First warrant officer

Sergeant Major is a senior non -commissioned officer ( SNCO, such as " Sergeant Major ", see Sergeant Ranks ) or Warrant Officer, depending on the considered forces.

• 2.1 United Kingdom
• 2.2 USA

History

Formation

In the 16th century, the sergeant major was an officer in the rank of general. He commanded the infantry of an army and was about the third highest rank in the hierarchy of this army. He also acted as a chief of staff for the commander of the army.

In the 17th century, the Sergeant Major emerged as Rank on in individual regiments. This was a staff officer and third in the chain of command of the regiment (after the Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel). Similar to the Sergeant Major of the Army was responsible to him everyday planning and organizational tasks as well as the monitoring of military training of the troops.

To distinguish the doer army level service as Sergeant Major Sergeant Major General was titled. Later, the titulary Sergeant was removed from both ranks. These are the roots of today's officer ranks Major and Major General.

The title of Sergeant Major then disappeared for some time before he came in the late 18th century as a rank / service position of the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer of an infantry battalion or cavalry regiment returned to service. This senior non -commissioned officer ( SNCO ) was equal entrusted its historical predecessors with administrative and training matters; He also served as superior of all corporals and sergeants.

Development in the U.S.

In the time period of the American Revolutionary War, the use of the rank Sergeant Major in the U.S. and the UK began to deviate from each other.

The first use of the Sergeant Major in the U.S. was 1776, when a Sergeant Major each headquarters of an infantry battalion of the Continental Army was assigned. With the standardization of the pay levels of the commissioned officers of the U.S. Army Sergeant Major of the disappeared as rank and pay level. However, he survived in the form of the post of senior NCO of a battalion and was re-introduced as a rank in 1958. The post of Sergeant Major of the Army ( SMA) was introduced in 1966. The rank of Command Sergeant Major (CSM ) received 1968 separate badge.

The U.S. Marine Corps had its first Sergeant Major in 1801. Originally, this was a unique item, but there were five of them in 1899. The title was abolished in 1946 and 8 years later in 1954 re-introduced as a rank. The post of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps ( SgtMajMC ) was created in 1957.

Development in the UK

The British formalized the designation in 1800, when the sergeant major was added to the battalion or regimental staff. As a V-shaped sleeve insignia ( Chevron) were introduced as badges of rank, he wore four of them initially and later four under one crown.

1813 led a cavalry regiments the Troop Sergeant Major (TSM ) to replace the Quartermaster as the senior NCO of the troops. This required renaming of existing items to Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM ). When, later, the company ( Squadron ) prevailed as principal subdivision of the Regiment, the Squadron Sergeant Major ( SSM) has been introduced. However, until the eve of the Second World War, the infantry held at the old concept, a Sergeant Major per battalion, firmly. It was not until the introduction of the Company Sergeant Major forced them to adopt the RSM rank. In the late 19th century, there was in the cavalry and the infantry a large number of Regimental Sergeant Major items that were filled out by authorized officers ( Warrant Officer (WO ) ). This practice was extended in 1915 and unified with the introduction of the new ranks of Warrant Officer Class I (WO I) and Warrant Officer Class II (WO II).

The higher position of Regimental Sergeant Major has now been filled by a WO I and those of the Company / Squadron Sergeant Major of a WO II.

Presence

Great Britain

Sergeant Major in the British Army and the Royal Marines rank no more, but he can still be used as a title for uses that are now perceived by Warrant Officers.

There are the following related posts:

• Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM ) ( WOI ): This is the senior NCO ( noncommissioned officer highest degree of service ) of a battalion or regiment. This item is similar to the Command Sergeant Major (CSM ) of the U.S. Army.
• Company Sergeant Major (CSM ) ( WOII ): This is the senior NCO of a company, similar to the First Sergeant of the U.S. Army or the company sergeant-major of the Bundeswehr. ( Comparable terms in the British armed forces are: Battery Sergeant Major (BSM ) ( artillery ) or Squadron Sergeant Major ( SSM) ).

USA

In the U.S. Army, the rank Sergeant Major refers to two things: on the one hand, on a grade and the other hand on an administrative post. The rank refers to the highest non-commissioned officer rank just above that of the First Sergeant. This rank is rewarded with the pay level E-9. There is a highest-ranking non-commissioned officer in the Army: Sergeant Major of the Army ( SMA). Another administrative post for Sergeant Major in the Army 's Command Sergeant Major (CSM ). He is the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer and a consultant for the commanding officer. He also has various ceremonial functions and acts as a supervisor and advocate for the non-commissioned officers of the Association. The post of CSM exists on the battalion level or higher and in staff positions.

Soldiers who fill this position should have the rank of Sergeant Major. Because of staff shortages but it can also happen that an experienced Master Sergeant (MSG ) is used.

The U.S. Marine Corps knows the Sergeant Major ( SgtMaj ) only as rank. He is the Master Gunnery Sergeant ( MGySgt ) equal, this is a specialist and the SgtMaj is commander of his subordinate soldiers and direct subordinate of the commander of his unit in the first place.

Similar to the SgtMaj exists in the Marines also the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer, who reports directly to the Commander: the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.

France

The rank of sergent -major was introduced in 1776 in the French infantry; in the cavalry met him at the same time created maréchal des logis -chef. Entrusted with the duties of a company sergeant, they were the highest-ranking non-commissioned officers of the company ( service grade were higher since 1776, the sous- officiers adjudant at the regimental staffs ).

The term sergent -major accounted for 1972 maréchal des logis -chef is still in use in the national formerly mounted troops over the French army and in the gendarmerie.