![]() | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.(September 2021) |
A senior enlisted advisor (SEA) in the United States Armed Forces is the most senior enlisted service member in a unit, and acts as an advisor to the commanding officer. Formally, 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.
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 ]
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 ]
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.
Service senior enlisted advisors | |||||
Rank insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch | Start date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Force | ![]() | Warrant Officer Ken Robertson [1] | ![]() | July 1, 2023 |
![]() | Warrant Officer of the Navy | ![]() | Warrant Officer Andrew Bertoncin [2] OAM | ![]() | December 16, 2022 |
![]() | Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Australia) | ![]() | Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham NSC , OAM | ![]() | July 1, 2022 |
![]() | Warrant Officer of the Air Force | ![]() | Warrant Officer Ralph Clifton | ![]() | December 1, 2022 |
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.
Service senior enlisted advisors | ||||||
Rank insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Start date | Service branch | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer | ![]() | Chief Warrant Officer Bob McCann MMM , MSM , CD | 14 April 2023 | ![]() | [3] |
![]() | Chief Petty Officer of the Navy | ![]() | Chief Petty Officer 1st Class David Steeves CD | May 2019 | ![]() | [4] |
![]() | Chief Warrant Officer of the Canadian Army | ![]() | Chief Warrant Officer J. M. Smith MMM , CD | 10 June 2021 | ![]() | [5] |
![]() | Chief Warrant Officer of the Air Force | ![]() | Chief Warrant Officer W. J. Hall MMM , CD | 10 June 2021 | ![]() | [6] |
Senior enlisted advisors Commands | ||||||
![]() | Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Chief Warrant Officer | ![]() | Chief Warrant Officer N.E. Belanger MMM , CD | 2019 | ![]() | [7] |
NATO also has a number of Senior Enlisted Advisors taken from NATO members for various posts, including Senior Enlisted Advisor - NATO Allied Command Transformation
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
Service senior enlisted advisors | |||||
Rank insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch | Start date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Warrant officer of the Navy (New Zealand) | ![]() | Warrant Officer Diver Lance Graham | ![]() | January 29, 2021 |
![]() | Sergeant Major of the Army (New Zealand) | ![]() | Warrant Officer class 1 Wiremu Moffitt [8] | ![]() | May 2020 |
![]() | Warrant Officer of the Air Force (New Zealand) | ![]() | Warrant Officer Toni Tate | ![]() | |
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
Service senior enlisted advisors | ||||||
Rank insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch | Start date | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Warrant Officer of the South African National Defence Force | ![]() | Master Chief Warrant Officer Mothusi Kgaladi | ![]() | October 2012 | [9] |
![]() | Master at Arms of the Navy | ![]() | Senior Chief Warrant Officer Matee Molefe | ![]() | February 1, 2018 | [10] |
![]() | Sergeant Major of the Army (South Africa) | ![]() | Senior Chief Warrant Officer Ncedakele Mtshatsheni | ![]() | February 1, 2017 (Acting from October 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017) | [11] |
![]() | Sergeant Major of the Air Force | ![]() | Senior Chief Warrant Officer Colin Stanton-Jones | ![]() | December 1, 2018 | [12] [ failed verification ] |
![]() | Warrant Officer of the South African Military Health Services | ![]() | Senior Chief Warrant Officer | South African Military Health Service |
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.
Service senior enlisted advisors | |||||
Rank insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch | Start date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee | ![]() | Warrant Officer Class One Glenn Haughton [13] OBE | ![]() | November 1, 2018 |
![]() | Warrant Officer of the Naval Service | ![]() | Warrant Officer Class One Carl Steedman [14] [15] | ![]() | January 31, 2020 |
![]() | Army Sergeant Major | ![]() | Warrant Officer Class One Paul Carney [16] | ![]() | August 3, 2021 |
![]() | Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force | ![]() | Warrant Officer Jake Alpert [17] [18] MBE | ![]() | October 2019 |
![]() | Corps Regimental Sergeant Major | Warrant Officer Class One Richard Angove [19] | ![]() | July 2020 | |
Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned officer ranks, the most senior of the non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks, or in a separate category of their own. Warrant officer ranks are especially prominent in the militaries of Commonwealth nations and the United States.
Regimental sergeant major (RSM) is an appointment that may be held by a warrant officer (WO) in the British Army, the Royal Marines, and the armies of many other Commonwealth and former Commonwealth nations. It is also an actual rank in the Irish Defence Forces, and formerly in the British Army, Royal Marines and United States Army. Only one warrant officer holds the appointment of RSM in any regiment or battalion, making them the senior warrant officer; in a unit with more than one top-ranked WO, the RSM is considered to be first amongst equals". The RSM is primarily responsible for assisting their commander in maintaining standards and discipline amongst the non-commissioned members and acts as a parental figure to their subordinates, sometimes referred to by the mantra "Drill, Dress and Discipline".
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who does not hold a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. In contrast, commissioned officers usually enter directly from a military academy, officer training corps (OTC) or reserve officer training corps (ROTC), or officer candidate school (OCS) or officer training school (OTS), after receiving a post-secondary degree.
Sergeant (Sgt) is a rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, serjeant, is used in The Rifles and other units that draw their heritage from the British light infantry. Its origin is the Latin serviens, 'one who serves', through the Old French term serjant.
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world.
The sergeant major of the Army (SMA) is a unique non-commissioned rank and position of office in the United States Army. The holder of this rank and position is the most senior enlisted soldier in the Army, unless an enlisted soldier is serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman. The SMA is appointed to serve as a spokesman to address the issues of enlisted soldiers to all officers, from warrant officers and lieutenants to the Army's highest positions. As such, they are the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of staff of the Army. The exact duties vary depending on the chief of staff, though much of the SMA's time is spent traveling throughout the Army, observing training and talking with soldiers and their families.
Chief Warrant officer is a senior warrant officer rank, used in many countries.
Like the British Army, the Australian Army does not use the term 'enlisted' to describe its non-commissioned ranks. Instead, personnel who are not commissioned officers are referred to as other ranks. These are soldiers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and warrant officers (WOs). Warrant officers are appointed by a warrant which is signed by the Chief of the Army. The insignia for non-commissioned ranks are identical to the British Army up to the rank of warrant officer class two. Since 1976, WO1s and the WO in the Australian Army wear insignia using the Australian Coat of Arms.
In the United States Armed Forces, the ranks of warrant officer and chief warrant officer are rated as officers above all non-commissioned officers, candidates, cadets, and midshipmen, but subordinate to the lowest officer grade of O‑1. This application differs from the Commonwealth of Nations and other militaries, where warrant officers are the most senior of the other ranks, equivalent to the U.S. Armed Forces grades of E‑8 and E‑9.
The Australian Defence Force's (ADF) ranks of officers and enlisted personnel in each of its three service branches of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) inherited their rank structures from their British counterparts. The insignia used to identify these ranks are also generally similar to those used in the British Armed Forces.
The senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC) is the most senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) position overall in the United States Armed Forces. The SEAC is appointed by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to serve as a spokesperson to address the issues of enlisted personnel to the highest positions in the Department of Defense. As such, the SEAC is the primary enlisted advisor to the chairman, and serves at the pleasure of the secretary of defense. The SEAC's exact duties vary, depending on the chairman, though the SEAC generally devotes much of their time traveling throughout the Department of Defense, to observe training and communicating to service members and their families. The SEAC's normal term of assignment runs concurrently with the chairman, but an incumbent may be reappointed to serve longer. The first member to hold this post was William Gainey. The current SEAC is Troy E. Black, USMC who assumed the duties on 3 November 2023.
A warrant officer (WO) in the British Armed Forces is a member of the highest-ranking group of non-commissioned ranks, holding the King's Warrant, which is signed by the Secretary of State for Defence.
The Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy (WORN) is the most senior warrant officer and rating of the Royal Navy. The person holding this appointment's main responsibility is to act as a channel between the non commissioned ranks and Senior Naval officers, enabling communication between the Sailors and Marines and the Senior Navy leadership.
The Corps Regimental Sergeant Major is the most senior warrant officer of the Royal Marines. Responsible for maintaining standards and discipline within the Royal Marines, they act as a parental figure to their subordinates and also to junior officers, even though the latter technically outrank the RSM.
The Army Sergeant Major is the most senior member of the other ranks of the British Army.
Major Glenn John Haughton, is a retired British Army officer. In November 2018, he served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee until December 2021. He was previously the Army Sergeant Major, the most senior warrant officer and member of the other ranks in the British Army, from 2015 to 2018. He has also served as Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards and Academy Sergeant Major at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Lieutenant Commander Carl P. "Speedy" Steedman is a Royal Navy officer, who served as Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy, the most senior non-commissioned advisor and senior rating of the Royal Navy from 31 January 2020 to July 2022.
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Defence Force (SEAC) is the senior warrant officer in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). It is a singular appointment, being it is only held by one person at any time. The current Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Defence Force is Warrant Officer Ken Robertson.