WASHINGTON--Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell announced today during a Pentagon press briefing that a unique insignia has been created for the position.

The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC) serves as the principal advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters pertaining to the enlisted joint force. The unique insignia serves to differentiate the position, its duties and responsibilities.

While the position was created Oct. 1, 2005 and a positional flag was created Nov. 30, 2005, there was no rank insignia to differentiate or identify the position. Similar to the unique insignia worn by sergeant major of the Army, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, master chief petty officer of the Navy and master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, the establishment of a unique rank insignia for the SEAC is a key step in recognizing and solidifying the importance of the SEAC role on the Joint Staff and in the Department of Defense.

Troxell, the third senior enlisted advisor to the chairman, and Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ramon Colon-Lopez, the incoming and fourth senior enlisted advisor to the chairman, will be the first to wear the new insignia.

“This historic step gives this position irreversible momentum,” Troxell said.

The unique designs were developed by the Institute of Heraldry with inputs from all the services. The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force designs were given priority in advance of the change of responsibility ceremony for the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman, Dec. 13.

The SEAC insignia is unique in two ways. The first is the use of the Department of Defense eagle as the major design element, clearly representing the position as serving the DoD and Joint Staff. Second, it is the only senior enlisted advisor chevron that has a four star pattern incorporated into the design. The four stars represent the unique insignia of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, whom the SEAC advises. In comparison, service senior enlisted advisor chevrons have service unique symbolism with two stars.

The Institute of Heraldry provides military design support to the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Development of the Marine Corps SEAC rank insignia has been added to the institute’s project list for completion during fiscal year 2020. The design and development of the Navy SEAC rank insignia will be coordinated by the Navy.

The SEAC rank insignia will be designed and developed for all service-specific uniform requirements.

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