Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Tilley began his career just intending to be a good soldier. He had no ambition to be anything special in the Army. He saw action in the Vietnam War and served in varied position as an NCO that prepared him, without his realizing it, for the top enlisted position. His greatest trait was communicating with ordinary soldiers as they went about their duties. He was involved in many initiatives as SMA including the "Transformation" before retiring in 2004.

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