17th USMC SgtMaj announced

SgtMaj. Micheal P. Barrett is the 17th sergeant major of the Marine Corps.

WASHINGTON — The commandant of the Marine Corps announced April 11 his selection for the next sergeant major of the Marine Corps.

“I’m pleased to announce Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett as the 17th sergeant major of the Marine Corps,” said Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps. “Sgt. Maj. Barrett, through his long and distinguished service to our nation, has demonstrated that he is particularly well-suited to serve as my senior enlisted advisor through the challenges ahead. My wife Bonnie and I welcome him and his wife Susan and look forward to serving with them.”

Barrett will replace Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, who has served as the sergeant major of the Marine Corps since April 25, 2007. The relief and appointment ceremony and retirement of Kent is scheduled for June 9 at Marine Barracks Washington.

Barrett recently returned from Afghanistan where he served as the sergeant major of Regional Command Southwest and I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). He currently serves as the sergeant major of 1st Marine Division at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Barrett’s official biography can be found at: http://www.imef.usmc.mil/external/1stmardiv/command/biographies/sgtmaj/micheal.barrett.jsp

The post of sergeant major of the Marine Corps was established in 1957 as the senior enlisted advisor to the commandant of the Marine Corps, the first such post in any of the branches of the United States Armed Forces. The sergeant major of the Marine Corps is selected by the commandant, and typically serves a four-year term, though his service is at the pleasure of the commandant.