--- title: "5 questions only a veteran would ask the Sergeant Major of the Army" description: "At the Army-Navy Game, SMA Michael Weimer talked creature comforts, recruitment challenges and his least favorite MRE." date: "2023-12-09" modified: "2023-12-09" authors: - name: "Marty Skovlund Jr." job_title: "Former Editior-in-Chief" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/marty-skovlund-jr/" - name: "Nicholas Slayton" job_title: "Contributing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/nicholas-slayton/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/5-questions-only-a-veteran-would-ask-sergeant-major-of-the-army-michael-weimer/" categories: - "Culture" - "Mandatory Fun" --- # 5 questions only a veteran would ask the Sergeant Major of the Army ![]() Some of the Task & Purpose team is at the [Army-Navy game]() in Boston today, talking to veterans and active-duty leaders from several services. They got some time with Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer. Weimer, the 17th SMA, took over the post this August. He’s had a long career: he enlisted in 1993, became a Green Beret in 1996 and has served in a variety of roles around the globe. And since he’s had such a long career, the Task & Purpose team asked him the kind of questions only a veteran would ask. And we have to say, his last answer? Perfect. ### 5 questions for Michael Weimer, the 17th Sergeant Major of the Army **1 – What MRE main meal are you trading away every single time?** Tuna. The tuna one’s gone. Someone else is going to swap something else for tuna. Tuna and noodles if I remember correctly. **2 – What’s something you messed up that caused everyone to have to do push ups?** Probably showing up in the wrong uniform. We all did pushups for me showing up in formation in the wrong uniform. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq009\_UAQH8 [**Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today**]()**. Get the latest military news and culture in your inbox daily.** **3 – What is your biggest suggestion for solving the recruiting crisis?** Getting the word out, how awesome it is to serve your nation. That to me is key. Tons of opportunities, but man, serving your country is awesome. **4 **–** You’ve got a long career in the military, in the Army, what’s the thing that stands out the most from your time in uniform?** Something that should be the simplest answer…okay, today. Today, I’ll tell you, being at the Army-Navy game with my daughter being a plebe at West Point in the Corps of Cadets. That’s pretty doggone cool. **5 – Last one: when you’re going on deployment, or a long training exercise, what’s the one creature comfort you're absolutely making sure you have with you?** My woobie. My poncho liner, that’s coming with me. *Check out another interview we got at the Army-Navy game,*[ *5 question only a veteran would ask Medal of Honor recipient Ryan Pitts*]()*.* ## The latest on Task & Purpose - **Marine Infantry veteran says**[ **enlisted shouldn’t become officers**]() **— mayhem ensues** - [**Father loses 80 pounds**]()**, joins Air Force alongside his 2 sons** - **Opinion: Veterans won’t help the**[ **recruiting crisis**]() **until our issues are addressed** - **Navy**[ **fires head of Amphibious Squadron 5**]() **for ‘loss of confidence’** - **How much do CIA case officers get paid? A look at**[ **life as a spook**]() ## Author Nicholas Slayton is a contributing editor for Task & Purpose, covering conflict for over 12 years, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. His previous reporting can be found on the non-profit Aslan Media, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and the Los Angeles Downtown News. You can reach him at nicholas@taskandpurpose.com or find him on Twitter @NSlayton and Bluesky at @nslayton.bsky.social. ### Author social links [Twitter]()