Effective with the sergeant major board in June 2008, the Army will commence major changes to the career tracks of its E-9s, said Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston Oct. 9 at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting. The new program will link the Sergeants Major Course to selection for promotion to sergeant major. It also will increase the time-in-grade for promotion to sergeant major by two years. In addition, soldiers of all military occupational specialties can be considered for selection to sergeant major. Furthermore, E-9s will have to serve at least one year in a sergeant major slot before being eligible for a command sergeant major assignment. Also, all master sergeants will undergo personal security screening before becoming eligible for sergeant major. The new career plan will carry out a “select-train-promote” policy to prepare master sergeants for sergeants major.
