SMA William G. Connelly

SMA William G. Bainbridge, also an Infantry man, was the first CSM of the Sergeants Major Academy, which was his last duty before selected to be the fifth SMA, his greatest contribution of his tenure was, helping to develop the SMA insignia, while contributing to the improvement of the NCOES. SMA William A. Connelly, he was a tanker and a very confident and strict CSM, when he was assigned to his first duty station, his battalion Commander did not want him, and he talks the Commander “The Department of the Army, not the battalion commander, had assigned him there and that the commander would have to have the orders changed if he did not want him as his sergeant major” (Elder et al 2013, p. 129). After the incident everything was on a good

Morrell, was one of the kind, originally he enlisted as an Artilleryman, but attended Ranger School as well as Special Forces training. He was a very well rounded CSM, in training, Soldiers issues, and how to be a great politician. He replaced CSM Connelly as the CSM for FORSCOM, before his assignment as the SMA. SMA Julius W. Gates, he was the fourth Infantry man to be named as the SMA, in addition to being an 11B, he was also a Ranger. Before his assignment as the eight SMA he was stationed in Korea, where he was the CSM, for U.S. Forces Korea and the Eighth U.S. Army. His contribution to the Army was the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP), the Army Communities of Excellence (ACOE) program, and Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers (BOSS). SMA Richard A. Kidd, Originally he enlisted as Radio Operator, but did not want that job, he requested to be transferred to Infantry training, but was denied. He was so smart, that was asked to apply for Officer Candidate School, but he declined, he was determined to be an Infantry man. He was the second Special Forces Soldier to be selected as the SMA, prior to his assignment as the number one NCO in the US Army he was the CSM, for the 4th Battalion, 23d Infantry; 3d Brigade; 9th Infantry Division; I Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington. After the interview for the position, he was sure that, he will not be selected since, he was the only one working for a Lieutenant Colonel, the other candidates, were working for a General

Preston, was another tanker, he has been the longest serving SMA. Usually the tour is three years, but SMA Preston was so great that when General George W. Casey, Jr, took the CoS position ask, SMA Preston to stay as his advisor. This was not the first time they worked together, both work at the 1st Armored Division at Bad Kreuznach, Germany. SMA Preston greatest contribution to the Army was the following: The Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program, The Army Family Covenant, changes to the NCOES names from PLDC to Warrior Leader Course; Basic NCO Course to Advance Leader Course; and from the Advance NCO Course to Senior Leader Course. SMA Raymond F. Chandler II, was another tanker, before he became the fourteen SMA, he was the 19th Commandant of USASMA and the first enlisted commandant in United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) history. He was the second SMA selected that was not serving with a General before his selection to become the SMA. The position has been help only by males CSM, and all of them prior, to be selected as the SMA, had a combat MOS, most of them had served various tours in Vietnam, as well as the initial conflict between Iraq and Kuwait. Each one of them has left contribution to the US Army. Most of them were serving as the CSM for a three or four star General, which is one of the prerequisites to be nominated for the SMA