28, 1981, Martínez joined the United States Army and received her basic recruit training at Fort Leonard WoodFort Leonard Wood (military base)
Fort Leonard Wood is a United States Army installation located in the Missouri Ozarks. The main gate is located on the southern boundary of St. Robert. The post was created in December 1940 and named in honor of General Leonard Wood, former Chief of Staff, in January 1941...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. After graduating from basic training, she was sent to Fort Lee, Virginia
Fort Lee, Virginia
Fort Lee is a census-designated place in Prince George County, Virginia, United States. The population was 7,269 at the 2000 census.Fort Lee is a United States Army post and headquarters of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command / Sustainment Center of Excellence , the U.S. Army Quartermaster...
, for advanced individual training.
During her years of servitude, she was assigned to various jobs and advanced through her military promotions from Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
(E-1) to Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
. Among her many assignments were the following: Specialist
Specialist (rank)
Specialist is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the U.S. Army, just above Private First Class and equivalent in pay grade to Corporal. Unlike Corporals, Specialists are not considered junior non-commissioned officers...
with the 1/7th Air Defense Artillery, Fort Bliss, Texas; Supply Sergeant, 97th General Hospital, Federal Republic, Germany, Supply Sergeant for A-2-3 Basic Training Company, Fort Leonard wood, Missouri.
In 1987, Martínez was selected by Department of Army as an Army Recruiter and assigned to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Recruiting Battalion. She was promoted to Sergeant First Class in 1989 and was assigned as leader of the Kenosha, Wisconsin Recruiting Station as Commander/Instructor.
other assignments
Martínez her many other assignments during her military career were the following: U.S. Army’s Recruiting and Retention School at Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Recruit Counselor U.S. Army Master; Sergeant Noncommissioned Officer in Charge for Tampa Battalion Military Entrance Processing Station; Company; First Sergeant, Saint Petersburg Recruiting Company; Equal Opportunity Advisor to the Commanding General U.S. and at the Army Recruiting Command; Senior Enlisted Advisor Command Sergeant Major of the Jacksonville Recruiting Battalion.Command Sergeant Major
On December 1, 1998, Martínez was promoted to Command Sergeant Major.She was the first Puerto Rican female to reach that rank in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. In the U.S. Army, "Sergeant Major" refers to both a military rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
and a specific administrative position. The rank refers to the highest enlisted rank
Enlisted rank
An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
, just above Master Sergeant
Master Sergeant
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
and First Sergeant, with a pay grade of E-9, NATO rank OR-9. The leadership position, "Command Sergeant Major", is the senior enlisted advisor
Senior Enlisted Advisor
A Senior Enlisted Advisor in the United States armed forces is the most senior enlisted service member in a unit, and acts as an advisor to the commanding officer. Most units will have a formal billet for the senior enlisted advisor, from a platoon's platoon sergeant to the Senior Enlisted Advisor...
to the commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
and carries with it certain ceremonial functions such as caring for the unit's colors (flag). Additionally, they serve as monitors of, and advocates for, the enlisted men in the command. This position mostly exists in units of battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
size and larger.
Because the Command Sergeant Major represents all of the enlisted soldiers in the command, she does not wear the collar insignia of her career specialty
United States Army branch insignia
Branch insignia of the United States Army refers to military emblems that may be worn on the uniform of the United States Army to denote membership in a particular area of expertise and series of functional areas...
(e.g., infantry, quartermaster, intelligence, inter alia), but instead wears the Command Sergeant Major (formerly "branch immaterial") collar insignia. The insignia is a gold-color rendering of the coat of arms of the United States; like the branch of service insignia of all U.S. Army enlisted soldiers, it is placed upon a gold-colored metal disk, one inch in diameter.
As a Command Sergeant Major, Martínez has served at the Baltimore Maryland Recruiting Battalion; Senior Enlisted Advisor 1ST Recruiting Brigade and Fort Meade, Maryland; and HQ USAREC G-3 Operations as Directorate Sergeant Major at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Martínez currently serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director of the Army Diversity Office in the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
On August 26, 2010, Martínez participated in the conference "The United States Army observance of Women's Equality Day and the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote" as a presenter and panelist. In the conference Martínez was quoted as saying:
"Females in the Army think of themselves as Soldiers. They don't attach gender to the title because their mission is the same as males. When we take the oath of enlistment it's to defend the constitution of the United States of America so we're very cognizant of the fact that when the Army needs us we're going to be there no matter what!"emphasizing that females in the Army think of themselves as Soldiers first and don't attach gender to the title because their mission is the same as males.
Military education
Among the courses which Martínez has taken and the degrees which she has earned, both military and civilian institutions, are the following.:- Warrior Leader Course
- Advance Recruitment Management
- Staff and Faculty Instructor Course
- Department of Army First Sergeant course
- Army Battle Staff course
- US Army Sergeants Major Academy
- Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI
- Associate of Science Degree in Human Resources from Vincennes University, Vincennes, Indiana.
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Resource Management from Regents College of New York.
Military decorations and awards
Command Sergeant Major Martínez's military awards and accomplishments include:Awards
- Recruiter of the Year 1987-88
- Soldier of the Year 1989 Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion.
- Department of Defense (DOD) Hispanic Image Award
- National GI Forum Military Person of the Year, Washington DC
- Recruiting Glen Morrell Order of the Medallion
Decorations
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with an oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with six oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation MedalCommendation MedalThe Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
with five oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement MedalAchievement MedalThe Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service...
with six oak leaf clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal with eight Good Conduct LoopGood Conduct LoopA Good Conduct Loop is an award of the United States Army which denotes additional decorations of the Army Good Conduct Medal. Good Conduct Loops were first created in 1941 and were based on the concept of the enlistment bar...
s.
National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
with an oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Service MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalThe Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003...
Non-Commissioned Officer Development RibbonNon-Commissioned Officer Development RibbonA Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon is an award issued by the United States Army and Air Force to recognize those non-commissioned officers who have completed a prescribed leadership course at an NCO training school.-Army:...
with four oak leaf clusters
Army Service RibbonArmy Service RibbonThe Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
Army Overseas Service RibbonOverseas Service RibbonAn Overseas Service Ribbon is a service military award of the United States military which recognizes those service members who have performed military tours of duty outside the borders of the United States of America. There are different versions of the Overseas Service Ribbons for the U.S. Army,...
Badges
- Rifle Marksmanship BadgeWeapons Qualification BadgeA Marksmanship Qualification Badge is a military badge of the United States Army and United States Marine Corps which is presented to service members upon successful completion of a weapons qualification course. They are issued in the three grades : Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman...
- Driver and Mechanic BadgeDriver and Mechanic BadgeThe Driver and Mechanic Badge is a military badge of the United States Army which was first created in July 1942. The badge was originally referred to as the “Motor Vehicle Badge” and adopted its current title of Driver and Mechanic Badge during the Korean War...
Gold Recruiter BadgeRecruiter BadgeThe Recruiter Badge is a decoration of the United States military which is awarded to those personnel who have performed recruitment duty as military recruiters to the United States Armed Forces. The Recruiter Badge is issued by every branch of military except for the United States Marine Corps...
Foreign badge
- Foreign Recruiting Badge - El Salvador, San Salvador
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- Puerto Rican women in the militaryPuerto Rican women in the militaryOne of the least known roles played by Puerto Rican women has been that of revolutionists and soldiers. This is a brief account of some the Puerto Rican women who have participated in military actions either as members of a political revolutionary movement or the Armed Forces of the United...