SMA: Top Enlisted Position in the Army

The rank of Sergeant Major SGM has been recognize as the top position in the Army for enlisted soldiers from the beginning of time. In 1775, General Washington took command of the continental Army and then established the standardized table of organization for the infantry regiment. This regiment was patterned after the British Army and had a SGM in each regiment or battalion. Later, in the famous Blue Book written by Baron Von Steuben, the responsibilities and duties of the SGM were specified. Surprisingly in 1920, Congress eliminated the SGM rank from the enlisted rank structure as a result of budget. For the next 39 years the Anny enlisted ranks consisted of E-l thru E-7. In 1953 a committee met and one of their goals was to look for ways to enhance the status and prestige of the Non Commissioned Corps NCO. Five years later, in the Military Pay Bill of 1958, the pay grades of E-8 and E-9 were recommended to be added. However, it was not until 1962 that the chief of Staff of the Army decided the top enlisted rank would once again be called SGM.