sergeant major

military rank

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Last updated

July 21, 2026

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A sergeant major is a high-ranking noncommissioned officer in the army or marine corps. In the army, a sergeant major typically serves as the chief administrative assistant in a headquarters and ranks above a first sergeant. In the Marine Corps, a sergeant major also ranks above a first sergeant and can serve as the chief administrative assistant. The highest-ranking noncommissioned officer in the Marine Corps is the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, who advises the commandant. The abbreviation for sergeant major is Sgt Maj. There is also a role of staff sergeant major in the army, ranking above a master sergeant.12345

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major
…used adjectivally in the title sergeant major, the third principal officer in a regiment. In the 16th and 17th centuries there was a similarity between the duties of the sergeant, sergeant major, and sergeant major general in that they attended to the drill and administration of a company, a regiment,…
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…used adjectivally in the title sergeant major, the third principal officer in a regiment. In the 16th and 17th centuries there was a similarity between the duties of the sergeant, sergeant major, and sergeant major general in that they attended to the drill and administration of a company, a regiment,…
Read More