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If you ever quizzed me on military ranks, I would fail, not just miserably, but whatever is more abject and humiliating than “miserably.”  As of today, though, I know what a Sergeant Major in the Marines is, and now you can too:

In the United States Marine Corps, sergeant major is the ninth and highest enlisted rank, just above first sergeant, and equal in grade to master gunnery sergeant, although the two have different responsibilities. Sergeant major is both a rank and a military billet. Marine Corps sergeants major serve as the senior enlisted marine in the Corps’ units of battalion, squadron or higher echelon, as the unit commander’s senior enlisted advisor and to handle matters of discipline and morale among the enlisted marines.

Briefly, Sergeant Major is a very prestigious rank to obtain, and one that can be achieved only through merit.

At this point, y’all are wondering why I’m waffling on about Sergeant Majors.  Well, it’s because my friend America’s 1st Sergeant was officially promoted to that rank:

Now it’s official. As of yesterday afternoon you may no longer address me as America’s 1stSgt, at least not if you expect me to answer.

Please hop on over to his blog to see the pictures and offer your congratulations.  We are very lucky to have people such as America’s 1st Sergeant dedicate themselves to the service of our country.