Introduction
The army staff sergeant major’s history can be traced back to the origin of the United States Army. The roles that people nowadays associate with the army staff sergeant major are relatively small and trivial.
However, the rank of the army staff sergeant major has been made an esteemed position through constant modification of the rank by positive minded political leaders, army commanders, and noncommissioned officers in the army.
Throughout the history of the United States Army, the army staff sergeant major has been considered as the head of the noncommissioned officers. Some historians claim that the early French and English army sergeant majors of the fifteenth century are the forerunners to the present-day Chief of Staff.
The sergeant major’s duties then, were similar to those of the Chief of staff in today’s world, particularly, supervision of the Army’s noncommissioned officers.
The army staff sergeant major was a key figure during the First and the Second world wars. After the First World War temporary peace was experienced up to 1930s when the Second World War erupted. This war involved the Axis and the Allies.
The Axis included countries like Japan, Germany, and Russia while the Allies were the United Kingdom and the United States among others. The war ended in 1945 after more than six years of fighting. During these wars, the army staff sergeant major was described as the pillars of their armies.
Discussion
Due to the fact that the war was too tricky, the generals had to come up with a strategic plan otherwise defeat was inevitable. The officers on the ground strategized and worked with the sergeant majors who acted as the commanding officers and senior spies on attacks.
They were involved in the management of the armory and amassment of weapons. A good example of a sergeant major who won so many medals in the war was Basil L. Plumley whose role in the war will never be ignored or forgotten.
He played a major role in the battle helping the United States to conquer. He used to be called by his colleagues “the old iron jaw” a name suggesting a courageous soldier not willing to give up. He is commonly remembered for making a series of combat jumps that led to the death of many opponent soldiers in the war (Elder, 2008).
The sergeant majors were used in the delivery and supply of weapons. When Germany invaded Japan these officers were the most strategic by ordering air attacks against the enemies who were mostly caught by surprise.
In the war, at Henderson field, a sergeant major by the name of Basilone helped in the battle by repairing guns. Together with other sergeants, he provided body bridges for the soldiers to cross with. More than thirty-eight Japanese soldiers died in the hands of Sergeant John Basilone.
Sergeant majors were also highly involved in providing urgent medical attention where the need arises. Normally the wars involved casualties or fatalities.
They, therefore, were concerned with ensuring the safe transportation of the injured officers to the medical clinics and hospitals as well as providing support and counsel. They also played the role of radio operators to facilitate communication from one end to another.
Conclusion
From the above few cited cases is a clear indication that the army staff sergeants majors played a key role in the success or failure of World War Two. Their specific roles cannot be ignored and as mentioned in the essay, they were and still are the pillars of their armies.
Reference
Elder, D. (2008). The History of the Sergeant Major, From then to Now. Fort Bliss, Texas. The United States Army Museum of the Non Commissioned Officers.