Alford L. McMichael

Infobox Military Person
name= Alford L. McMichael
born=
died=
placeofbirth= Hot Springs, Arkansas
placeofdeath=


caption= 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps 1st Senior NCO of the NATO ACO
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United States United States of America
branch=
serviceyears= 1970-2006
rank= Sergeant Major
commands= Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Senior Non-Commissioned Officer for Allied Command Operations (NATO)
unit=
battles=
awards= Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit
laterwork= Infobox Military Person
name= Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps


caption= 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine CorpsInfobox Military Person
name= Senior Noncommissioned Officer North Atlantic Treaty Organization


caption= 1st Senior Nonommissioned Officer of Allied Command Operations

Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael, USMC, was the 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (1999-2003), and was the 1st Senior Non-Commissioned Officer for Allied Command Operations for NATO (2003-2006). SgtMaj. McMichael retired from the Marine Corps in 2006 after 36 years of service. [cite web
url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r109:37:./temp/~r109v5QEIQ::
title="Tribute to Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael
work=Congressional Record
publisher=United States Senate
date=March 28, 2006
accessdate=2006-10-01]

Biography

McMichael was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas and graduated from Hot Springs High School, which includes Bill Clinton amongst its graduates. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 27 August 1970, and attended boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California.

In June 1971, after completing Infantry Training School and Basic Infantry Training at Camp Pendleton, California, McMichael was assigned to Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In May 1973, he was transferred to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton.

In December 1973, he returned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego where he served as a drill instructor, series gunnery sergeant, and battalion drill master. In December 1975, he was transferred to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton.

In January 1978, McMichael transferred to the 3rd Marine Division where he served as a shore party chief with the 3rd Division Support Group.

In January 1979, he received orders to Marine Security Guard School and, upon completion of the training, was assigned to the American Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. In May 1981, he returned to Quantico, Virginia to serve as an instructor for the Marine Security Guard School.

In May 1983, Sergeant Major McMichael was assigned to the University of Minnesota where he served as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor for the NROTC Program.

In December 1984, after completing the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy Advanced Course, Sergeant Major McMichael was transferred to Okinawa, Japan to serve as the first sergeant of Company C, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. In January 1986, he was ordered to Marine Barracks, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, to serve as the barracks' first sergeant.

McMichael served as the director of the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California from May 1989 to May 1991 after having served as the school's deputy director since August 1988.

In May 1991, McMichael was transferred to Quantico, Virginia where he served as the Sergeant Major of Officer Candidates School.

In June 1994, he returned to Okinawa, Japan where he served as the Sergeant Major of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit until July 1995 when he was reassigned as the Sergeant Major of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

From January 1997 to June 1999, McMichael served as the Sergeant Major for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Division, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps.

He assumed his post as the 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps on 1 July 1999. His tenure as the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps saw the establishment of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and the commencement of the Global War on Terrorism. He was the first African-American Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.

In June 2003, deferring his planned retirement, [cite web
url=http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5331
title=Marines' top enlisted man tosses out retirement plans, takes NATO job
author=Sandra Jontz
work=Stars and Stripes
date=March 27, 2003
accessdate=2006-10-01] McMichael assumed a newly-created post as the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer for Allied Command Operations, becoming the senior enlisted advisor to General James L. Jones, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; and Commander, United States European Command. [ cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/shape/news/2003/09/i030925.htm
title=US Marine Corps Sergeant Major McMichael Appointed First ACO Senior Non-Commissioned Officer
work=SHAPE News
publisher=NATO
date=25 September 2003
accessdate=2006-10-01] He and General Jones previously served together as the 32nd Commandant and 14th Sergeant Major of the United States Marine Corps.

McMichael served as SgtMaj from June 2003 until July 17, 2006, when he was succeeded by U.S. Army Command SgtMaj Michael Bartelle. [cite web
url=http://www.eucom.mil/english/FullStory.asp?art=1056
title=NATO new top enlisted named
author=Jaime L. Wood
date=July 19, 2006
publisher=U.S. European Command
accessdate=2006-10-01]

Decorations and honors

Sergeant Major McMichael's personal decorations include:

In 2003, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America citing that "the Sergeant Major [had] come a long way from segregated Hot Springs, where the Club was the only colorblind place to play," named McMichael to its "Alumni Hall of Fame." McMichael commented, "The Club gave me those things I use today in the Marine Corps . . . You made a difference in one child’s life." McMichael credits the Club, which he joined at age 9, with giving him a vision of what the world should and could be.

Post Retirement

SgtMaj McMichael sits on the steering committee of the National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans, hosted by AMVETS. [http://www.amvets.org/Assets/pdfs/Amvets_Symposium_Report_FINAL.pdf]

ee also

*Former Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KWG/is_2002_Jan-June/ai_107699424 Interview with Marines Magazine]

Notes

References

* [http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/McMichael_AL.htm Official Marine Corps Biography]
* [http://www.nato.int/shape/bios/other/mcmichael.htm Official NATO ACO Biography]
* [http://www.nato.int/shape/bios/other/mission_snco.htm Official NATO ACO SNCO Website]

External links

*cite web|url= http://www.nato.int/shape/news/2004/11/i041129a.htm
title=Top enlisted member blazing a trail for future NATO NCOs
author=Staff Sgt. Mellissa M. Novakovich (U.S. Army)
work=SHAPE News
publisher=NATO
date=29 November 2004
accessdate=2006-10-01