SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Troy Black, was featured at an all-call today at Scott Air Force Base. He shared insights on the strategic direction of today’s military and the vital roles of its joint force.
Black, born in Louisville, Kentucky, is the most senior enlisted leader in the military, assuming his current post on Nov. 3, 2023, following his selection and service as the 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
As the SEAC, Black represents all enlisted members, regardless of branch. Black often travels to gather insights from enlisted at all levels and uses them to advise the nation’s highest leadership and advocate for change that benefits the warfighter and their family.
In the all-call, Black stressed the importance of how discipline, when hand-in-hand with commitment to leadership, leads us to the victories of tomorrow.
“What you do every single day, though we may not be in open warfare combat right now, is preparing our nation to be able to do that,” he said, “…leaders have got to be able to accept the responsibility to make decisions first, and take the criticism when they do.”
Black believes that being able to subject yourself to criticism from those you are leading is one of the most important aspects of being a leader. He also touched on the fact that while we all share the same mission, each service’s individuality is critical to the joint force.
“There can be no ‘me’ in this conversation. What I need is an Airman, a Soldier, a Guardian, a Sailor, a Marine, because that unique diversity of thought put together in a joint organization–that can accomplish tasks across a breadth of warfighting that you cannot do if everybody’s doing the same thing the same way. Otherwise, there’s no need for a joint force.”
A few of Black’s other focus areas consist of improving and unifying family support networks, increasing and modernizing education opportunities for enlisted personnel and ensuring open communication across the joint force.
