View source for Sergeant Major of the Army

{{short description|Senior enlisted member of the U.S. Army}}
{{for multi|the British Army equivalent|Army Sergeant Major|the Danish Army equivalent|Sergeant Major of the Army (Denmark)|the Australian Army equivalent|Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Australia)|the South African Army equivalent|Sergeant Major of the Army (South Africa)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = United States<br />Sergeant Major of the Army
| body = 
| native_name = 
| insignia = Collar of the Sergeant Major of the United States Army.svg
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = Sergeant Major of the Army left collar brass insignia
| flag = Flag of the Sergeant Major of the United States Army.svg
| flagsize = 
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = Flag of the SMA
| image = SMA Michael R. Weimer (2).jpg
| imagesize = 
| alt = 
| incumbent = [[Michael R. Weimer]]
| acting = 
| incumbentsince = 4 August 2023
| department = [[United States Army]]
| style = 
| type = 
| status = 
| abbreviation = SMA
| member_of = 
| reports_to = [[Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army]]
| residence = 
| seat = 
| nominator = 
| appointer = 
| appointer_qualified = 
| termlength = 
| termlength_qualified = 
| constituting_instrument = 
| precursor = 
| formation = {{start date and age|1966|07|11|df=y}}
| first = [[William O. Wooldridge]]
| last = 
| abolished = 
| succession = 
| unofficial_names = 
| deputy = 
| salary = $10,294.80 per month, regardless of the incumbent's service longevity<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Basic-Pay/EM.html |title=Monthly rates of Basic Pay (Enlisted) – effective January 1, 2024 |publisher=Defense Financing and Accounting Service |access-date=January 23, 2024}}</ref>
| website = {{url|www.army.mil/leaders/sma/|Official website}}
}}

The '''sergeant major of the Army''' ('''SMA''') is a unique [[Non-commissioned officer|noncommissioned]] rank and position of office in the [[United States Army]]. The holder of this rank and position is the most senior [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]] soldier in the Army, unless an enlisted soldier is serving as the [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman|senior enlisted advisor to the chairman]]. The SMA is appointed to serve as a spokesman to address the issues of enlisted soldiers to all officers, from [[warrant officer]]s and lieutenants to the Army's highest positions. As such, they are the senior enlisted advisor to the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|chief of staff of the 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 with soldiers and their families.

[[Kenneth O. Preston]] held the rank from 15 January 2004 through 28 February 2011, the only incumbent to serve longer than five years.<ref>{{cite web | title=Sergeant Major Kenneth O. Preston - Sergeant Major Army | url=https://www.army.mil/leaders/leaders/sma/index.html | access-date= 22 September 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070912054422/https://www.army.mil/leaders/leaders/sma/index.html |archive-date = 12 September 2007}}</ref> SMA [[Michael R. Weimer]] has held the office since 4 August 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/262671/command_sgt_maj_michael_weimer_selected_as_17th_sergeant_major_of_the_army|title=Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Weimer selected as 17th Sergeant Major of the Army|date=2022-12-12|access-date=2023-02-24|publisher=U.S. Army Public Affairs|location=[[Washington, D. C.]]|website=U.S. Army}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32423|title=Webcast: Relinquishment of Responsibility for GEN James McConville / Change of Responsibility SMA Michael Grinston|access-date=2023-07-28|website=DVIDS}}</ref>

The SMA is designated a special [[U.S. uniformed services pay grades|paygrade]] above [[Uniformed services pay grades of the United States#Enlisted|E-9]]. While the SMA is a non-commissioned officer, protocol places the SMA higher than all [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant generals]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 December 2001 |title=A Guide to Protocol and Etiquette for Official Entertainment |url=https://www.westpointaog.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Protocol-and-Etiquette-Guide.pdf |access-date=27 May 2025 |website=West Point Association of Graduates |publisher=[[United States Department of the Army]] |page=24}}</ref> (except for the Director of the Army Staff) and equivalent to a [[General (United States)|general]] for formal courtesies in addition to seating, billeting, transportation, and parking.

==History==
The rank and position were based on those of the [[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps|sergeant major of the Marine Corps]] (established in its current incarnation on 23 May 1957).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps |url=https://www.smmc.marines.mil/History/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313030353/https://www.smmc.marines.mil/History/ |archive-date=13 March 2024 |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SMMC) |publisher=United States Marine Corps}}</ref> The Chief of Staff of the 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 adviser and assistant 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 War|Vietnam]], [[Sergeant major#United States|Sergeant Major]] [[William O. Wooldridge]] of the [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]].<ref>{{cite web | title= Sergeants Major of the Army | url=https://www.army.mil/leaders/sma/former/|access-date=31 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213223055/https://www.army.mil/leaders/sma/former/|archive-date=February 13, 2015|website=army.mil}}</ref>

The other services later followed, creating the positions of [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]] and [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force]] in 1967, [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard]] in 1969, [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman]] in 2005, and [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force]] in 2020. These seven positions are collectively referred to as "senior enlisted advisors" ("SEAs").

==Insignia==
<gallery width="30%" align="center" caption="SMA insignia timeline">
File:US Army E-9 SMA (1966–1979).svg|1966–1979
File:US Army E-9 SMA old.svg|1979–1994
File:Army-USA-OR-09a-2015.svg|1994–2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2015/10/01/rip-green-service-uniform-1954-2015/73142376/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160505202609/https://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2015/10/01/rip-green-service-uniform-1954-2015/73142376/|url-status=dead|title=The end of the Green Service Uniform: 1954-2015|date=5 May 2016|archive-date=5 May 2016}}</ref>
File:US Army E-9 SMA.svg|2010–present, green background replaced with dark blue
File:Army-USA-OR-09a (Army greens).svg|2019–present, tan on olive for use on green service replaced the dark blue as the primary uniform.
</gallery>

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#United States|aide-de-camp to the Army Chief of Staff]] (less the surmounting eagle), placed upon an [[U.S. Army Service Uniform#NCOs .26 enlisted personnel|enlisted collar disk]] of gold color, one inch in diameter. The insignia worn by the first Sergeant Major of the Army William O. Wooldridge was hand-soldered by Colonel Jasper J. Wilson from the cannibalized insignia and enlisted collar brass of an aide. The insignia was approved on 4 July 1966.<ref>{{cite book |first= Daniel K. |last= Elder |title= The Sergeants Major of the Army |edition= Revised |location= Washington, DC |publisher= [[United States Army Center of Military History]] |year= 2003 |page= 7}}</ref> 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.<ref>Army Regulation 670-1, paras 28-4''b'', 28-9''i''(4), 28-10''b''(32).</ref> This insignia is also worn in place of a unit insignia on the SMA's beret, garrison cap, and pull-over sweater.<ref>AR 670-1, paras 28-22''d''(1), 28-22''f''(3).</ref> 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.

[[Image:SMACap1.jpg|thumb|100px|Sergeant Major of the Army cap device]]
The SMA's cap device, worn on the front of the blue [[Peaked cap|service cap]] (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.<ref>AR 670-1, para 28-3''b''(3).</ref> 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).<ref>AR 670-1, para 28-3''b''(4).</ref> 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, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force|chief master sergeant of the Space Force]], and the [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman|senior enlisted advisor to the chairman]] are the only members of the United States armed forces below the rank of [[brigadier general]]/[[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral (lower half)|rear admiral, lower half]] to be authorized a positional color (flag). First considered in 1992,<ref>{{cite book |first= Daniel K. |last= Elder |title= The Sergeants Major of the Army |edition= Revised |location= Washington, DC |publisher= United States Army Center of Military History |year= 2003 |page= 40}}</ref> the SMA's color has been authorized since 22 March 1999.<ref>U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry {{cite web |url=https://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Flags_Guidons/SergeantMajoroftheArmyFlag.htm |title=Sergeant Major of the Army Flag Page |access-date=2013-11-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610110602/https://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Flags_Guidons/SergeantMajoroftheArmyFlag.htm |archive-date=10 June 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> It is based on the design of his collar insignia and the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|positional flag of the Chief of Staff, Army]]. Like the SEAC's collar brass, the SEAC's positional color was patterned after the SMA's color.{{clear}}

==List of sergeants major of the Army==
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| officeholder_title = SMA<ref>{{cite web | title=Former Sergeants Major of the Army | url=https://www.army.mil/leaders/sma/ | access-date= 22 September 2007| url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513203539/https://www.army.mil/leaders/sma/Former/|archive-date=May 13, 2009 }}</ref>
| showtermlenght     = y
| showparty          = n
| showcabinet        = y
| cabinet_title      = [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Chief of Staff]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = William Wooldridge.jpg
| officeholder      = [[William O. Wooldridge]]
| officeholder_sort = Wooldridge, William
| born_year         = 1922
| died_year         = 2012
| term_start        = 11 July 1966
| term_end          = 31 August 1968
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1966|07|11|1968|08|31}}
| cabinet           = [[Harold Keith Johnson|Harold K. Johnson]]
| cabinet2          = [[William Westmoreland]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = George Dunaway.jpg
| officeholder      = [[George W. Dunaway]]
| officeholder_sort = Dunaway, George
| born_year         = 1922
| died_year         = 2008
| term_start        = 1 September 1968
| term_end          = 30 September 1970
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1968|09|1|1970|09|30}}
| cabinet           = [[William Westmoreland]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = Slias Copeland.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Silas L. Copeland]]
| officeholder_sort = Copeland, Silas
| born_year         = 1920
| died_year         = 2001
| term_start        = 1 October 1970
| term_end          = 30 June 1973
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1970|10|1|1973|06|30}}
| cabinet           = [[William Westmoreland]]
| cabinet2          = [[Creighton Abrams]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| image             = Leon Van Autreve.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Leon L. Van Autreve]]
| officeholder_sort = Autreve, Leon
| born_year         = 1920
| died_year         = 2002
| term_start        = 1 July 1973
| term_end          = 30 June 1975
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1973|07|1|1975|06|30}}
| cabinet           = [[Creighton Abrams]]
| cabinet2          = [[Frederick C. Weyand]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| image             = William G Bainbridge.jpg
| officeholder      = [[William G. Bainbridge]]
| officeholder_sort = Bainbridge, William
| born_year         = 1925
| died_year         = 2008
| term_start        = 1 July 1975
| term_end          = 30 June 1979
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1975|07|1|1979|06|30}}
| cabinet           = [[Frederick C. Weyand]]
| cabinet2          = [[Bernard W. Rogers]]
| cabinet3          = [[Edward C. Meyer]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 6
| image             = William A Connelly.jpg
| officeholder      = [[William A. Connelly]]
| officeholder_sort = Connelly, William
| born_year         = 1931
| died_year         = 2019
| term_start        = 1 July 1979
| term_end          = 30 June 1983
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1979|07|1|1983|06|30}}
| cabinet           = [[Edward C. Meyer]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 7
| image             = Glen Morrell.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Glen E. Morrell]]
| officeholder_sort = Morrell, Glen
| born_year         = 1936
| died_year         = 2023
| term_start        = 1 July 1983
| term_end          = 30 June 1987
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1983|07|1|1987|06|30}}
| cabinet           = [[John A. Wickham Jr.]]
| cabinet2          = [[Carl E. Vuono]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 8
| image             = SMA Julius Gates.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Julius W. Gates]]
| officeholder_sort = Gates, Julius
| born_year         = 1941
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 1 July 1987
| term_end          = 30 June 1991
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1987|07|1|1991|06|30}}
| cabinet           = [[Carl E. Vuono]]
| cabinet2          = [[Gordon R. Sullivan]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 9
| image             = Richard A. Kidd.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Richard A. Kidd]]
| officeholder_sort = Kidd, Richard
| born_year         = 1943
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 1 July 1991
| term_end          = 16 June 1995
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1991|07|1|1995|06|16}}
| cabinet           = [[Gordon R. Sullivan]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 10
| image             = Gene McKinney.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Gene C. McKinney]]
| officeholder_sort = McKinney, Gene
| born_year         = 1950
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 30 June 1995
| term_end          = 13 October 1997
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1995|06|30|1997|10|13}}
| cabinet           = [[Gordon R. Sullivan]]
| cabinet2          = [[Dennis Reimer]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 11
| image             = Robert e hall.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Robert E. Hall (soldier)|Robert E. Hall]]
| officeholder_sort = Hall, Robert
| born_year         = 1947
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 13 October 1997
| term_end          = 23 June 2000
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1997|10|1|2000|06|23}}
| cabinet           = [[Dennis Reimer]]
| cabinet2          = [[Eric Shinseki]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 12
| image             = Jack tilley.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Jack L. Tilley]]
| officeholder_sort = Tilley, Jack
| born_year         = 1948
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 23 June 2000
| term_end          = 15 January 2004
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2000|06|23|2004|01|15}}
| cabinet           = [[Eric Shinseki]]
| cabinet2          = [[Peter Schoomaker]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 13
| image             = Kennth Preston 2010.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Kenneth O. Preston]]
| officeholder_sort = Preston, Kenneth
| born_year         = 1957
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 15 January 2004
| term_end          = 1 March 2011
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2004|01|15|2011|03|1}}
| cabinet           = [[Peter Schoomaker]]
| cabinet2          = [[George W. Casey Jr.]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 14
| image             = Chandler 2012.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Raymond F. Chandler]]
| officeholder_sort = Chandler, Raymond
| born_year         = 1962
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 1 March 2011
| term_end          = 30 January 2015
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2011|03|1|2015|01|30}}
| cabinet           = [[George W. Casey Jr.]]
| cabinet2          = [[Martin Dempsey]]
| cabinet3          = [[Raymond T. Odierno]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 15
| image             = Daniel_A._Dailey.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Daniel A. Dailey]]
| officeholder_sort = Dailey, Daniel
| born_year         = 1969
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 30 January 2015
| term_end          = 9 August 2019
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2015|01|30|2019|8|9}}
| cabinet           = [[Raymond T. Odierno]]
| cabinet2          = [[Mark Milley|Mark A. Milley]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 16
| image             = Michael_A._Grinston_SMA.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Michael A. Grinston]]
| officeholder_sort = Grinston, Michael
| born_year         = 1968
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 9 August 2019
| term_end          = 4 August 2023
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2019|08|09|2023|08|04}}
| cabinet           = [[James C. McConville]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 17
| image             = SMA Michael R. Weimer (2).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Michael R. Weimer]]
| officeholder_sort = Weimer, Michael
| born_year         = {{circa|1971}}
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 4 August 2023
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2023|08|04}}
| cabinet           = [[Randy George|Randy A. George]]
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}

===Timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:10
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:50 right:130 left:20
AlignBars = late

DateFormat = yyyy
Period     = from:1965 till:{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+4}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1970
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:10 start:1965

Define $now = {{CURRENTYEAR}}

Colors     =
  id:sma value:rgb(1,0,0) legend: SMA
  id:time value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)

Legend     = orientation:vertical position:right

LineData =
  layer:back
  width:0.1
  color:time
  at:1970
  at:1980
  at:1990
  at:2000
  at:2010
  at:2020

BarData =
  barset:PM
  bar:wooldridge
  bar:dunaway
  bar:copeland
  bar:vanautreve
  bar:bainbridge
  bar:connelly
  bar:morrell
  bar:gates
  bar:kidd
  bar:mckinney
  bar:hall
  bar:tilley
  bar:preston
  bar:chandler
  bar:dailey
  bar:grinston
  bar:weimer

PlotData=
  width:6 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
  barset:PM
  bar:wooldridge  from:1966  till:1968  color:sma  text:"[[William O. Wooldridge|Wooldridge]]"
  bar:dunaway  from:1968  till:1970  color:sma  text:"[[George W. Dunaway|Dunaway]]"
  bar:copeland  from:1970  till:1973  color:sma  text:"[[Silas L. Copeland|Copeland]]"
  bar:vanautreve  from:1973  till:1975  color:sma  text:"[[Leon L. Van Autreve|Van Autreve]]"
  bar:bainbridge  from:1975  till:1979  color:sma  text:"[[William G. Bainbridge|Bainbridge]]"
  bar:connelly  from:1979  till:1983  color:sma  text:"[[William A. Connelly|Connelly]]"
  bar:morrell  from:1983  till:1987  color:sma  text:"[[Glen E. Morrell|Morrell]]"
  bar:gates  from:1987  till:1991  color:sma  text:"[[Julius W. Gates|Gates]]"
  bar:kidd  from:1991  till:1995  color:sma  text:"[[Richard A. Kidd|Kidd]]"
  bar:mckinney  from:1995  till:1997  color:sma  text:"[[Gene C. McKinney|McKinney]]"
  bar:hall  from:1997  till:2000  color:sma  text:"[[Robert E. Hall|Hall]]"
  bar:tilley  from:2000  till:2004  color:sma  text:"[[Jack L. Tilley|Tilley]]"
  bar:preston  from:2004  till:2011  color:sma  text:"[[Kenneth O. Preston|Preston]]"
  bar:chandler  from:2011  till:2015  color:sma  text:"[[Raymond F. Chandler|Chandler]]"
  bar:dailey  from:2015  till:2019  color:sma  text:"[[Daniel A. Dailey|Dailey]]"
  bar:grinston  from:2019  till:2023  color:sma  text:"[[Michael A. Grinston|Grinston]]"
  bar:weimer  from:2023  till:$now  color:sma  text:"[[Michael R. Weimer|Weimer]]"
}}

==See also==

* [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman|Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
* [[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps]]
* [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]]
* [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force]]
* [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force]]
* [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard]]
* [[Senior Enlisted Advisor for the National Guard Bureau]]
* [[Army Staff Senior Warrant Officer]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
===Notes===
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sergeants Major of the United States Army}}
*{{Official website|https://www.army.mil/leaders/sma/}}
{{US_enlisted_ranks}}
{{US Army navbox}}
{{Senior Enlisted Advisor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sergeant Major Of The Army}}
[[Category:Military ranks of the United States Army]]
[[Category:United States military enlisted ranks]]
[[Category:Senior Enlisted Advisor]]
[[Category:Sergeants Major of the Army| ]]