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Senior enlisted advisor

{{Short description|Armed forces position}}

File:US-President Obama Commander in Chief's Ball 2009.jpg

A senior enlisted advisor (SEA) is the most senior enlisted service member in a unit, and acts as an advisor to the commanding officer.

Australia

In Australia the equivalent positions within the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) are Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N), Regimental Sergeant Major-Army (RSM-A) and Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF) respectively. On 20 June 2023 the Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell announced the creation of the position of Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Force (SEAC) and that the outgoing Joint Operations Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer Ken Robertson would assume the position effective 1 July 2023.

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|colspan="6" align ="center" | Service senior enlisted advisors

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! Rank insignia

! Position

! Photo

! Incumbent

! Service branch

! Start date

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| 50px

| Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Force

| 75px

| Warrant Officer
Ken Robertson{{cite web | url=https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-07-03/new-role-gives-personnel-direct-line-chief | title=New Role Gives Personnel Direct Line to Chief | publisher=Royal Australian Defence Organisation | date=3 July 2023 | access-date=4 July 2023}}

| {{air force|Australia}}

| {{dts|2023|07|1}}

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| 50px

| Warrant Officer of the Navy

| 75px

| Warrant Officer
Andrew Bertoncin{{cite web | url=https://www.navy.gov.au/biography/warrant-officer-andrew-bertoncin | title=Warrant Officer Andrew Bertoncin, Warrant Officer of the Navy | publisher=Royal Australian Navy | date=n.d. | access-date=4 July 2023}} {{postnominals|country=AUS|OAM}}

| {{navy|Australia}}

| {{dts|2022|12|16}}

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| 50px

| Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Australia)

| 75px

|align="center"| Warrant Officer
Kim Felmingham
{{postnominals|country=AUS|sep=,|NSC|OAM}}

|align="center"| {{army|Australia}}

| {{dts|2022|7|1}}

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| 50px

| Warrant Officer of the Air Force

| 75px

| Warrant Officer
Ralph Clifton

| {{air force|Australia}}

| {{dts|2022|12|1}}

Canada

The Senior Enlisted advisor of the Canadian Forces is the Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer. The Army, Navy and Air Force each have their own Chief Warrant Officer acting as Senior Enlisted advisor.

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| colspan=7| Service senior enlisted advisors

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! Rank insignia

! Position

! Photo

! Incumbent

! Start date

! Service branch

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Refences}}

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| 50px

| Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer

| 75px

| Chief Warrant Officer
Bob McCann {{post-nominals|country=CAN|sep=,|MMM|MSM|CD}}

| 14 April 2023

| {{army|Canada}}

| {{cite web |title=Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer – Biography |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/organizational-structure/chief-defence-staff/chief-warrant-officer-biography.html |access-date=10 August 2024 |website=Canadian Government}}

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| 50px

| Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

| 75px

| Chief Petty Officer 1st Class
Pascal Harel

MMM, CD https://www.cmfmag.ca/policy/22nd-royal-canadian-navy-command-chief-petty-officer-announced/

| May 2024

| {{navy|Canada}}

| {{cite web |title=Chief Petty Officer of the Navy |url=http://www.navy-marine.forces.gc.ca/en/about/leadership-cpo-rcn.page |website=navy-marine.forces.gc.ca |access-date=21 September 2021}}

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| 50px

| Chief Warrant Officer of the Canadian Army

| 75px

| Chief Warrant Officer
J. M. Smith {{post-nominals|country=CAN|sep=,|MMM|CD}}

| 10 June 2021

| {{army|Canada}}

| {{cite web |title=Chief Warrant Officer J.M. Smith, MMM, CD |url=https://army.gc.ca/en/senior-leaders/sergeant-major.page |website=army.gc.ca |access-date=21 September 2021}}

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| 50px

| Chief Warrant Officer of the Air Force

| 75px

| Chief Warrant Officer
W. J. Hall {{post-nominals|country=CAN|sep=,|MMM|CD}}

| 10 June 2021

| {{air force|Canada}}

| {{cite web |title=Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force |url=http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/rcaf-chief-warrant-officer.page |website=rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca |access-date=21 September 2021}}

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| colspan=7| Senior enlisted advisors Commands

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| 50px

| Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Chief Warrant Officer

| 75px

| Chief Warrant Officer
N.E. Belanger {{post-nominals|country=CAN|sep=,|MMM|CD}}

| 2019

| {{air force|Canada}}

| {{cite web | url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/organizational-structure/canadian-forces-intelligence-command/chief-warrant-officer-biography.html | title=Chief Warrant Officer N.E. Belanger, MMM, CD | publisher=Government of Canada| date=1 October 2019 | accessdate=21 September 2021}}

NATO

NATO also has a number of Senior Enlisted Advisors taken from NATO members for various posts, including Senior Enlisted Advisor - NATO Allied Command Transformation

New Zealand

In New Zealand the equivalent positions within the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) are Warrant officer of the Navy (New Zealand) (WON), Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) and Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOAF) respectively. there is also the Senior position within HQNZDF of the Warrant Officer of the Defence Force (WODF)

WODR

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|colspan="6" align ="center" | Service senior enlisted advisors

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! Rank insignia

! Position

! Photo

! Incumbent

! Service branch

! Start date

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| 50px

| Warrant Officer of the Defence Force (New Zealand)

| 75px

| Warrant Officer class 1
Wiremu Moffitthttps://www.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/structure-and-leadership/warrant-officer-class-one-wiremu-moffitt-2/

| {{army|New Zealand}}

| {{dts|2024|5|22}}

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| 50px

| Warrant officer of the Navy (New Zealand)

| 75px

| Warrant Officer Diver
Lance Graham

| {{navy|New Zealand}}

| {{dts|2021|1|29}}

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| 50px

| Sergeant Major of the Army (New Zealand)

| 75px

| Warrant Officer class 1

| {{army|new Zealand}}

| -

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| 50px

| Warrant Officer of the Air Force (New Zealand)

| 75px

| Warrant Officer
Kerry Williamshttps://www.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/structure-and-leadership/warrant-officer-kerry-williams/

| {{air force|New Zealand}}

| {{dts

}

|-

|}

Singapore

Singapore has a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Sergeant Major (SAFSM), as well as Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA), Master Chief Navy (MCN), Air Force Command Chief (AFCC) and Chief Expert, Digital and Intelligence Service (CXDI).

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|colspan="7" align ="center" | Service senior enlisted advisors

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! Rank insignia

! Position

! Photo

! Incumbent

! Service branch

! Start date

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| 50px

| SAF Sergeant Major

| 75px

| Chief Warrant Officer
Chua Hock Guan

| {{army|Singapore}}

| {{dts|2022|03|30}}

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| 50px

| Sergeant Major of the Army

| 75px

| Chief Warrant Officer
Sanjee Singh s/o Saraina

| {{army|Singapore}}

| {{dts|2023|05|05}}

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| 50px

| Master Chief Navy

| 75px

| Military Expert 6
Goh Leng Yan

| {{navy|Singapore}}

| {{dts|2015|09|30}}

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| 50px

| Air Force Command Chief

| 75px

| Military Expert 6
Ng See Lye

| {{air force|Singapore}}

| {{dts|2021|05|25}}

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| 50px

| Chief Expert, Digital and Intelligence Service

| 75px

| Military Expert 6
Noh Kok Tiong

| Digital and Intelligence Service

| {{dts|2022|10|28}}

South Africa

South Africa has a Warrant officer of the Defence Force, as well as Sergeant Majors of the Army, Air Force and Medical Services. The Navy equivalent is the Master at Arms of the Navy

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|colspan="7" align ="center" | Service senior enlisted advisors

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! Rank insignia

! Position

! Photo

! Incumbent

! Service branch

! Start date

! Reference

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| 50px

| Warrant Officer of the South African National Defence Force

| 75px

| Master Chief Warrant Officer
Mothusi Kgaladi

| {{army|South Africa}}

| {{dts|2012|10}}

| {{cite web|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18994:mothusi-victor-kgaladi-new-wo-sandf&catid=55:SANDF&Itemid=108|title=Mothusi Victor Kgaladi new WO SANDF| publisher=DefenceWeb}}

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| 50px

| Master at Arms of the Navy

| 75px

| Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Matee Molefe

| {{navy|South Africa}}

| {{dts|2018|02|01}}

| {{cite web | url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50575:new-master-at-arms-for-the-navy&catid=111:sa-defence&Itemid=242 | title=New Master-At-Arms for the Navy | publisher=Defenceweb | date=February 2, 2018 | accessdate=February 5, 2018 | author=Wingrin, Dean}}

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| 50px

| Sergeant Major of the Army (South Africa)

| 100px

| Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Ncedakele Mtshatsheni

| {{army|South Africa}}

| {{dts|2017|02|01}}
(Acting from {{dts|2016|10|01}} to {{dts|2017|01|31}})

| {{cite web | url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46663:mtshatsheni-is-new-sa-army-sergeant-major&catid=111:sa-defence&Itemid=242 | title=Mtshatsheni is new SA Army sergeant major | publisher=Defenceweb | date=2 February 2017 | access-date=26 September 2017}}

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| 50px

| Sergeant Major of the Air Force

| 75px

| Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Colin Stanton-Jones

| {{air force|South Africa}}

| {{dts|2018|12|01}}

| {{cite web | url=https://www.zoutnet.co.za/articles/newsflash/52095/2020-03-12/new-commander-for-515-squadron | title=New commander for 515 Squadron | date=March 12, 2020 | accessdate=October 1, 2020}}{{Failed verification|date=September 2021}}

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| 50px

| Warrant Officer of the South African Military Health Services

| 75px

| Senior Chief Warrant Officer

| South African Military Health Service

| {{dts

}

|

|}

United Kingdom

The Royal Navy has the Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy, the British Army has the Army Sergeant Major, the Royal Air Force has the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer and the Royal Marines the Corps Regimental Sergeant Major. In 2018, the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee was introduced.

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|colspan="6" align ="center" | Service senior enlisted advisors

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! Rank insignia

! Position

! Photo

! Incumbent

! Service branch

! Start date

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| 50px

| Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee

| 75px

| Warrant Officer Class One
Glenn Haughton{{cite web |title=WO1 Glenn Haughton OBE has been appointed as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee (SEAC) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/wo1-glenn-haughton-obe-has-been-appointed-as-the-first-senior-enlisted-advisor-to-the-chiefs-of-staff-committee-seac |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Ministry of Defence |accessdate=5 November 2018 |date=1 November 2018}} {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}}

| {{army|United Kingdom}}

| {{dts|2018|11|1}}

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| 50px

| Warrant Officer of the Naval Service

| 75px

| Warrant Officer Class One
Carl Steedman{{cite tweet |user=SEAC_Defence |number=1222768725012684800 |date=30 January 2020 |title=Congratulations to the newly appointed Warrant Officer of the Naval Service @WOCarlSteedman . And welcome to the world of Twitter! Give him a follow, I look forward to regular sea stories and shenanigans from the @RoyalNavy }}{{Cite tweet |user=AdmTonyRadakin |author=First Sea Lord |number=1223314044918157313 |date = 31 January 2020 |title=But as one WONS steps down, another steps up. Welcome to WO Carl "Speedy" Steedman, who takes up the role from today. Looking forward to working with him. Please do follow him on Twitter @WOCarlSteedman. }}

| {{navy|United Kingdom}}

| {{dts|2020|1|31}}

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| 50px

| Army Sergeant Major

| 75px

| Warrant Officer Class One
Paul Carney{{cite news|url=https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=0377652b-c123-4bff-8806-61b9af842025|title=Ground View|publisher=Soldier Magazine|date=1 August 2021|access-date=10 August 2021}}

| {{army|United Kingdom}}

| {{dts|2021|08|03}}

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| 50px

| Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force

| 75px

| Warrant Officer
Jake Alpert{{cite web|title=Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-commanders/chief-of-the-air-staffs-warrant-officer/|work=Royal Air Force website - Senior Commanders|publisher=RAF.mod.uk|access-date=5 October 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.raf-ff.org.uk/warrant-officer-of-the-royal-air-force/|title=Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force|publisher=Royal Air Force Families Federation|accessdate=19 September 2021}} {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}

| {{air force|United Kingdom}}

| {{dts|2019|10}}

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| 50px

| Corps Regimental Sergeant Major

|

| Warrant Officer Class One
Richard Angove{{Cite tweet |user=AdmTonyRadakin |number=1289092818200387584 |date = 31 July 2020 |title=Thank you, WO1 Mason, for your magnificent service and all that you have done for @RoyalMarines and @RoyalNavy. Congratulations on an exemplary career. And welcome to WO1 Richard Angove as the new Corps RSM. Well done on your appointment, and looking forward to working with you.}}

| {{marines|United Kingdom}}

| {{dts|2020|7}}

United States

In the United States Armed Forces E-9 billets for the senior enlisted advisor are established at service unit (e.g., battalion, wing, or higher), command, major command, force, or fleet levels to the SEAs/CSELs of DoD Agencies and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. SEAs are also known as command senior enlisted leaders (CSEL). Always a non-commissioned officer, the SEA is the main link between the commanding officer and the enlisted service members under his or her charge.

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|colspan="6" align ="center" | Service senior enlisted advisors

align="center" | Position insignia

!align="center" | Position

!align="center" | Photo

!align="center" | Incumbent

!align="center" | Service branch

!align="center" | Start date

align="center"| File:Flag_of_the_Senior_Enlisted_Advisor_to_the_Chairman.svg

| Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman

| 75px

|align="center"| SEAC
Troy E. Black

|align="center"| File:Emblem_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps

| {{dts|2023|11|3}}

align="center"| File:Flag of the Sergeant Major of the United States Army.svg

| Sergeant Major of the Army

| 75px

|align="center"| SMA
Michael R. Weimer

|align="center"| File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army

| {{dts|2023|8|4}}

| Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

| 75px

|align="center"| SMMC
Carlos A. Ruiz

|align="center"| File:Emblem_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps

| {{dts|2023|8|10}}

align="center"| {{dodseal|MCPON|75}}

| Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

| 75px

|align="center"| MCPON
James Honea

|align="center"| File:Emblem_of_the_United_States_Navy.svg
U.S. Navy

| {{dts|2022|9|8}}

align="center"| File:Flag of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.svg

| Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

| 75px

|align="center"| CMSAF
David A. Flosi

|align="center"| File:Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force

| {{dts|2024|3|8}}

align="center"| File:Flag of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force.svg

| Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force

| 75px

|align="center"| CMSSF
John F. Bentivegna

|align="center"| File:Seal_of_the_United_States_Space_Force.png
U.S. Space Force

| {{dts|2023|9|15}}

align="center"| File:USCG - MCPOCG.png

| Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

| 75px

|align="center"| MCPOCG
Heath B. Jones

|align="center"| File:Seal_of_the_United_States_Coast_Guard.svg
U.S. Coast Guard

| {{dts|2022|5|19}}

align="center"| File:Positional flag of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.svg

| Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau

| 75px

|align="center"| SEA
John T. Raines III

|align="center"| File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army

| {{dts|2024|11|8}}

colspan="6" align ="center" | Senior enlisted advisors, Unified Combatant Commands
align="center"| File:Seal of the United States Africa Command.svg

| United States Africa Command

| File:Michael P. Woods (5).jpg

|align="center"| SgtMaj
Michael P. Woods

|align="center"| File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps

| {{dts|2023|05|01}}

align="center"| File:Official CENTCOM Seal.png

| United States Central Command

| File:Derrick A. Walters (5).jpg

|align="center"| FLTCM
Derrick A. Walters

|align="center"| File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy

|

align="center"| File:Seal of the United States Cyber Command.svg

| United States Cyber Command

| File:CMSgt Kenneth M. Bruce (2).jpg

|align="center"| CMSgt
Kenneth M. Bruce Jr.

|align="center"| File:Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force

| {{dts|2023|09|08}}

align="center"| File:USEUCOM.svg

| United States European Command

| File:Robert V. Abernethy (5).jpg

|align="center"| CSM
Robert V. Abernethy

|align="center"| File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army

| {{dts|2022|06|07}}

align="center"| File:US Indo-Pacific Command Seal.svg

| United States Indo-Pacific Command

| File:David L. Isom (4).jpg

|align="center"| FLTCM
David L. Isom

|align="center"| File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy

| August 2021

align="center"| File:Seal of the United States Northern Command.png

| United States Northern Command

| File:CMSgt John G. Storms (3).jpg

|align="center"| CMSgt
John G. Storms

|align="center"| File:Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force

| {{dts|2024|06|14}}

align="center"| File:Seal of the United States Southern Command.svg

| United States Southern Command

| File:SgtMaj Rafael Rodriguez (4).jpg

|align="center"| SgtMaj
Rafael Rodriguez

|align="center"| File:Emblem_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps

| {{dts|2023|09|06}}

align="center"| File:United States Space Command emblem 2019.svg

| United States Space Command

| File:CMSgt Jacob C. Simmons (5).jpg

|align="center"| CMSgt
Jacob C. Simmons

|align="center"| File:Seal_of_the_United_States_Space_Force.png
U.S. Space Force

| {{dts|2023|08|07}}

align="center"| File:United States Special Operations Command Insignia.svg

| United States Special Operations Command

| File:Shane W. Shorter (3).jpg

|align="center"| CSM
Shane W. Shorter

|align="center"| File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army

| August 2022

align="center"| File:Seal of the United States Strategic Command.svg

| United States Strategic Command

| File:Howard L. Kreamer (4).jpg

|align="center"| SgtMaj
Howard L. Kreamer

|align="center"| File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps

| September 2021

align="center"| File:US-TRANSCOM-Emblem.svg

| United States Transportation Command

| File:CMSgt Brian P. Kruzelnick (4).jpg

|align="center"| CMSgt
Brian P. Kruzelnick

|align="center"| File:Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force

| {{dts|2023|06|07}}

In the United States Army, the SEA for a battalion or larger-sized unit is usually a Command Sergeant Major. For Marine battalions and larger, a sergeant major typically takes the role. Navy ships and other commands will usually have a command, fleet, or force master chief petty officer (known as the Chief of the Boat on a submarine), while an Air Force or Space Force command chief master sergeant serves at Wing, Delta, Numbered Air Force, Field Operating Agency (FOA), Major Command, Field Command or at "Joint," DoD Agency levels.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

In the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, the senior enlisted advisor at the company or battery level (or other unit at similar echelon) is a first sergeant. In the Air Force and Space Force, the senior enlisted member of units smaller than those listed above for command chief master sergeant is either a chief master sergeant or a senior master sergeant and may also include a separate first sergeant authorization. In the Air Force a first sergeant can be an E7, E8 or E9, depending on size and mission of the unit, and is a temporary, special duty assignment.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

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Category:United States military specialisms