Meet the next Sergeant Major of the Army

[DashOneBravo]

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Weimer was selected to succeed Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, who will depart the role in August 2023.

Weimer is a career special operator, according to his official biography and details released by Hewitt.

Hewitt added that Weimer has a bachelor’s degree in strategic studies and defense analysis from Norwich University.

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2022/12/08/meet-the-next-sergeant-major-of-the-army/

[rsdsharp]

1. Interesting. A Norwich grad, but an enlisted man rather than an officer.

[underpants]

2. Might have earned his degree while in the Army.

Pretty cool to be the top enlisted soldier and only holder of a rank.

[DashOneBravo]

5. Yep

That’s true.

One of my buddies had a degree and enlisted to serve in a special operations unit.

There are more enlisted positions then officers

[qazplm135]

6. He's talking about graduating from a military academy

But entering as enlisted instead of officer which is a little unusual.

[qazplm135]

9. Read his first post again

It's one of the first words.

[qazplm135]

13. Its a senior military college

I didn't call it a Service Academy which has a different, and very specific meaning.

So engaging in technicalities aside, the point is that the corps of cadets at the six SMCs are OG ROTC cadets and usually go officer.

Which is why the OP is surprised that he went enlisted instead upon graduation instead of officer.

[rsdsharp]

14. It's the oldest private military college in the country.

As with West Point, Annapolis, The Air Force Academy, The Citidel, Texas A&M, etc. graduates of Norwich are usually commissioned as officers in a branch of the US military. Norwich is particularly known for armor officers. I assume, without knowing, that the CSM attended after enlisting.

[DashOneBravo]

4. Some of the CSM have degrees

“ The most common degree for command sergeant majors is bachelor's degree 51% of command sergeant majors earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 29% and rounding it off is master's degree with 12%.”

https://www.zippia.com/command-sergeant-major-jobs/demographics/

I’ve never heard of Norwich.

[GP6971]

8. My son is a Norwich grad and

enlisted. He retires next year.

[qazplm135]

11. Curious why enlisted instead of officer

Having been both there's admittedly no comparison for me between the two so curious the thought process for someone else

[GP6971]

16. He likes the

interaction with the troops. I guess that's his comfort level. His choice.

Me...I Yale ROTC 69-71. Loved being a junior officer. Hated it after I made Major.

[qazplm135]

17. Indeed

Best years were as a Captain. Major and beyond were a slog.

[3Hotdogs]

15. My uncle wanted to be Sgt. Major. Still, he had an interesting career. Enlisted at age 17, during

Korea war. He had my grandmother's permission. From there, he went through every enlisted rank, including master sgt.

Then he earned his G.E.D. and B.A. in engineering.

From there, he went from 2nd. Lt an retired as a lt. colonel.