Sergeant Major of the Army - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) is a unique non-commissioned

Non-commissioned officer

A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...

rank 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...

. The holder of this rank is the most senior enlisted member of the Army, unless an Army NCO is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman is a military position within the United States Department of Defense and is the most senior noncommissioned or petty officer overall in the United States Armed Forces...

, when in that case that NCO will be the most senior enlisted and the SMA will be the Second most Senior enlisted member of the Army. The SMA is appointed to serve as a spokesman to address the issues of enlisted soldiers to all officers, from Warrant Officers and Lieutenants to the Army's highest positions. As such, they are 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 Chief of Staff of the US Army. The exact duties vary, depending on the Chief of Staff, though much of the SMA's time is spent traveling throughout the Army, observing training and talking to soldiers and their families.

Kenneth O. Preston

Kenneth O. Preston

Kenneth O. Preston is a former Sergeant Major of the Army in the United States. He was sworn in as the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army on January 15, 2004. SMA Preston held a variety of leadership positions throughout his career ranging from Cavalry Scout to Sergeant Major and Command Sergeant...

held the rank from January 15, 2004, through February 28, 2011, the only incumbent to serve longer than four years. SMA Preston was succeeded by Command Sergeant Major Raymond F. Chandler

Raymond F. Chandler

Raymond F. Chandler III is the current Sergeant Major of the Army in the United States. He was sworn in as the 14th Sergeant Major of the Army on March 1, 2011. Chandler has served in all tank crewman positions and has had multiple tours as a troop, squadron and regimental master gunner...

III, on March 1, 2011.

While the SMA is a non-commissioned officer, the billet is protocol equivalent to a lieutenant general

Lieutenant General (United States)

In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...

History

The rank and position were based on those of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is a unique non-commissioned rank and billet in the United States Marine Corps....

, established in its current incarnation on 23 May 1957. The Chief of Staff, Army, created the position in 1966, after asking leaders of the major commands for a personal recommendation. He asked that it not be considered a near retirement type assignment. He listed seven duties and functions he expected the sergeant major to perform, including service as a personal advisor and assistant to the Chief of Staff on matters pertaining to enlisted soldiers. From 4,700 proposed candidates, 21 nominees were selected. Finally chosen was the only one then serving in Vietnam

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...

, Sergeant Major William O. Wooldridge

William O. Wooldridge

William O. Wooldridge , a much decorated career enlisted man in the United States Army, was the first Sergeant Major of the Army....

of the 1st Infantry Division.

The other services later followed, creating the positions of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy, which has a paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and post is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S...

and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and post represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests,...

in 1967, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Coast Guard.The holder of this rank and post is the senior enlisted member of the U.S...

in 1969, and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman

in 2005. These six positions are collectively referred to as "senior enlisted advisors" ("SEAs").

Pay grade

The Sergeant Major of the Army and the other five SEAs hold pay grade E-9, as all sergeants major and command sergeants major; however, in accordance with 37 U.S.C. § 1009, Schedule 8, an SEA's base pay is $7,489.80 per month ($89,877.60 per year), regardless of the incumbent's service longevity. For comparison, any other E-9, even with the maximum forty years of service, would receive $7,195.80 per month.

In addition to his base pay and normal tax-free allowances

United States Military Pay

United States Military Pay is money paid to members in the United States Armed Forces. The amount of pay may vary by the member's rank, time in the military, location duty assignment, and by some special skills the member may have.-Pay versus Allowance:...

, the SMA and the other SEAs are each entitled to a special tax-free allowance of US$2,000.00 per annum, in accordance with 37 U.S.C. § 414(c).

Insignia

The Sergeant Major of the Army, like counterparts in the other branches, wears a unique rank insignia, including a unique collar insignia ("brass").
The collar insignia of the SMA is the shield portion of the collar insignia of an aide-de-camp to the Army Chief of Staff (less the surmounting eagle), placed upon an enlisted collar disk of gold color, one inch in diameter. The insignia worn by SMA Wooldridge was hand-soldered by Colonel Jasper J. Wilson from a cannibalized aide's insignia and enlisted collar brass. The insignia was approved on 4 July 1966. Originally, the SMA would wear the device on each collar, but he now wears the standard "U.S." disk on his right collar as do all enlisted soldiers. This insignia is also worn in place of a unit insignia on the SMA's beret, garrison cap, and pull-over sweater. The collar insignia of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman ("SEAC") of the JCS, approved 2 February 2006, is based directly upon that of the SMA, and features the shield of an aide de camp to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (without the surmounting eagle), on a gold-colored disk.

The SMA's cap device, worn on the front of the blue service cap

Peaked cap

A peaked cap, forage cap, barracks cover, or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations and also by many uniformed civilian organizations such as law enforcement agencies...

(and, formerly, the white service cap; and, until 2011 the green service cap) is a gold-colored rendering of the United States' coat of arms, surrounded by a wreath. The cap device for all other U.S. Army enlisted soldiers is a gold-colored rendering of the United States' coat of arms on a gold-colored disk (males) or surrounded by a gold colored ring (females). The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force has the same cap device as the SMA, but in silver-colored metal.

Positional color

The Sergeant Major of the Army and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the JCS Chairman are the only members of the United States armed forces below the rank of brigadier general

Brigadier General

Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...

/rear admiral, lower half to be authorized a positional color (flag). First considered in 1992, the SMA's color has been authorized since 22 March 1999. It is based on the design of his collar insignia and the positional flag of the Chief of Staff, Army

Chief of Staff of the United States Army

The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...

. Like the SEAC's collar brass, the SEAC's positional color was patterned after the SMA's color.

List of Sergeants Major of the Army

Photo	SMA	Tenure
	William O. Wooldridge William O. Wooldridge William O. Wooldridge , a much decorated career enlisted man in the United States Army, was the first Sergeant Major of the Army....	1966 July – 1968 Aug.
	George W. Dunaway George W. Dunaway George W. Dunaway was the second Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on September 1, 1968 and served until his term ended in September 1970...	1968 Sep. – 1970 Sep.
	Silas L. Copeland Silas L. Copeland Silas L. Copeland was the third Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on October 1, 1970 and served until June, 1973. He was born in Embryfield, Texas , on April 2, 1920, and died December 4, 2001.-Military career:...	1970 Oct. – 1973 June
	Leon L. Van Autreve Leon L. Van Autreve Leon L. Van Autreve was the fourth Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on July 1, 1973 and served until June, 1975. He was born in Eeklo, Belgium, on January 29, 1920 and died March 14, 2002, in San Antonio, Texas.-Military career:...	1973 July – 1975 June
	William G. Bainbridge William G. Bainbridge William G. Bainbridge was the fifth Sergeant Major of the Army, was sworn in on July 1, 1975 and served until June, 1979. He was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on April 17, 1925 and died on November 29, 2008....	1975 July – 1979 June
	William A. Connelly William A. Connelly William A. Connelly was the sixth Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on July 2, 1979, and served until June, 1983. He was born in Monticello, Georgia, on June 2, 1931...	1979 July – 1983 June
	Glen E. Morrell Glen E. Morrell Glen E. Morrell was the seventh Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on July 1, 1983 and served until July, 1987. He was born in Wick, West Virginia, on May 26, 1936.-Military career:...	1983 July – 1987 July
	Julius W. Gates Julius W. Gates Julius William Gates was the eighth Sergeant Major of the Army. In July 1987, he was sworn in and he served until his term ended four years later in June 1991. He was born in North Carolina on June 14, 1941....	1987 July – 1991 June
	Richard A. Kidd Richard A. Kidd Richard A. Kidd was the ninth Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on July 2, 1991 and served until his term expired in June 1995....	1991 July – 1995 June
	Gene C. McKinney Gene C. McKinney Gene McKinney was the 10th Sergeant Major of the Army of the United States, serving from July 1995 to October 1997. He was the first and to date the only African-American to reach that rank in the United States Army. McKinney was the only Sergeant Major of the Army to resign...	1995 July – 1997 Oct.
	Robert E. Hall Robert E. Hall Robert E. Hall was sworn in as the eleventh Sergeant Major of the Army on October 21, 1997 and served until June 23, 2000.-Biography:Hall was born in Gaffney, South Carolina, on May 31, 1947. He entered the Army in February 1968 and attended Basic Training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and...	1997 Oct. – 2000 June
	Jack L. Tilley Jack L. Tilley Jack L. Tilley was sworn in as the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army on June 23, 2000 and served until January 15, 2004.-Military career:He entered the U.S. Army in November 1966 and attended basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and advanced individual training at Fort Knox, Kentucky...	2000 June – 2004 Jan.
	Kenneth O. Preston Kenneth O. Preston Kenneth O. Preston is a former Sergeant Major of the Army in the United States. He was sworn in as the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army on January 15, 2004. SMA Preston held a variety of leadership positions throughout his career ranging from Cavalry Scout to Sergeant Major and Command Sergeant...	2004 Jan. – 2011 Mar.
	Raymond F. Chandler Raymond F. Chandler Raymond F. Chandler III is the current Sergeant Major of the Army in the United States. He was sworn in as the 14th Sergeant Major of the Army on March 1, 2011. Chandler has served in all tank crewman positions and has had multiple tours as a troop, squadron and regimental master gunner...	2011 Mar. - Present

History

Pay grade

Insignia

Positional color

List of Sergeants Major of the Army

See also