Command sergeant major
A command sergeant major is a non-commissioned rank and position of office in the United States Army. The holder of this rank and position is the most senior enlisted member of a color-bearing Army unit. The CSM is appointed to serve as a spokesman to address the issues of all soldiers, from enlisted to officers, from warrant officers and lieutenants to the Army's highest positions. As such, they are the senior enlisted advisor to the commander. The exact duties vary depending on the unit commander, including observing training and talking with soldiers and their families.
History
The duties of a sergeant major have been defined in the U.S. Army since the days of von Steuben. The need for a senior enlisted advisor to a commander was recognized in the Vietnam War era.The command sergeant major, as the most senior sergeant of a color-bearing unit and advisor to the unit commander, began in July 1967, under Army chief of staff Gen. Harold K. Johnson who created the Command Sergeants Major Program.
Command sergeants major were originally thought of as someone who would advocate for enlisted soldiers, focusing on "problems affecting enlisted personnel and their solutions." After much debate, the Army published a definitive doctrine on the CSM's duties in Field Manual 22-600-20, The Duties, Responsibilities, and Authority of NCO’s ''.
Current CSM duties are defined in TC 7-22.7, The Noncommissioned Officer Guide'' and fall into six categories: readiness, training, leadership, communications, operations and program management.
CSMs are selected for assignment only after training as top enlisted leaders.