Perhaps one of the most anticipated announcements early in the new year will be the selection of a new sergeant major of the Marine Corps.

Formally the service's senior enlisted leader and enlisted adviser to the commandant, the SMMC also serves as the commandant's liaison to the rank and file and a key communicator of new initiatives, particularly those dealing with discipline, culture, training and education.

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Entering the new year, the commandant is already deep into the final stages of the selection process for the 18th SMMC. A board of general officers, whose identities officials would not disclose, met Dec. 8 through 12 to weed through a highly qualified field of candidates and select the top five as finalists.

Their identities typically are not released ahead of a final decision, but just a few of the names rumored to lead the field include:

Sgt. Maj. James Booker, a recipient of Silver and Bronze Stars who most recently served as now-commandant Gen. Joe Dunford's senior enlisted adviser at International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Maj. Michael Jones, the Corps' most senior sergeant major and current enlisted adviser to Lt. Gen. Robert Neller at Marine Corps Forces Command.

Sgt. Maj. Anthony Spadaro at Marine Forces Reserve, best known for co-leading a campaign aimed at better leadership practices.

Dunford's selection will provide insight into his leadership style and priorities for the Marine Corps. Current Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Mike Barrett, a decorated combat veteran trained as a scout sniper, has a reputation for being high energy, outspoken and blunt with an off-the-cuff style that has occasionally backfired. In 2014, he was criticized for telling a congressional panel that a smaller pay raise for Marines would "raise discipline."

Likely to interview the five finalists personally before making his decision, Dunford will look for an enlisted adviser whose strengths complement his own, who shares his priorities, and who can effectively communicate his message to the ranks.