diff --git a/src/sst/core/Makefile.am b/src/sst/core/Makefile.am
index 3114200af..504618912 100644
--- a/src/sst/core/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/sst/core/Makefile.am
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ nobase_dist_sst_HEADERS = \
 	exit.h \
 	factory.h \
 	from_string.h \
+	globalCounter.h \
 	heartbeat.h \
 	initQueue.h \
 	link.h \
diff --git a/src/sst/core/globalCounter.h b/src/sst/core/globalCounter.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a3a7890a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sst/core/globalCounter.h
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+// Copyright 2009-2024 NTESS. Under the terms
+// of Contract DE-NA0003525 with NTESS, the U.S.
+// Government retains certain rights in this software.
+//
+// Copyright (c) 2009-2024, NTESS
+// All rights reserved.
+//
+// This file is part of the SST software package. For license
+// information, see the LICENSE file in the top level directory of the
+// distribution.
+
+#ifndef SST_GLOBAL_COUNTER_H
+#define SST_GLOBAL_COUNTER_H
+
+#include <limits>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <type_traits>
+
+namespace SST {
+
+template <typename T = u_int64_t>
+class GlobalCounter
+{
+    T       counter;
+    const T min;
+    const T max;
+
+public:
+    static_assert(std::is_integral<T>::value, "integral required");
+
+    GlobalCounter(T initial = 0) : min(std::numeric_limits<T>::lowest()), max(std::numeric_limits<T>::max())
+    {
+        counter = initial;
+    }
+
+    void increment()
+    {
+        if ( counter == max ) { return; }
+        ++counter;
+    }
+
+    void decrement()
+    {
+        if ( counter == min ) { return; }
+        --counter;
+    }
+
+    friend bool operator<(const GlobalCounter<T>& l, const GlobalCounter<T>& r) { return l.counter < r.counter; }
+};
+
+} // namespace SST
+
+#endif /* SST_GLOBAL_COUNTER_H */