Pretty cool to be the top enlisted soldier and only holder of a rank.

That’s true.

One of my buddies had a degree and enlisted to serve in a special operations unit.

There are more enlisted positions then officers

But entering as enlisted instead of officer which is a little unusual.

It's one of the first words.

I didn't call it a Service Academy which has a different, and very specific meaning.

So engaging in technicalities aside, the point is that the corps of cadets at the six SMCs are OG ROTC cadets and usually go officer.

Which is why the OP is surprised that he went enlisted instead upon graduation instead of officer.

As with West Point, Annapolis, The Air Force Academy, The Citidel, Texas A&M, etc. graduates of Norwich are usually commissioned as officers in a branch of the US military. Norwich is particularly known for armor officers. I assume, without knowing, that the CSM attended after enlisting.

“ The most common degree for command sergeant majors is bachelor's degree 51% of command sergeant majors earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 29% and rounding it off is master's degree with 12%.”

https://www.zippia.com/command-sergeant-major-jobs/demographics/

I’ve never heard of Norwich.

enlisted. He retires next year.

Having been both there's admittedly no comparison for me between the two so curious the thought process for someone else

interaction with the troops. I guess that's his comfort level. His choice.

Me...I Yale ROTC 69-71. Loved being a junior officer. Hated it after I made Major.

Best years were as a Captain. Major and beyond were a slog.

Korea war. He had my grandmother's permission. From there, he went through every enlisted rank, including master sgt.

Then he earned his G.E.D. and B.A. in engineering.

From there, he went from 2nd. Lt an retired as a lt. colonel.