Sergeant Major Signals
Encyclopedia
Sergeant Major Signals is abbreviated to SMS and was formerly known as Sergeant Major Instructor Signals (SMIS). Normally a Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army
, selection for this post was the culmination of many years of experience with modern radio communications systems. During their careers it was possible to be trained in several evolving systems for example the movement from Larkspur
and Clansman
to the more recent Bowman
radio communication equipments. Their duties included training personnel by the development and execution of in-house and in-theatre courses, keeping their Signal Sergeants up-to-date with amendments to policies and equipments, equipment husbandry, equipment procurement and high level custodian protection of electronic and paper codes. They had to produce Communication Signal Instructions (CSI's) containing relevant daily frequencies and associated information for radio operators.
Generally the SMS would be housed in the Regimental Training Wing and was given numerous other roles to fulfill by the Unit Training Officer(UTO). The SMS normally had a secondary roll as a Troop Sergeant Major
(TSM).
A SMS wore a warrant officer's
crown on his sleeve.
A typical career ladder would be: basic training followed by a basic radio communicators course of about 3 weeks duration. Progress to an advanced level of about 4 weeks duration was after approximately 3 or more years field experience. The soldier would also have to attend a junior cadre course, which built on basic soldiering skills and was a necessary step for selection for their first promotional stripe. As they were competing for their second promotional stripe a soldier would be selected to attend an Assistant Regimental Instructors (ARI) course of about 6 weeks duration. This would supply individual Companies, Battery's etc with experienced training staff. The ARI course was a pre-requisite to selection for their third promotion to the Signal Sergeant's post but NOT as a pre-requisite for promotion to sergeant which was justified by the completion of the Education for Promotion Certificate (EPC). They would also have to attend the Crew Commander
's Course which was a more thorough cadre and be selected for further promotion by Manning and Records Office by selection from other competing corporal
s, bombardier
s etc. This was based on a scoring system derived from the Confidential Report forms that were annually completed since promotion to corporal,bombardier etc.
Once a sergeant
was employed as a Signals Sergeant for approximately 4 years he/she could gain further promotion by Manning and Records Office(MRO) by selection from other competing Signal Sergeants. This was based on a scoring system derived from the Confidential Report forms that were annually completed since promotion to sergeant. They would also have to pass the Education for Promotion Certificate Level 2 (EPC II).
Promotion to SMS (which is the job title and not the rank
which is Warrant officer Class II) could be while still as a sergeant awaiting further promotion (but having been informed of that promotion). This may have been because of an inhibiting factor such as an outgoing (getting posted elsewhere) SMS was still in his post. In most cases where this happened the sergeant could be given a local (unpaid) promotion. Once the outgoing SMS had left the sergeant would be promoted to either Staff Sergeant
or Warrant Officer based on directions from the MRO. Providing a SMS gave a good account of his duties and he was a Staff Sergeant, his subsequent promotion to Warrant Officer Class II would generally follow at the next MRO promotions board.
A SMS could then be selected for further promotions to Company Sergeant Major
(CSM), Battery Sergeant Major (BSM), Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
(RQMS), Regimental Sergeant Major
(RSM) or Regimental Sergeant Major Instructor(RSMI).
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, selection for this post was the culmination of many years of experience with modern radio communications systems. During their careers it was possible to be trained in several evolving systems for example the movement from Larkspur
Larkspur radio system
Larkspur was the name of a tactical radio system used by the British Army. Its development started in the late 1940s with the first equipments being issued in the mid-1950s. It remained in service until replaced by Clansman in the late-1970s although some elements of Larkspur were still in service...
and Clansman
Clansman
Clansman is the name of a combat net radio system used by the British Army from 1976 to 2010.Clansman was developed by the Signals Research and Development Establishment in the 1960s, to satisfy a General Staff Requirement laid down in 1965...
to the more recent Bowman
Bowman (communications system)
Bowman is the name of the tactical communications system used by the British Armed Forces.The Bowman C4I system consists of a range of HF radio, VHF radio and UHF radio sets designed to provide secure integrated voice, data services to dismounted soldiers, individual vehicles and command HQs up to...
radio communication equipments. Their duties included training personnel by the development and execution of in-house and in-theatre courses, keeping their Signal Sergeants up-to-date with amendments to policies and equipments, equipment husbandry, equipment procurement and high level custodian protection of electronic and paper codes. They had to produce Communication Signal Instructions (CSI's) containing relevant daily frequencies and associated information for radio operators.
Generally the SMS would be housed in the Regimental Training Wing and was given numerous other roles to fulfill by the Unit Training Officer(UTO). The SMS normally had a secondary roll as a Troop Sergeant Major
Troop Sergeant Major
In the British Army, the Troop Sergeant Major is the senior NCO in a Royal Artillery troop, usually a Warrant Officer Class 2.This differs from a cavalry troop or infantry platoon, in which the highest-ranking NCO is usually a sergeant....
(TSM).
A SMS wore a warrant officer's
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
crown on his sleeve.
A typical career ladder would be: basic training followed by a basic radio communicators course of about 3 weeks duration. Progress to an advanced level of about 4 weeks duration was after approximately 3 or more years field experience. The soldier would also have to attend a junior cadre course, which built on basic soldiering skills and was a necessary step for selection for their first promotional stripe. As they were competing for their second promotional stripe a soldier would be selected to attend an Assistant Regimental Instructors (ARI) course of about 6 weeks duration. This would supply individual Companies, Battery's etc with experienced training staff. The ARI course was a pre-requisite to selection for their third promotion to the Signal Sergeant's post but NOT as a pre-requisite for promotion to sergeant which was justified by the completion of the Education for Promotion Certificate (EPC). They would also have to attend the Crew Commander
Crew Commander
A Crew Commander or Crew Manager is a rank within the fire service in the United Kingdom. It is superior to a Firefighter but inferior to a Watch Commander / Watch Manager....
's Course which was a more thorough cadre and be selected for further promotion by Manning and Records Office by selection from other competing corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
s, bombardier
Bombardier (rank)
Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal....
s etc. This was based on a scoring system derived from the Confidential Report forms that were annually completed since promotion to corporal,bombardier etc.
Once a sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
was employed as a Signals Sergeant for approximately 4 years he/she could gain further promotion by Manning and Records Office(MRO) by selection from other competing Signal Sergeants. This was based on a scoring system derived from the Confidential Report forms that were annually completed since promotion to sergeant. They would also have to pass the Education for Promotion Certificate Level 2 (EPC II).
Promotion to SMS (which is the job title and not the 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...
which is Warrant officer Class II) could be while still as a sergeant awaiting further promotion (but having been informed of that promotion). This may have been because of an inhibiting factor such as an outgoing (getting posted elsewhere) SMS was still in his post. In most cases where this happened the sergeant could be given a local (unpaid) promotion. Once the outgoing SMS had left the sergeant would be promoted to either 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:...
or Warrant Officer based on directions from the MRO. Providing a SMS gave a good account of his duties and he was a Staff Sergeant, his subsequent promotion to Warrant Officer Class II would generally follow at the next MRO promotions board.
A SMS could then be selected for further promotions to Company Sergeant Major
Company Sergeant Major
A company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
(CSM), Battery Sergeant Major (BSM), Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant is a military rank in some militaries, and an appointment in others.-Irish Defence Forces:Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant is a rank in the Irish Army and Irish Air Corps equivalent to Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army...
(RQMS), Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
(RSM) or Regimental Sergeant Major Instructor(RSMI).