Military Connection: Army’s Next Senior Enlisted: By Debbie Gregory

The Army has named its next senior enlisted leader.

Secretary of the Army John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Raymond Odierno announced that Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey will be the next Sergeant Major of the Army.

The Sergeant Major is the most senior enlisted member of the Army. As such, Dailey’s responsibilities will include recommending quality-of-life improvements to Army leadership, and sitting on councils that make decisions affecting enlisted soldiers and their families. The Sergeant Major of the Army is also the public face of the Army’s NCO Corps, representing them to the American people in the media and through community outreach.

The position is comparable to the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. They all are the most senior enlisted member of their branch, unless a member of their branch is serving as the Senior Enlisted Adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Sgt. Maj. Dailey is originally from Palmerton, PA, and has had a remarkable career as a soldier, dating back to 1989. Early in his enlistment, Dailey participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. Dailey would again deploy to Iraq in 2003, eventually earning the Iraq Campaign Medal with five bronze service stars, representing time spent in the war zone of Iraq during five of the seven phases of that war.

Sgt. Major Dailey’s list of awards is a long one. It includes the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Bronze Star Medal (3rd award), Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Army Commendation Medal (7th award), Army Achievement Medal (10th award), Good Conduct Medal (7th award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), South West Asia Service Medal (one bronze service star), Iraq Campaign Medal (five bronze service stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4th award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd award), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Drivers Badge (wheel), Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Order of Saint Maurice (Centurion). He is a member of the Distinguished Audie Murphy Club.

Daily will take over on January 30, 2015. He will replace current Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler, who has served in the position since March 2011.

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Military Connection: Army’s Next Senior Enlisted: By Debbie Gregory