Right Sizing EW Expertise in the Army

By CSM Kevin Flickinger

Article published on: May 1, 2026 in the Summer 2026 Edition of Gray Space

Read Time: < 3 mins

Command Sergeant Major Kevin Flickinger

Esteemed Colleagues,

Army leaders have invested significantly in growing Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) capability and capacity at Divisions and below. Manning cyber and electromagnetic activities (CEMA) sections within G3s with a Sergeant Major will inform and influence organizational effectiveness on the Division staff, as well as improve training and cross-training within formations to prepare us for the future fight. Unfortunately, the Cyber Branch lacks the E9 authorizations necessary to achieve this outcome.

At the early foundation of the Cyber Branch in 2016, there were 1,372 enlisted Cyber and EW Soldiers out of 333,691 Soldiers in the active Army. As we begin 2026, enlisted Cyber and EW operating strength has more than doubled to 2,884, while enlisted Army end strength has decreased over 3.5% to 321,674.

Although we have grown substantially while the rest of the Army shrinks, the Cyber Branch still represents less than 1% of the total enlisted force, and our twenty-nine 17Z Sergeants Major represent 1% of that 1%. Given the outsized importance of EW on present-day battlefields, not to mention our vision of the future of warfare, it is past time that we right-size our 17Z population to put more EW expertise and experience into Army Divisions.

Processes? Don’t Talk to Me About Processes!

Army senior leaders are not interested in talking about processes, and I don’t blame them. But the fact is, Army processes determine how many 17Z authorizations we have, and our processes are not keeping up with Branch growth. The Grade Cap Distribution Matrix (GCDM) defines the percentages of each rank across the force, and templates Sergeants Major at 1.32% of total enlisted authorizations. As the below table indicates, our approved Personnel Management Authorization Document (PMAD) authorizations have always fallen well below the target. But, not only are we not keeping up with our growth, we are regressing!

Maybe It’s Time for a New Process

If we follow the process, the Army must look at E8 and E9 authorizations across the Total Force in order to adjust 17Z authorizations. Our Proponent has repeatedly been told not to bother asking to initiate this cumbersome and contentious process. As we transform rapidly and discard time-consuming processes, maybe it is time to take another look at this one as well. Adding Division CEMA Sergeants Major will enable better staff planning, better EW integration at home station and combat training centers, and better fielding and reprogramming of new equipment—including UAS and counter-UAS initiatives. As observations in Ukraine indicate up to 50% of casualties are attributable to EW-related capabilities, primarily drones, we have to ask: what are we waiting for?

Challenge the Status Quo!
6th Regimental Command Sergeant Major
Kevin Flickinger