The hat insignia and rank insignia contain the eagle from the great seal
The first US Army Sergeant Major of hte Army was William O. Wooldridge.
Command Sergeant Major is the highest enlisted rank in the US Army
No, there is no rank of "Major Sergeant" in the Army Rangers. The ranks in the U.S. Army Rangers follow the same structure as the rest of the Army, including ranks such as Private, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Colonel.
If the SMA is on your post, you will know it. Either the entourage surrounding him or someone within sight is going to give that away. Otherwise, the rank insignia.
There is a Command Sergeant Major rank in the US Army and US Marine Corps. There is no "Command Sergeant Major Leader" rank, however.
Sergeant Major of the Army is the highest rank NCO.
For the US Army, sergeant major basic pay currently is based on longevity...the length of time they have served. Using 26 years of service as an example, a sergeant major in 2010 made $6130. Counter that with what the first Sergeant Major of the Army made when he was selected to that position with 26 years, $657.30.
Currently, it's SMA Kenneth Preston.
Currently this is Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston.
Anyone in the US Army can lose their rank - in the late 1990s, the Sergeant Major of the Army was demoted. It's not as easy for an SFC to lose their rank as, say, a Specialist or Sergeant, but it can happen.
There is no US Army Sergeant Major badge. There is a rank insignia, but it is not an awarded badge. There are three different insignia for the rank of Sergeant Major (E-9). Sergeant Major - Three stripes on top and three stripes on bottom with one star in the middle. Command Sergeant Major - Three stripes on top and three stripes on bottom with one star and wreath and in the middle. Sergeant Major of the Army - Three stripes on top and three stripes on bottom with two stars and eagle in the middle. See related links for pictures of US Enlisted rank insignia.
Duke - Major, US Army Ripcord - Master Sergeant, US Army