The Sergeants Major of the Army

The Sergeants Major of the Army

Robert M. Mages Mark F. Gillespie Michael B. Kelly

Daniel K. Elder Glen R. Hawkins Preston E. Pierce

Center of Military History

United States Army

The Sergeants Major of the Army

Robert M. Mages Mark F. Gillespie Michael B. Kelly

Daniel K. Elder Glen R. Hawkins Preston E. Pierce

Center of Military History

United States Army Washington, D.C., 2013

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Mages, Robert M. The Sergeants Major of the Army / Robert M. Mages, Daniel K. Elder, Mark F.

Gillespie, Glen R. Hawkins, Michael B. Kelly, Preston E. Pierce. -- Revised edition. pages cm

Includes bibliographical references. 1. United States. Army--Non-commissioned officers--History. 2. United States. Army--Non-commissioned officers--Biography. I. Title. UB408.5.S476 2013 355.0092'273--dc23

2013014546

First Printed 1995--CMH Pub 70?63?1

Foreword

Last year, we said good-bye to William O. Wooldridge, our first Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA). I think it is fitting that, as we write a new chapter in the Office of the Sergeant Major of the Army, we celebrate those who have come before us. Sergeant Major of the Army Wooldridge was a pioneer, blazing a trail that thirteen of us have traveled. He was instrumental in the creation of this post, and we will always remember his sacrifice and his contributions.

The creation of the Office of the Sergeant Major of the Army in July 1966 represented a major milestone in the development of the U.S. Army. For the first time in history, an enlisted soldier assumed the role of adviser to the Chief of Staff on all issues pertaining to the enlisted force. Even after almost forty years, not much has changed. The Sergeant Major of the Army continues to advise the Chief of Staff on all enlisted matters, including quality of life and pay concerns.

The establishment of the SMA position in 1966 reflected the importance then of soldierrelated issues in the Army, and that emphasis continues today. I see myself as a scout for the Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Army.

My charge is to share with the enlisted corps concerns that are being worked on at the Army level and to bring back to the Pentagon matters affecting soldiers and their families.

Offices and titles are essential in any large institution, but ultimately people are the key to an organization's success; the Office of the Sergeant Major of the Army is no exception. The noncommissioned officers chosen to be Sergeants Major of the Army have been individuals who not only have had extraordinary careers, but who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the welfare of their fellow soldiers. This commitment makes them truly effective advocates and spokesmen on enlisted-related issues.

The careers and life stories of the men who have served as Sergeants Major of the Army are both inspirational and instructive because through them we gain an appreciation for not just the SMAs themselves, but for all the enlisted men and women who over the past two-anda-half centuries have worked, fought, and sacrificed to make the U.S. Army the finest military organization in the world. As we continue to transform the Army to meet the challenges of the next twenty years, it is always appropriate to look back and learn from our history.

RAYMOND F. CHANDLER III Fourteenth Sergeant Major of the Army

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