US ArmyHistory ~ The Rank Of Sergeant Major
~~~~~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association History Project ~~~~~
~~~~~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association History Project ~~~~~
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US Army |
History ~ The Rank Of Sergeant Major ~~~~~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association History Project ~~~~~ |
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The first official U.S. use of the term was in 1776, when a Sergeant Major (SMG) was appointed to the headquarters of each infantry battalion of the Continental Army. |
In 1920, with the standardization of the army's enlisted pay grades, Sergeant Major ceased to be a title of rank or grade. However, it survived as the job title of the senior NCO of a battalion, and was re-introduced as a rank in 1958 when Congress authorized the E-8 and E-9 pay grades. |
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The appointment of Sergeant Major of the Army was created in 1966. Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique position. |
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Command Sergeant Major (CSM) received a separate insignia in 1968. In the U.S. Army, Sergeant Major refers to both a military rank and to a specific administrative position. The rank refers to the highest enlisted rank, just above First Sergeant (1SG), with a pay grade of E-9. |
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The administrative 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. Additionally, they serve as monitors for, and advocates of, the enlisted men in the command. This position exists in units of battalion size and larger.
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An alternate usage of Command Sergeant Major is the senior Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of a headquarters unit at battalion level or above; the soldier filling this position should carry the rank of Sergeant Major, but personnel shortages may, from time to time, force this sergeant major position to be held by a senior First Sergeant. |
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