Sergeant major (E-9)

How to read it

DA Pamphlet 670-1 describes the sergeant major insignia as three chevrons above three arcs with a five-pointed star between the chevrons and arcs. A Command sergeant major (E-9) has the same star inside a wreath; a First sergeant (E-8), one grade down, has a diamond there instead. Both kinds of sergeant major are E-9, according to the Department of Defense. The Army’s ranks page describes the sergeant major as a subject matter expert in a technical field and the senior enlisted adviser to a primary staff officer at battalion level or higher, with experience and abilities equal to a command sergeant major’s.

Also searched as: E-9 army, SGM.

Sergeant major or command sergeant major?

Army Regulation 600-20 lists the command sergeant major above the sergeant major. Its notes explain the split: command sergeants major are formally selected by the Department of the Army for the Command Sergeants Major Program, and sergeant major is the grade of every E-9 not selected for it. On the insignia, the wreath around the star is the only difference.

How a sergeant major is addressed

As “Sergeant Major”, the title of address Army Regulation 600-20 gives to all three E-9 grades: sergeant major, command sergeant major and Sergeant major of the Army (E-9).