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I refer to the pay grade instead of rank because I'd like to know how the other services feel regarding their most senior leaders.
When I was a junior soldier, a captain said something to me that I'll never forget. He said sergeants major are useless. He said there is nothing a sergeant major does that a master sergeant can't do.
Fast forward a couple years, and another officer tells me the same thing.
The majority of soldiers from every rank have expressed their discontent with the sergeant major. Most have no clue what he/she does.
It has been my ultimate goal to earn the rank of sergeant major however I now question what that title even means.
*stands at parade rest*
CPT Maurelli posted a Duffel Blog-inspired discussion about the need for sergeants major. Satire aside and EXCLUDING doctrinal answers, I respectfully ask the scariest question of all time: what do you do sergeant major?
When I was a junior soldier, a captain said something to me that I'll never forget. He said sergeants major are useless. He said there is nothing a sergeant major does that a master sergeant can't do.
Fast forward a couple years, and another officer tells me the same thing.
The majority of soldiers from every rank have expressed their discontent with the sergeant major. Most have no clue what he/she does.
It has been my ultimate goal to earn the rank of sergeant major however I now question what that title even means.
*stands at parade rest*
CPT Maurelli posted a Duffel Blog-inspired discussion about the need for sergeants major. Satire aside and EXCLUDING doctrinal answers, I respectfully ask the scariest question of all time: what do you do sergeant major?
Posted in these groups: 
Senior Leaders
Senior Leaders
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 87
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Of course they matter, they are the senior enlisted advisor at the BN and higher command. They're role is significant to the life, morale, and welfare of the unit; plus they continue to mentor other senior NCOs.
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What this question and ensuing debate tell me is we need a much better basic teaching of the roles/responsibilities and functions of the E9.
I have always argued that selection criteria for BDE or DIV level CSM should be more rigorous than for Bn. The Bn CSM makes the same pay as his BDE or DIV counterparts. We need some type of "incentive pay" similar to what is paid to in demand skill sets in medcomm to retain the best. But in many instances I suspect when a soldier pins on his /her CSM rank they figure they are home free and beyond criticism by superiors or peers.
What might happen if Bn CSM all met like the college of cardinals to select who among them would serve in the BDE CSM throne?
I have always argued that selection criteria for BDE or DIV level CSM should be more rigorous than for Bn. The Bn CSM makes the same pay as his BDE or DIV counterparts. We need some type of "incentive pay" similar to what is paid to in demand skill sets in medcomm to retain the best. But in many instances I suspect when a soldier pins on his /her CSM rank they figure they are home free and beyond criticism by superiors or peers.
What might happen if Bn CSM all met like the college of cardinals to select who among them would serve in the BDE CSM throne?
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Yeah of course a MSG can do what a SGM can do. A Sgt can fill in for a SSgt a SSgt can fill in for a Gunny or in the case of the Army a SFC. Just like the XO can fill in for the CO and on and on.
I think the reason we have the ranks we do is more to reward longevity.
I think the reason we have the ranks we do is more to reward longevity.
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SSgt Gregory Guina
SSgt Jim Rooth I understand where you are coming from but regardless of service there is always someone there to pick up if the one in the billet is gone.
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its a mystery to me too..after 29 years of service i was trained never to question any leader unless it was an unlawful order, SGM does have a job if you are OPERATIONS S3/G3 HARD WORK.
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Guess it depends on whether talking about SSMs or CSMs. Lead pix is of a CSM, so
I guess that is what the question is about.
I guess that is what the question is about.
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Are they needed? Yes and no in my opinion. I did 6 years in the Navy as a nuke, and now I'm doing a very similar job at a nuclear power plant for almost twice what I got paid in the Navy as an E-5. It was pretty common for me to fill in for an E-6 and we often functioned as a division without an E-7,8,9. Can a Chief do the job of a Master Chief? Absolutely. Will the Navy (or any other branch) be able to retain senior enlisted without a pay increase past the annual cost of living raise? Probably not. The rank of E-9 provides more incentive to stay in for some.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
Unfortunately, PO2 Maxwell Jones, that is absolutely correct. The navy does have it's share of E-7, 8, and 9' instead of Chiefs, Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs. People who stay in for the Pay Raise instead of the real reason to make rate in the Navy. The same goes for all paygrades, not just enlisted either.
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LCDR (Join to see)
CMDCM Gene Treants - I have to disagree. By the time a Sailor has put on anchors, they've mostly likely already given quite a bit to Uncle Sam. They probably have a family they need to look out for. Compensation will ALWAYS be part of the decision matrix. Maybe (hopefully) not the entire decision, but part of it.
"Service before self" is a good value, but at some point, that hits a limit and it becomes "balancing the Navy's budget on the backs of the Sailors."
"Service before self" is a good value, but at some point, that hits a limit and it becomes "balancing the Navy's budget on the backs of the Sailors."
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Question #1: Why would a Captain be having this conversation with a Jr. Soldier?
Question #2: What would be the purpose of such a statement to a Jr. Soldier or any Soldier for that matter?
Question #C: What would a Captain know about what a CSM really does since one will never work for a Captain?
Question #final: What can a Captain do that a 2LT can't besides get saluted?
Question #2: What would be the purpose of such a statement to a Jr. Soldier or any Soldier for that matter?
Question #C: What would a Captain know about what a CSM really does since one will never work for a Captain?
Question #final: What can a Captain do that a 2LT can't besides get saluted?
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
1. Because he was my OIC and I sat right next to him and he knew I wanted to be a CSM.
2. We were discussing the role of senior NCOs.
3. As special staff, we worked directly for the brigade command team. That's where a lot of his experience came from with CSMs.
4. I don't know lol.
2. We were discussing the role of senior NCOs.
3. As special staff, we worked directly for the brigade command team. That's where a lot of his experience came from with CSMs.
4. I don't know lol.
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COL (Join to see)
4: Maneuver a combined arms company-team in combat; understand the METL crosswalk and nesting from Company through Brigade level; have the authority to sign for an entire property book worth in excess of $50 million without losing $400K of it; have immediate respect for the rank when entering a room filled with enlisted soldiers; know how to navigate both mounted and dismounted; have the knowledge gained from 4-8 years in service (invaluable)...the list goes on and on and on. Here's a question...why is the gap between command so large (I commanded a Troop at 6 years of service...I took Command of a Squadron at 17 years)
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SSgt Jim Rooth
In the Corps there is a very distinct possibility that that Captain was in fact enlisted at one time or another. In any event, I truly believe ANY leader worth his salt will seek out ANY knowledge available to learn what those he leads have to say. Once receiving that knowledge, he then has to be able to combine, digest and disseminate said knowledge. An informed leader is a viable contender in any situation.
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