Page 17 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

The Corps

Sergeant Major

By Warrant Officer Class One Ben Culleton

Administrative Officer Course after two the Corps, and also, what’s good about
years. So some lucky soldiers can expect life – we always need to know if we’re
to have me as their boss at some point in doing something right. In order to find
2018. out this detail, I need to visit soldiers. You
will therefore see me visiting your units
Deferred Commission at some point. This is not an inspection,
nor is it designed to mess you about. I’m
You might be asking “Why a deferred merely on a fact finding mission in order
commission – what was wrong with the to gauge the ‘pulse’ of the soldiers in the
previous system?” Well, the Executive Corps, and in so doing, hoping to establish
Committee of the Army Board decided to a way of improving the lives of you, the
enrich the current Command Sergeant soldier. Whilst on visits, I can also offer
Major cohort (16 of them at the time), as such things as advice on Leadership, and
they had proved invaluable as advisors, how to incorporate the Army Leadership
leaders and facilitators, and had broadly Code into your training regimes, in order
been a very successful enhancement and for you to understand it better. As a
development for the Army. Therefore, it practitioner of Coaching and Mentoring,
was decided to increase the number of I also offer an introduction into this
I have been in post a little posts to 28, which included the Army invaluable resource that should be in any
Leader’s toolbox.
Sergeant Major. There were then a
over five months now, so I further four appointments that were not
thought the Corps Journal designated as Command Sergeant Major, Endnote
would be a good opportunity but wear the same Senior Warrant Officer Based solely on my first few months in
appointment badge – the Provost Sergeant
to inform the members of the Major is included in this cohort. post, the Corps is in good shape. Long may
Corps what it is I actually do. it continue, and I look forward to meeting
Job Description as many of you as I possibly can in due
course.
Background What is it I do? My job description states:

I am very honoured to have been selected Represent the soldier perspective,
for this prestigious position when I was support common sense decision-making,
expecting to attend the Detachment champion the Code of Leadership and
Commanders course in September 2016. raise professional standards within the
For the uninitiated, the position of Corps.
Corps Sergeant Major is now a deferred Act as an agent for positive cultural
commission. This means that the Corps change in order to reduce inappropriate
Sergeant Major is a commissioned behaviour, thereby reinforcing the moral
officer, having been successful on the component and enhancing operational
Arms Selection Board following the Late effectiveness within the Corps.
Entry Commissioning Assessment Board,
but wears a Warrant Officer Class One, What it Means
Command Sergeant Major badge, and
attracts Late Entry Terms and Conditions I’m here to ensure that the Chain of
of Service straight away; for example, pay Command is kept informed about the
and Service Family Accommodation. I will morale of our soldiers. I am interested
sidestep the traditional Late Entry Officer in what makes the soldiers tick, what
route of being a detachment commander are your gripes, what’s wrong with life
and go straight onto the Regimental in the Army, what’s wrong with life in

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