The position of Secretary of the Army was created in 1947 with the dissolution of the Department of War and the introduction of its replacement, the National Military Establishment, later retitled the Department of Defense. Army Regulations published a year later prescribed the design of the insignia to be worn by aides to the Secretary of the Army: an eagle with inverted wings supported by a red shield surmounted by the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States, commonly known as the United States Coat of Arms.
Because the newly created Department of the Army was not a federal executive department, the Secretary of the Army, unlike the Secretary of War, is not a Cabinet-level post. The civilian positions of Secretary and Under Secretary form one-half of the senior leadership of the Department of the Army, with two four-star Army Generals comprising the other half in the positions of Chief of Staff of the Army and Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
The functions of the Secretary are specifically delineated in United states Code and involve administrative duties not related to operational military command: Acquisition, Auditing, Comptroller, Information Management, Inspector General, Legislative Affairs, and Public Affairs.
Being selected to serve as an aide at any level is a distinct honor: just 81 enlisted Soldiers are authorized to serve General / Flag Officers and civilian Army personnel each year. To be considered for selection for entrance in the Enlisted Aide Program, Soldiers must be in the rank of E-5 or higher (highly qualified E-4 candidates are considered on a case-by-case basis), have two years of culinary experience, and be able to pass at least a secret security clearance.