So, we looked at sergeant majors and officers. And as a result, a bit of Wikipedia.
Marine equiv, Corps Regimental Sergeant Major.
Air force equiv.
And, umm, the army bloke seems to get an OBE on exit from the posting, the marine and RAF an MBE.
Anyone know why? Or is it just that the army thing’s been around such a short period that it’s entirely swayed by that one bloke and his gong?
The Royal Marines Corps Regimental Sergeant Major (Corps RSM) is the most senior warrant officer of the Royal Marines. The incumbent carries the sword of Major Alastair Donald, which was presented to the Corps Regimental Sergeant Major by Donald’s widow.[1]
The post was created in 1989 and what a wonderful way to start* a tradition.
*Or is a tradition created?
The Army guy was also “Chief Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee” – ie the senior enlisted of the whole military, not just of the Army. That’s presumably why he get the OBE and the others (including the Navy equivalent too) only got an MBE.
And the Army post was only created in 2015.
But to be fair to the chap, he was RSM of the Grenadier Guards and Academy Sgt Major at RMAS.
They don’t give those posts to just anyone….
I missed this:
In 2010, Haughton was selected for a Late Entry Commission (IE he was a senior serving soldier selected to become a commissioned officer). However, he was chosen to continue working as one of the army’s most senior warrant officers rather than immediately take up the role of a staff officer.[4] On 9 December 2013, he was commissioned into the British Army with the rank of captain but continued serving in the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1.[6] He was appointed Academy Sergeant Major of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January 2014.[1]
That seems a bit odd. If he’s commissioned do the ranks have to salute him? Do young subalterns salute him?
When i’ve had commissioned but not taken up around (Corps RSM and Corps Senior member of trade) they are treated as the rank they are wearing.
Thanks SE. I didn’t know you could do that.
It’s just “Acting Lower Rank” 😉
And it’s a bit new (apart from AcSM) – since there were more v senior WO1 posts that were much more prestigious than Random A-Capt (LE) staff trouser-shining jobs.
I seem to remember that there used to be some debate as to which post was the senior-most enlisted position in the British Army: Academy Sergeant Major (ASM) at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, or the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Guards Depot. (both positions occupied by a Guardsman in any case)
Looks like these two posts were superseded by the creation of the Army Sergeant Major position in 2015.
@Bloke in North Dorset
Typically 2nd Lieutenants and Lieutenants (the two officer ranks subordinate to a Captain) do not salute Captains.
Sergeants major, Shirley?
Subs!
A subaltern would not normally put himself in a position to have to return the salute of a Sergeant Major let alone the most senior in the British Army!