Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps | |
---|---|
since Feb 20, 2015 | |
Formation | May 23, 1957 |
First holder | Wilbur Bestwick |
Website | www.HQMC.Marines.mil |
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (officially abbreviated to SgtMajMC;[1] unofficially as SMMC[2][3]) is a unique non-commissioned rank and billet in the United States Marine Corps.
History
In the U.S. Marine Corps, sergeant major is the ninth and highest enlisted rank, just above first sergeant, and equal in grade to master gunnery sergeant, although the two have different responsibilities. A sergeant major typically serves as the unit commander's senior enlisted adviser and to handle matters of discipline and morale among the enlisted Marines. The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is chosen by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to serve as his adviser and is the preeminent and highest ranking enlisted Marine with a protocol equivalency of a lieutenant general.[4]
Although not officially considered a Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, when Archibald Sommers was appointed to the grade of Sergeant Major January 1, 1801, it was a solitary post, similar to the modern billet of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. In 1833, an act of legislation made the rank of sergeant major permanent for the Marine Corps and by 1899 five Marines held the rank of sergeant major. This continued until 1946, when the rank was abolished, only to be re-introduced in 1954 as part of the Marine Corps rank structure.[5]
The post of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps was established in 1957 as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps,[5] the first such post in any of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces.[6] In 1970, the rank insignia of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps was authorized (which features three stripes, the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor flanked by two five-point stars in the center, and four rockers) as opposed to the standard Sergeant Major rank insignia (which features three stripes, one five-point star in the center, and four rockers), which was used for the rank from the post's creation in 1957 to 1970. While "Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps" is the full wording of the rank, the verbal address for this is commonly Sergeant Major.
The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is selected by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and typically serves a four-year term, though his service is at the discretion of the Commandant.[6] Since Sergeant Major Wilbur Bestwick was appointed the first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in 1957, 17 different Marines have filled this post.[7]
On January 20, 2015, Commandant Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. announced that Sergeant Major Ronald L. Green would relieve Sergeant Major Micheal P. Barrett and serve as the 18th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps on February 20, 2015.[8]
Insignia
- SgtMajMC insignia timeline
-
1957-1970, became Sergeant Major
-
1970–present
Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps
# | Picture | Name | Tenure from | Tenure to |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Wilbur Bestwick[9] | May 23, 1957 | September 1, 1959 |
2 | ![]() |
Francis D. Rauber[10] | September 1, 1959 | June 29, 1962 |
3 | ![]() |
Thomas J. McHugh[11] | June 29, 1962 | July 17, 1965 |
4 | ![]() |
Herbert J. Sweet[12] | July 17, 1965 | August 1, 1969 |
5 | ![]() |
Joseph W. Dailey[13] | August 1, 1969 | February 1, 1973 |
6 | ![]() |
Clinton A. Puckett[14] | February 1, 1973 | June 1, 1975 |
7 | ![]() |
Henry H. Black[15] | June 1, 1975 | April 1, 1977 |
8 | ![]() |
John R. Massaro[16] | April 1, 1977 | August 16, 1979 |
9 | ![]() |
Leland D. Crawford[17] | August 16, 1979 | June 28, 1983 |
10 | ![]() |
Robert E. Cleary[18] | June 28, 1983 | June 27, 1987 |
11 | ![]() |
David W. Sommers[19] | June 27, 1987 | June 28, 1991 |
12 | ![]() |
Harold G. Overstreet[20] | June 28, 1991 | June 30, 1995 |
13 | ![]() |
Lewis G. Lee[21] | June 30, 1995 | June 29, 1999 |
14 | ![]() |
Alford L. McMichael[22] | June 29, 1999 | June 26, 2003 |
15 | ![]() |
John L. Estrada[23] | June 26, 2003 | April 25, 2007 |
16 | ![]() |
Carlton W. Kent[24] | April 25, 2007 | June 9, 2011 |
17 | ![]() |
Micheal P. Barrett[25] | June 9, 2011 | February 20, 2015 |
18 | ![]() |
Ronald L. Green[26] | February 20, 2015 | Incumbent |
Timeline
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/1pc227yjbxvknobi9l3soirl7mr5clb.png)
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Sergeant Major of the Army
- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
- Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
- Senior Enlisted Advisor for the National Guard Bureau
References
- General
- "The Official Web Site of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps". United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2014-07-19.
- Specific
- ^ "MCO P1070-12K (IRAM)" (PDF). United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "ALMAR 016/09: 2009 Sergeants Major Symposium". United States Marine Corps. 2009-05-13. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
- ^ SMMC on TheFreeDictionary.com
- ^ Order of Precedence – OPNAVINST 1710.7J (NOTES: 7)
- ^ a b "Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps". hqmc.marines.mil. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
- ^ a b Estrada, John L. "Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps". 15smmc.com. Retrieved 2009-06-22.[dead link]
- ^ "Previous SMMC". hqmc.marines.mil. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
- ^ "NEXT SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE MARINE CORPS ANNOUNCED". January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Wilbur Bestwick, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Francis Drury Rauber, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Thomas J. McHugh, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Herbert J. Sweet, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Joseph W. Dailey, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Clinton A. Puckett, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Henry H. Black, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major John R. Massaro, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Leland D. Crawford, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Robert E. Cleary, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major David W. Sommers, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Harold G. Overstreet, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Lewis G. Lee, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major John L. Estrada, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Carlton W. Kent, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Michael P. Barrett, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
- ^ "Sergeant Major Ronald L. Green, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2015-02-21.