Sergeant major

A sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned officer or warrant officer, depending on the country and military service in question.

In the United States military, the term refers to both a military rank and to a specific administrative position. In the Marine Corps and the Army, sergeant major is a rank associated with the pay grade of E-9.

The sergeant major is the senior enlisted advisor to the commander and has certain ceremonial functions such as caring for the unit's colors. As a practical matter he monitors the enlisted men and serves as an advocated for them.

It also refers to the senior NCO of a headquarters unit at battalion or above the soldier filling this position should carry the rank of sergeant major. In practice, the position almost always implies the rank, but the converse is not true. Personnel shortages may from time to time force the sergeant major position to be held by a senior Master Sergeant.

In the military of the United Kingdom it refers to the senior warrant officer in a company or battalion. There is no UK rank with this name; it refers only to a position.