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Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

Senior enlisted member of the U.S. Marine Corps From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The sergeant major of the Marine Corps (officially abbreviated to SMMC)[2][3] is a billet that is distinguished by a unique rank insignia but remains within the E-9 pay grade.[4] The holder of this rank and position is the most senior enlisted marine in the Marine Corps, unless an enlisted marine is serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman (SEAC) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[a]

Current service uniform rank insignia of the SMMC.
Rank insignia of the SMMC from 1957 to 1970; became the rank insignia for a sergeant major afterwards.

AbbreviationSMMC
Reports toCommandant of the Marine Corps
SeatHeadquarters Marine Corps
AppointerCommandant of the Marine Corps
Quick facts of the Marine Corps, Abbreviation ...
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Dress uniform insignia of the SMMC
Incumbent
SMMC Carlos A. Ruiz
since August 10, 2023
 United States Marine Corps
AbbreviationSMMC
Reports toCommandant of the Marine Corps
SeatHeadquarters Marine Corps
AppointerCommandant of the Marine Corps
Term length4 years
FormationMay 23, 1957
First holderWilbur Bestwick
Unofficial namesSergeant major
Salary$10,758.00 per month, regardless of the incumbent's service longevity [1]
Websitewww.hqmc.marines.mil/smmc
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In the U.S. Marine Corps, sergeant major is the ninth and one of two ranks that are the highest enlisted ranks, just above first sergeant and master sergeant (both E-8 pay grade), 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 handles 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 unless an enlisted marine is serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman. The SMMC holds an order of precedence equivalent to a lieutenant general.[7]

Although not officially considered a sergeant major of the Marine Corps, when Archibald Sommers was appointed to sergeant major on 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.[8]

The post of sergeant major of the Marine Corps was established in 1957 from the order of assistant chief of staff for personnel at Headquarters Marine Corps, Brigadier General James P. Berkeley, as the senior enlisted advisor to the commandant of the Marine Corps,[8] the first such post in any of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces.[9] 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. The verbal address for the rank is generally "sergeant major", though "sergeant major of the Marine Corps" is utilized in formal situations.

The commandant of the Marine Corps selects the sergeant major of the Marine Corps and typically serves a four-year term, though his service is at the discretion of the Commandant.[9] Since Sergeant Major Wilbur Bestwick was appointed the first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in 1957, 20 different Marines have filled this post.[10]

List of sergeants major of the Marine Corps

More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Duration
1 black & white photograph of Wilbur Bestwick Bestwick Wilbur Bestwick

(1911–1972)

 May 23, 1957 September 1, 1959 2 years, 101 days [11]
2 black & white photograph of Francis D. Rauber Rauber Francis D. Rauber

(1901–1991)

 September 1, 1959 June 29, 1962 2 years, 301 days [12]
3 black & white photograph of Thomas J. McHugh McHugh Thomas J. McHugh

(1919–2000)

 June 29, 1962 July 17, 1965 3 years, 18 days [13]
4 black & white photograph of Herbert J. Sweet Sweet Herbert J. Sweet

(1919–1998)

 July 17, 1965 August 1, 1969 4 years, 15 days [14]
5 black & white photograph of Joseph W. Dailey Dailey Joseph W. Dailey

(1917–2007)

 August 1, 1969 February 1, 1973 3 years, 184 days [15]
6 black & white photograph of Clinton A. Puckett Puckett Clinton A. Puckett

(1926–2002)

 February 1, 1973 June 1, 1975 2 years, 120 days [16]
7 black & white photograph of Henry H. Black Black Henry H. Black

(1929–2012)

 June 1, 1975 April 1, 1977 1 year, 304 days [17]
8 black & white photograph of John R. Massaro Massaro John R. Massaro

(1930–)

 April 1, 1977 August 16, 1979 2 years, 137 days [18]
9 black & white photograph of Leland D. Crawford Crawford Leland D. Crawford

(1930–1993)

 August 16, 1979 June 28, 1983 3 years, 316 days [19]
10 Cleary Robert E. Cleary

(1931–2018)

 June 28, 1983 June 27, 1987 3 years, 364 days [20]
11 black & white photograph of David W. Sommers Sommers David W. Sommers

(1943–)

 June 27, 1987 June 28, 1991 4 years, 1 day [21]
12 black & white photograph of Harold G. Overstreet Overstreet Harold G. Overstreet

(1944–)

 June 28, 1991 June 30, 1995 4 years, 2 days [22]
13 black & white photograph of Lewis G. Lee Lee Lewis G. Lee

(1950–)

 June 30, 1995 June 29, 1999 3 years, 364 days [23]
14 color photograph of Alford L. McMichael McMichael Alford L. McMichael

(1952–)

 June 29, 1999 June 26, 2003 3 years, 362 days [24]
15 color photograph of John L. Estrada Estrada John L. Estrada

(1955–)

 June 26, 2003 April 25, 2007 3 years, 303 days [25]
16 color photograph of Carlton W. Kent Kent Carlton W. Kent

(1957–)

 April 25, 2007 June 9, 2011 4 years, 45 days [26]
17 color photograph of Micheal P. Barrett Barrett Micheal P. Barrett

(1963–)

 June 9, 2011 February 20, 2015 3 years, 256 days [27]
18 color photograph of Ronald L. Green Green Ronald L. Green

(1964–)

 February 20, 2015 July 26, 2019 4 years, 156 days [28]
19 color photograph of Troy E. Black Black Troy E. Black

(1969-)

 July 26, 2019 August 10, 2023 4 years, 15 days [29]
20 color photograph of Carlos A. Ruiz Ruiz Carlos A. Ruiz

(1975–)

 August 10, 2023 Incumbent 3 years, 23 days [30]
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Timeline

Carlos A. RuizTroy E. BlackRonald 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

End notes

  1. [a]
    Troy E. Black, the 19th SMMC, was the most recent marine to serve as SEAC, serving in the role from 3 November 2023 to 20 June 2025.[5][6]

References

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