Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Weimer will function the Army‘s subsequent prime noncommissioned officer, Army.com confirmed Thursday. He’ll take over because the service’s seventeenth sergeant main of the Army in August 2023, changing Michael Grinston, who is about to retire shortly after the handover.
The sergeant main of the Army is among the service’s most seen leaders, sitting on the intersection of troopers’ wants and coverage and because the de facto public face for the enlisted ranks of the Pentagon’s largest department — taking frequent questions from the press and testifying on Capitol Hill — all whereas serving because the enlisted adviser for the Army secretary and chief of employees.
Weimer, who at the moment serves because the senior enlisted chief for U.S. Particular Operations Command, joined the Army in 1993, earned his inexperienced beret in 1996 and served as a Special Forces weapons sergeant. He’s a graduate of Norwich College, the place he earned a bachelor’s in strategic research and protection evaluation.
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A few of his earlier assignments embody deployments with seventh Special Forces Group and Particular Operations Command’s operations sergeant main. His awards embody the Legion of Benefit; Bronze Star with two “V” gadgets and 5 oak leaf clusters; the Purple Coronary heart; and the Joint Commendation Medal and Army Commendation Medal, each with a “V” system.
Weimer will take the helm at a crucial time for the Army because it transitions from the World Conflict on Terrorism period to a power targeted on getting ready for a traditional battle in opposition to China, and because the service grapples with recruiting struggles whereas making an attempt to make army service extra hospitable for a numerous vary of troopers.
The Army remains to be hitting velocity bumps implementing its troubled health take a look at, the Army Fight Health Check, or ACFT. The weapons set to interchange the M4 and M249 SAW may even begin trickling into the power.
Grinston is essentially seen as a transformational chief, pushing for insurance policies and efforts behind the scenes to spice up soldier high quality of life. A part of that included steadily touring barracks identified to have mildew or different infrastructure points. After his go to to Fort Bragg, North Carolina’s troubled Smoke Bomb Hill barracks, the choice was rapidly made to demolish a dozen buildings 5 years forward of schedule.
He was additionally the hype man for the ACFT, pitching it to a skeptical rank and file — typically touring to a number of installations per week and taking the take a look at with the troops. Grinston might be greatest identified for his wielding of social media, the place he and his employees are continually obtainable on Twitter, Instagram and Reddit and use these platforms to immediately talk with troopers, whilst the remainder of the service struggles with what its social media footprint ought to seem like.
— Steve Beynon could be reached at Steve.Beynon@army.com. Comply with him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.
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