Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael rose from a young private at boot camp in San Diego to the top enlisted post in the Marine Corps. As the 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, he was the first African American to hold the position, and he served as the Commandant’s senior enlisted adviser as the nation entered the Global War on Terrorism. He then broke new ground again as the first senior enlisted leader for NATO’s Allied Command Operations. For families of new recruits, his 36-year career is a powerful reminder of how far an enlisted Marine can go.
Quick Facts
- Final rank: Sergeant Major
- Born: Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Enlisted: August 1970; recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
- Years of service: 36 years (1970 to 2006)
- Top posts: 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (1999 to 2003); first senior enlisted leader for NATO Allied Command Operations (2003 to 2006)
- Notable first: First African American Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
- Key billets: Drill instructor; Marine Security Guard; first sergeant; Director, Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy at MCAS El Toro; sergeant major of Officer Candidates School, 31st MEU, and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Early Career
McMichael was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and graduated from Hot Springs High School. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on August 27, 1970, and completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. After infantry training at Camp Pendleton, California, he reported in June 1971 to Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
In May 1973 he joined 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton. Later that year he returned to the recruit depot in San Diego, where he served as a drill instructor, series gunnery sergeant, and battalion drill master. For parents of recruits, this is worth noting: the man who would one day lead the entire enlisted force spent years on the drill field shaping new Marines.
He went on to serve with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines and then with the 3rd Marine Division as a shore party chief in the 3rd Division Support Group.
Embassy Duty, Instructor Tours, and Senior Enlisted Leadership
In 1979 McMichael completed Marine Security Guard School and was assigned to the American Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. He later returned to the school in Quantico, Virginia, as an instructor. In 1983 he became an assistant Marine officer instructor with the NROTC program at the University of Minnesota, helping train future officers.
After completing the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy Advanced Course, he served as first sergeant of Company C, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion in Okinawa, Japan, and then as first sergeant of Marine Barracks Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico. From 1988 to 1991 he served at the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, first as deputy director and then as director.
Sergeant Major Assignments
In May 1991 McMichael became sergeant major of Officer Candidates School in Quantico, where the Marine Corps screens and evaluates officer candidates. From 1994 to 1995 he was sergeant major of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa, and he then served as sergeant major of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. From January 1997 to June 1999 he was sergeant major of the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Division at Headquarters Marine Corps.
14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
On July 1, 1999, McMichael became the 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the senior enlisted Marine and the Commandant’s adviser on matters affecting enlisted Marines and their families. He was the first African American to hold the post.
His tenure saw the establishment of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, the belt-based combat training system that every Marine, starting in recruit training, still works through today. His time in office also included the start of the Global War on Terrorism after the attacks of September 11, 2001. He served until June 2003.
Service with NATO
After leaving the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps post, McMichael took on a newly created role as the first senior enlisted leader for NATO’s Allied Command Operations. In that job he advised General James L. Jones, the NATO commander, with whom he had served when Jones was the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps. He represented enlisted service members from across the alliance until 2006.
After the Marine Corps
McMichael retired in 2006 after 36 years of service. In 2008 he published a book on leadership, Leadership: Achieving Life-Changing Success From Within. He has also been involved in efforts supporting young veterans. His decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Why Alford L. McMichael’s Career Matters to Marine Families
McMichael’s story starts exactly where your recruit’s story starts: on the yellow footprints at a recruit depot. From there he worked his way through nearly every kind of enlisted leadership job, from drill instructor to embassy guard to first sergeant to sergeant major. He reached the top of the enlisted ranks and then represented enlisted troops across an international alliance. For families, his career shows that the Marine Corps rewards hard work and steady leadership, and that the path to the top often runs through the toughest, most hands-on jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Alford L. McMichael serve as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps?
He served as the 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps from July 1, 1999, until June 2003.
What historic firsts is he known for?
He was the first African American Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps and the first senior enlisted leader for NATO’s Allied Command Operations.
Was he ever a drill instructor?
Yes. Beginning in late 1973 he served at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego as a drill instructor, series gunnery sergeant, and battalion drill master.
What is the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program?
It is the Corps’ combat training system that blends physical fighting skills with mental and character training. Marines earn colored belts as they progress. It was established while McMichael was Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.