How did you become a Sergeant Major?

Hard work, luck, having a chip on my shoulder... a mish mosh of it all. I had no illusions when I was a young "paratrooper extraordinaire", but I found I had a knack for my job during Desert Shield/Storm. Once I became an NCO, I took virtually every unwanted job. Low expectations met with high speed low drag results. I found personal success breeds organizational success. Own everything within your sphere of responsibility/influence to include the failures that will come. You miss every shot you don't take. The experience I gained from the crap jobs provided me the knowledge to handle the varied tasks as I went up the ranks. I never compared myself to my peers, but rather those two grades higher. (I humbly own my ego) It pays to be a winner. Through all of that, though, I never really expected to be a 1SG let alone CSM. I was just doing what I could within my spheres to the best of my ability -- mission//soldiers --Did I drink the koolaid? Maybe, but it was natural - Read Malcolm Gladwell's BLINK. Never stop learning and adding tools to your kit. The skills will keep on benefiting you even after you exit the military. Finally, have fun, know your boots are going to get muddy when you embrace the suck; when it stopped being fun, I knew it was time to go.

Hard work, speaking up and the grace of God

Do the best possible work you can at each position you are chosen for! Even those you really don't like. Ask for the very hard jobs that no one else wants and then succeed beyond anyone's best expectations. Example: I was on orders for Fort Hood from Panama. About 45 days prior to my leaving Panama I got what was called an emergency change of orders for needs of the Army. I was an SFC with three years TIG. Sent to Fort Drum, NY. I had house hunting permissive TDY orders. When I went to the housing office they said they were expecting me and my unit has emergency movement orders for me ASAP. A rear detachment 1LT met me at the housing office and informed me he was tasked to expedite my in processing and have me at the Air Force Base in 72 hours ready to deploy. He did it. My wife and kids in the guest house, general power of attorney for everything. Slept on a cot at AFB for two weeks waiting for space A flight to Samolia to help out with Black Hawk Down. Never got a flight. Since my unit was deployed I was assigned as 2ND BDE Combat team S3 NCOIC. There was no one else in the section so I did everything. I never had any complaints which amazed me since I had no clue when I went in but, got laudatory comments daily for figuring out how to get each item accomplished with no one else in my unit to ask. I used the phone a lot. My unit comes back and I get invited first thing into BN CDR's office. I reported and his first words to me were, So SFC Cook what the fuck is wrong with you? I told him I have no idea what he is talking about. He says you are the 9th Bn Commo NCOIC I have had since I took Command. One is in jail, I chaptered three out for being fat boys and I fired the other five for incompetence. So I told him I have some problems with a bad back but that is about it. He asked me how many pounds I thought I could hump on my back because it was a Light Infantry BN. I told him I am not sure but I think about 60 to 70 lbs. He said go get your back evaluated tomorrow on sick call and after the doctor checks you out tell him to call me on my office line so we can determine if you are fit enough to do the job. The doctor did and he gave me a temporary profile to not exceed 70 lbs in backpack. CDR told me to never carry over 60lbs. So I excelled at the job and everyone seemed more than pleased with my performance. I got superior rating on two NCOERs and initial board for MSG Comes up. I got picked up for MSG #18 sequence number Army wide out of hundreds, 168 total I believe. I pin on MSG in June while deployed to West Point for Cadet Summer Training. Get back to Drum in early September and get orders for immediate deployment to Haiti for Ton Ton Macoo ouster, we come back to Drum in early November. Competition is anounced for 1SG slot in C Company, 10th Sig Bn. 19 competitors I win competition hands down but Bn CDR doesn't want to release me because I did so well in the job. The BN XO and my Signal Officer convince him to release me as otherwise it would hurt my career. Besides I got in a high speed SSG that could do just as good a job as I did. He also excelled and got picked up initial SFC board. Two years in ISG position my four years at Drum were completely done. Reported to Fort Sill, Ok after 8 months in BN Commo slot For FA BN my 1SG retired and no MSG in the BN wanted the job of HHB 1SG. BN CSM offered me the position. I told him I didn't know the ins and outs of FA but I was a quick learner. He gave me the job. My first morning at PT the BN CDR comes to PT formation smoking mad because he got a message from the CSM that he was giving me the position. BN CDR fired me on the spot. Tells me to report to his office at 1800 that night. I turn the formation over to a SFC and run PT on my own as I am no longer the 1SG. That night the BN CDR tells me that after much consideration he is giving me the job back because no one else available is qualified to do the job. He tells me I am on probation and he will fire me in a heartbeat if I mess up. I did a pretty good job I guess by my NCOERs all superior ratings. Initial SGM board comes around I get picked up with a very low number and off to USASMA I go for SGM's course. I should also put in that I got honor grad or Commandant's list for every NCO advancement school I went to except the SGM's course as well as just about every other Army school I ever attended except two. I tore my rotator cuff while deployed to Iraq and with several doctors telling me there was little chance of success in surgery fixing it I retired after 27 years instead of being the SGM who can't do pushups or setups. I never figured out why my wife didn't divorce me because I was gone so often. She is still married to me after 35 years. That is a really long rant I hope it doesn't bore you too much. I hope it answers a few questions. If you still have any others just ask. I'll try to answer.

You wake up angry, you unleash said anger on the world during the day, you go to bed angry and dream of punishing those who fail to meet a standard. Rinse and repeat and suddenly after many years you wake up a CSM or SGM

You mean beside just being mean and grumpy? :)

Hard work, study and a bunch of good Soldiers. Approached every detail, task and mission as if the fate of the free world depended on it, from burning crap to building schools everything was important to do rite and well. I also paid attention to the MOS progression chart in the MOS book and worked to meet the education, training and assignments that were listed there at the time hacks listed.
My Dad told me when I made SGT that it wasn't about me from that day forward and about the guys. What they could , couldn't, or wouldn't do. The only ME thing was getting them to do everything as though it was important. I took it to heart and made everything about the guys succeeding. Unless something went poorly every conversation was we, us, and our. If something went bad it was me, my and mine. Take care of the Soldiers and they will take care of you.
I told SMA Gates one time at a job site when he asked if I had a mouse in my pocket because I used "we, and our" during a briefing to him on our squads project that the only time he'd hear "I, Me, or Mine" from me was if it was screwed up. Must have been the rite answer because I got a coin from him.

It deffinatley was not hanging in their as I made CSM in well below the average. It was more about loving what I did and taking care of Soldiers and Families. There is much more but this is the bases for how I got where I did. Wearing SGM then CSM for 14 years was an absolute labor of love. I love my country and I love Soldiers and all that comes with them.

I did what my Seniors/Mentors told me and that was to just do my job. I was in Class 64 of the Academy and roughly the average years in service was about 23 or 24. That was around the time the Army decided that more seasoned NCOs would be selected. My Enlisted and Officer Soldiers convinced me to stay in the Army a little longer. I wish that there was a set pattern but it is not. I have seen the NCOERS of some of the NCOs in my CMF that made MSG/1SG the sane time I did and when I was selected to attend the Sergeants Major Academy. Completely different. I have way more Soldier time than most but we all landed in the same place. Me, I just did my job.

Doing the hard right, over the easy wrong. It may sound cliche but you have got to be a leader, example and hard worker. You must live the Army values with particular emphasis on integrity, duty and honor. Above all, you must take care of Soldiers without regard to yourself.
Hardwork, discipline, patience and the respect of peers and superiors go without saying.
It’s not a rank that is in-achievable but it is difficult.