Answers the question, "What is a Sergeant Major" and describes the Sergeants Major Course, its Purpose and an overview of my last 9-years in the military as a Battalion Sergeant Major.

1. What is a Sergeant Major?
Sergeant Major is the highest enlisted rank in the Army, and the base rank required for the
leadership position of Command Sergeant Major. A Sergeant Major assists Officers in a
battalion-sized force of 300 to 1,000 soldiers, and leads soldiers and junior officers placed
directly under his command. A Sergeant Major may also serve as the senior non-commissioned
officer at a battalion-sized headquarters unit. A Sergeant Major is a
Noncommissioned Officer at DoD pay grade E-9, with a starting monthly pay of
$4634.70.
Sergeants Major Course (SMC) Description
The Army’s culminating enlisted Professional Military Education institution is the Sergeants Major
Course. This course provides tools to develop critical reasoning, creative thinking and decision-making
skills. Soldiers are provided an education that teaches them to enhance their character, self-expression,
and strengthen teamwork abilities. The course assists in the development of logical, practical and
original reasoning abilities necessary for problem solving. Students analyze problems based on
available information, arrive at logical solutions and decisions with reasonable speed, communicate
reasoning and decisions orally and in writing, and supervise to ensure proper execution. Intellectual
honesty, integrity, and professional values and standards are highly stressed. The SMC contains a total
of 1,484.7 instructional hours.
Purpose
SMC prepares Master Sergeants and Sergeants Major to elevate from a tactical level of thinking to an
operational and strategic perspective thus preparing them for leadership positions in organizations
executing unified land operations. What Soldiers learn prepares them for leadership positions in joint,
interagency, intergovernmental, multinational organizations as well as battalion, brigade, and division
through echelons-above-corps staff sergeants major command levels.
Last Position Held
Recruiting Battalion Sergeant Major | Chairman of Sergeants Major Subcommittee
Army National Guard, St. Augustine, FL 2000 – 2009
Recruiting Key Responsibilities: Maintaining the strength of a 10,000 personnel organization;
through recruiting, retention and attrition operations.
 Supervised multiple offices statewide, staffed with approximately 250 full-time professionals
consisting of District and Area Managers, Recruiters and support staff consisting of Human
Resource, Marketing, Supply, Information Technology and Administrative personnel
 Analyzed recruiting strategies, forecasted objectives based on historical data and current trends
to target specific territories using MS Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint for correspondences,
tracking and presentations
 Interviewed prospective military members that met organizational values and leadership skills
 Led, planned, directed and implemented strategic recruitment and retention programs
 Relied on extensive experience and judgment to ensure the timely understanding of current and
future workforce needs; and implemented improvements to staffing processes including sourcing
and selection, plus advised executive level managers on recruiting and retention operations
 Provided consultative assistance and education in regards to the interpretation of recruiting
procedures and retention practices within the State and Nation
 Provided career counseling, conducted performance reviews, assessed strengths and provided
feedback based on the Soldier’s individual evaluation
Chairman Key Responsibilities: As a nominated position, Served as Chairman of the Sergeants
Major Subcommittee for the National Recruiting and Retention Advisory Committee for Region III
(Consisting of the 10 Southeastern States & Territories, which includes the Virgin Islands and
Puerto Rico).
 Served as one of seven board members on the Army National Guard’s National Recruiting and
Retention Advisory Committee
 Served on critical process action teams tackling strategic issues that effected the state, region and
nation
 Served as adjunct instructor at the national Strength Maintenance Training Center at the National
Guard Bureau’s Professional Education Center for Recruiting, Retention and Attrition courses
Clarence Zarnes, United States Army, (Sergeant Major – Retired)