Servant leadership a true backbone of the army past. Africa command usafricom african horizons caserma del din sma daniel a. Swearingin ceremony of the 15th sergeant major of the army. Sergeant major definition is a noncommissioned officer in the army or marine corps serving as chief administrative assistant in a headquarters. Sergeant major of the army sergeant major of the army. In the first part of the book they discuss the origin and growth of the office of the sergeant major of the army, explaining why someone saw a need for such an. The sergeants major of the army is an important volume in the official history of the united states army. In december 1967, the first 192 sergeants major were selected for all major commands of the army. Washington army news service, june 2, 2016 put on a pot of earl grey, because the next time the sergeant major of the army comes to your installation, he just may be hosting a book club where he and soldiers will discuss titles with subject matter relevant to the profession of soldiering. It is adjusted to the circumstances of the operational environment. Grinston currently serves as the senior enlisted leader for u. Army doctrine is many things, but it is not dogma to be applied blindly.
This latest edition, compiled by command sergeant major dan elder, usa, ret. Dailey born january 11, 1969 is a retired united states army soldier who served as the 15th sergeant major of the army from january 30, 2015 to august 9, 2019. Van autreve saw increasing the standards of the armys noncommissioned officer nco corps as his highest priority. Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states, commonly called the blue book. This reading list is intended to serve as a guide to the many topics worthy of professional consideration, contemplation, and serious discussion. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly gs6 under the federal governments general schedule payscale.
The first part of this book describes the origin and. This memoir was coauthored by dan cragg, also a retired sergeant major. Five former sergeants major of the army joined the first senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff on april 12 to share lessons with class 66 students of the sergeants major course at the u. His military career spanned two wars and 14 campaigns, during which he was twice decorated for gallantry in action. This sergeants book was written in 1982 by csm robert l. The following year, a new rank insignia was authorized for sergeants major assigned as the principal noncommissioned officer of battalions, and higher, known as the command sergeant major. The sergeant major of the army shares his reading list from the. Following a vietnam tour, he was given increasingly responsible assignments at a host of duty stations in the us and overseas. Dailey 15th sergeant major of the army the soldier for life sticker the soldier for life sticker promotes the soldier for life mindset among soldiers, retired soldiers, and veterans, uniting them in their desire to be army advocates and demonstrate the value of a lifetime of service to the nation. The office of sergeant major of the army has evolved into a position of great influence and responsibility, largely as a result of the hard work and exemplary service of the soldiers who have occupied the post. A sergeant major assists officers in a battalionsized force of 300 to 1,000 soldiers, and leads soldiers and junior officers placed directly under his command. Cmh publications catalog the sergeants major of the.
The first part of this book describes the origin and growth of the office of the sergeant. Written in an easy, conversational style, the sergeant majors wife. Army garrisonitaly professional development stewardship of the profession. Prior to his tenure as the sergeant major of the army, he served as the command sergeant major for the united states army. He first enlisted in the united states marine corps in january 1988 as an amphibious assault crewmen. Wooldridge served on active duty from 1940 to 1972. Wooldridge august 12, 1922 march 5, 2012 was a united states army soldier and the first sergeant major of the army. Still, this would be a good book for libraries with both strong and large military historyscience collections.
Kiddthe sergeant major of the army s job is to support and keep the chief of staff informed about the enlisted concerns in the army, and let him know how soldiers are training and living at the canteencup level. Sldc handbook released article the united states army. Official biography eighth army the united states army. The sergeant major of the army sma is a unique noncommissioned rank and position of office in the united states army. The last vietnam veteran to serve in that position from 20002004, sma tilley was at the pentagon when terrorists crashed a plane into the nation. He retired as the longestserving sergeant major of the army, with more than seven years in the position. Location of the command sergeant major army university press. The most important mission of the sergeant major of the army is providing direct communication between the soldier and the army leadership. Former smas share lessons with sergeants major course students. A sergeant major of the army is a noncommissioned officer special, with a military paygrade of e9. Tilley, the 12th sergeant major of the army, it is a series of leadership lessons based on selected stories. Csm troxells military education includes ranger, airborne, jumpmaster, pathfinder, pldc, bncoc, ancoc, and the first sergeant course.
Dailey, who is retiring after more than four years as the army s top enlisted leader. The sergeants major of the army is an important volume in the official history of the. This book was passed from first sergeant to first sergeant, staying within the company and providing the unit historical information. The last vietnam veteran to serve in that position from 20002004, sma tilley was at the pentagon when terrorists crashed a plane into the nations largest office building on september 11, 2001. The sergeant major of the army shares his reading list by joe byerly recently, i spoke with the sergeant major of the army about covid19 and the challenges and opportunities we are facing right now as an army and a nation. Reading books and articles by and about combat leaders can give good insight. He was honorably discharged from the marine corps and enlisted in the united states army in june 1993 as a. The sergeants major of the army army center of military history. Tilley, the 12th sergeant major of the army, it is a series of leadership lessons based on selected stories from his more than 35year career. He served on the sergeant major of the army s board of directors and is author, editor or advisor to a number of soldierrelated books and articles. This is the highest enlisted rank in the army and the liaison between.
Other libraries should consider this an optional purchase. Dailey introduced the esteemed panel, telling the students, this is your. I read this book as a brigade or division sergeant major, and it reminded me that sometimes in the army we jump to the end first. The sergeants major of the army adds to the growing literature on the armys noncommissioned officer corps, which has always stood proudly in the front ranks to serve the nation in war and peace. Army sergeant major of the army pay grade and rank. Bainbridge, the fifth man to serve as sergeant major of the army. The life and times of sergeant major of the army william g. Yamamoto and later danielle giovannelli, was first published by ausas institute of land warfare in 1996. Elder and his fellow contributors tell two stories, an institutional one and a personal one.
Sergeant major of the army dan dailey is putting together a professional reading list, and hes asked soldiers for their ideas and recommendations. Army africa usaraf usagi caserma ederle vicenza italy u. A machinist sergeantmajor msm is a specialist most often found in the corps of royal engineers or the royal army service corps, and was the title of one of the major characters in the book and the film based on it, ice cold in alex. The blue book set down the duties and responsibilities for corporals, sergeants, first sergeants, quartermaster sergeants, and sergeants major which were the nco ranks at that time. It was an honor having sergeant major of the army kenneth o. The 16th sergeant major of the army will be command sgt. This sergeant major inherently displayed two of the sixteen distinct traits summarized in this same book. The sergeant major of the army shares his reading list. This work is the story of the 31year army career of bainbridge, who for four years served as sergeant major of the army sma. This book, which today may be known as a leaders book contained the names of everyone in the company and their professional history awols, work habits, promotions, etc. As the sergeant major of the army, grinston is the army chief of staffs personal adviser on matters affecting the enlisted force.
Army sergeants major course and the command sergeants major course. From a two star officer, the army sergeant major and a senior civil servant, to an innovative captain and an anonymous section commander. I want to stimulate intellectual learning inside the noncommissioned officer ranks, dailey told army times. In 1975, the author was named sergeant major of the army, a pentagonbased post he was the first to hold for four years. It emphasized the need to select quality soldiers for nco positions. Sergeant major of the army dan dailey is putting together a professional reading list, and hes asked soldiers for their ideas and. Nco reading list association of the united states army. A reflection tells the tale of a cold war american army wife from a whirlwind courtship, two tours of duty in post war germany one with the army of occupation through the korean conflict, the civil rights movement, and the vietnam war. Army forces command has been selected to be the next sergeant major of the army. The table below lists the equivalent ranks of an army sergeant major of the army, and their insignia, in the other four. Granted, this sergeant major is not a commissioned officer like those referenced by the author and the sergeant major would likely scoff at the notion of being compared to the likes of patton, rommel and so many other mavericks. New sergeant major of the army named association of the. The command sergeant major role in fires and maneuver. With the aid of fellow retired army noncom cragg, former sergeant major of the army bainbridge tells his story.
The holder of this rank and position is the most senior enlisted member of the army, unless an army enlisted man is serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman. Since that time the book has proved extraordinarily popular as a source of inspiration and anecdote, as a repository of history and heritage, and as a compendium of documents, paintings, and photographs relevant to the contributions and. Sergeant major is the highest enlisted rank in the army, and the base rank required for the leadership position of command sergeant major. The sergeant major of the army association of the united.