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Regimental Sergeant - Sergeant Major
USA, USAF, and USMC In the U.S. Army, Sergeant Major refers to both a military rank and to a specific administrative position. The rank refers to the highest enlisted rank, just above First Sergeant, with a pay grade of E-9. The leadership position, Command Sergeant Major, is the senior enlisted advisor to the commanding officer and carries with it certain ceremonial functions such as caring for the unit's colors (flag). Additionally, they serve as monitors for, and advocates of, the enlisted men in the command. This position exists in units of battalion size and larger. Because the Command Sergeant Major represents all of the enlisted soldiers in the command, he or she does not wear the collar insignia of his or her career specialty (e.g., infantry, quartermaster, intelligence, inter alia), but instead wears the Command Sergeant Major (formerly "branch immaterial") collar insignia. The insignia is a gold-color rendering of the coat of arms of the United States; like the branch of service insignia of all U.S. Army enlisted soldiers, it is placed upon a gold-colored metal disk, one inch in diameter. An alternative usage of Command Sergeant Major is the senior NCO of a headquarters unit at battalion level or above; the soldier filling this position should carry the rank of Sergeant Major, but personnel shortages may, from time to time, force this sergeant major position to be held by a senior First Sergeant or Master Sergeant both E-8. A SGM or CSM is referred to, and addressed, as "Sergeant Major". Oklahoma DDay At Oklahoma DDay, a Sergeant Major bears the title Regimental Sergeant and is placed in charge of all NCO's in the Company's below him. The Sergeant Major directs the Company's during firefights allowing the officers to focus on the overall direction of the battle.
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