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Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

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For the Royal Marines equivalent, see Corps Regimental Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Incumbent
Sergeant Major Ronald L. Green
since February 20, 2015
FormationMay 23, 1957
First holderWilbur Bestwick
Websitewww.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
    1957-1970, became Sergeant Major
  • 1970–present
    1970–present

Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps

# Picture Name Tenure from Tenure to
1 black & white photograph of Wilbur Bestwick Bestwick Wilbur Bestwick[9] May 23, 1957 September 1, 1959
2 black & white photograph of Francis D. Rauber Rauber Francis D. Rauber[10] September 1, 1959 June 29, 1962
3 black & white photograph of Thomas J. McHugh McHugh Thomas J. McHugh[11] June 29, 1962 July 17, 1965
4 black & white photograph of Herbert J. Sweet Sweet Herbert J. Sweet[12] July 17, 1965 August 1, 1969
5 black & white photograph of Joseph W. Dailey Dailey Joseph W. Dailey[13] August 1, 1969 February 1, 1973
6 black & white photograph of Clinton A. Puckett Puckett Clinton A. Puckett[14] February 1, 1973 June 1, 1975
7 black & white photograph of Henry H. Black Black Henry H. Black[15] June 1, 1975 April 1, 1977
8 black & white photograph of John R. Massaro Massaro John R. Massaro[16] April 1, 1977 August 16, 1979
9 black & white photograph of Leland D. Crawford Crawford Leland D. Crawford[17] August 16, 1979 June 28, 1983
10 Cleary Robert E. Cleary[18] June 28, 1983 June 27, 1987
11 black & white photograph of David W. Sommers Sommers David W. Sommers[19] June 27, 1987 June 28, 1991
12 black & white photograph of Harold G. Overstreet Overstreet Harold G. Overstreet[20] June 28, 1991 June 30, 1995
13 black & white photograph of Lewis G. Lee Lee Lewis G. Lee[21] June 30, 1995 June 29, 1999
14 color photograph of Alford L. McMichael McMichael Alford L. McMichael[22] June 29, 1999 June 26, 2003
15 color photograph of John L. Estrada Estrada John L. Estrada[23] June 26, 2003 April 25, 2007
16 color photograph of Carlton W. Kent Kent Carlton W. Kent[24] April 25, 2007 June 9, 2011
17 color photograph of Micheal P. Barrett Barrett Micheal P. Barrett[25] June 9, 2011 February 20, 2015
18 color photograph of Ronald L. Green Green Ronald L. Green[26] February 20, 2015 Incumbent

Timeline

Ronald L. GreenMicheal BarrettCarlton W. KentJohn L. EstradaAlford L. McMichaelLewis G. LeeHarold G. OverstreetDavid W. SommersRobert E. ClearyLeland D. CrawfordJohn R. MassaroHenry H. BlackClinton A. PuckettJoseph W. DaileyHerbert J. SweetThomas J. McHughFrancis D. RauberWilbur Bestwick

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sergeants Major of the United States Marine Corps.

References

General
  • "The Official Web Site of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps". United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2014-07-19.
Specific
  1. ^ "MCO P1070-12K (IRAM)" (PDF). United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
  2. ^ "ALMAR 016/09: 2009 Sergeants Major Symposium". United States Marine Corps. 2009-05-13. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  3. ^ SMMC on TheFreeDictionary.com
  4. ^ Order of Precedence – OPNAVINST 1710.7J (NOTES: 7)
  5. ^ a b "Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps". hqmc.marines.mil. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  6. ^ a b Estrada, John L. "Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps". 15smmc.com. Retrieved 2009-06-22.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Previous SMMC". hqmc.marines.mil. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  8. ^ "NEXT SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE MARINE CORPS ANNOUNCED". January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  9. ^ "Sergeant Major Wilbur Bestwick, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  10. ^ "Sergeant Major Francis Drury Rauber, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  11. ^ "Sergeant Major Thomas J. McHugh, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  12. ^ "Sergeant Major Herbert J. Sweet, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  13. ^ "Sergeant Major Joseph W. Dailey, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  14. ^ "Sergeant Major Clinton A. Puckett, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  15. ^ "Sergeant Major Henry H. Black, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  16. ^ "Sergeant Major John R. Massaro, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  17. ^ "Sergeant Major Leland D. Crawford, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  18. ^ "Sergeant Major Robert E. Cleary, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  19. ^ "Sergeant Major David W. Sommers, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  20. ^ "Sergeant Major Harold G. Overstreet, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  21. ^ "Sergeant Major Lewis G. Lee, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  22. ^ "Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  23. ^ "Sergeant Major John L. Estrada, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  24. ^ "Sergeant Major Carlton W. Kent, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  25. ^ "Sergeant Major Michael P. Barrett, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
  26. ^ "Sergeant Major Ronald L. Green, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Retrieved 2015-02-21.

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