Company sergeant major: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Commonwealth military rank}}

A '''Company Sergeant Major''' ('''CSM''') is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a [[company (military unit)|company]] in the armies of many [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of [[ammunition]] to the company. He also oversees the distribution of other supplies such as water or food (although that responsibility lies mainly with the [[Company Quartermaster Sergeant]] (CQMS)), as well as the evacuation of wounded and collection of prisoners of war.

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{more citations needed|date=May 2017}}

[[File:Bermuda Regiment Warrant Officers.jpg|right|190px|thumb|Two [[Royal Bermuda Regiment]] warrant officers, class two. A [[Territorial Army (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] company has two WO2s. On the left is a [[permanent staff instructor]]. On the right with a pace-stick, is a company sergeant major.]]

AThe '''Companycompany Sergeantsergeant Majormajor''' ('''CSM''') is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a [[company (military unit)|company]] in the armies of many [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, responsible for administration, standards and discipline. In combat, histheir prime responsibility is the supply of [[ammunition]] to the company. HeThey also overseesoversee the distribution of other supplies, such as water or food, (although that responsibility liesis mainly withthat of the [[Companycompany Quartermasterquartermaster Sergeantsergeant]] (CQMS)), asand well asevacuating the evacuation of wounded and collection ofcollecting prisoners of war.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

For military units of the same level as company, the equivalent may be '''Squadron Sergeant Major''' ('''SSM''') or '''Battery Sergeant Major''' ('''BSM'''). In the [[Household Cavalry]], '''Squadron Corporal Major''' ('''SCM''') is the equivalent. [[First Sergeant]] and [[Hauptfeldwebel]] are the [[United States Army]] and German equivalents respectively..

For military units of the same level as a company, the equivalent may be '''Squadronsquadron Sergeantsergeant Majormajor''' ('''SSM''') or '''Batterybattery Sergeantsergeant Majormajor''' ('''BSM'''). In the [[Household Cavalry]], '''Squadronsquadron Corporalcorporal Majormajor''' ('''SCM''') is the equivalent. [[First Sergeantsergeant]] and ''[[Kompaniefeldwebel]]'' (formerly ''[[Hauptfeldwebel]]'' in the ''[[Wehrmacht]]'' and ''[[Nationale Volksarmee]]'') are the [[United States Army]] and German [[German Army|Heer]] equivalents respectively..

==Canadian Forces==

In the [[Canadian Forces]], the CSM appointment is held by a [[Master Warrant Officer]] (MWO).

==Australia==

In the Canadian Forces, the SSM/BSM/CSM is referred to as "Sir" by subordinates, or as "Sergeant Major". Superiors refer to him generally as "Sergeant Major" or "CSM".

In the [[Australian Army]], the CSM appointment is the senior warrant officer of a sub-unit (company, squadron or battery) and is normally held by a [[warrant officer class 2]]. The CSM is a senior management role focusing on the training, welfare and discipline of a sub-unit of up to 200 soldiers. They also act as senior adviser to the sub-unit commander. The appointment is known as the Company Sergeant-Major (CSM) in all sub-units except for the following:<ref name="Australia">{{cite web|url=https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/australian-army-rank-structure/other-ranks|title=Australian Army Other Ranks|website=Australian Army|access-date=20 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227005831/https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/australian-army-rank-structure/other-ranks|archive-date=27 February 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

*Squadron Sergeant-Major (SSM) in [[Royal Australian Armoured Corps|Armoured]], [[Australian Army Aviation|Aviation]], [[Royal Australian Engineers|Engineer]] and Signal sub-units<ref name="Australia"/>

*Artificer Sergeant-Major (ASM) in [[Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers|RAEME]] sub-units<ref name="Australia"/>

*Battery Sergeant-Major (BSM) in [[Royal Australian Artillery|Artillery]] sub-units<ref name="Australia"/>

==Canada==

In the [[Canadian Forces]], the CSM appointment is normally held by a [[master warrant officer]]. The appointment is sometimes held by a [[warrant officer]], responsible for a smaller number of personnel.

In the Canadian Forces, the SSM/BSM/CSM is referred to as "Sir/Ma'am" by subordinates, or as "Sergeant Major". Superiors refer to him/her generally as "Sergeant Major" or "CSM". If the position is held by a warrant officer, subordinates will usually still address the individual as "Sergeant Major".

==Singapore==

In the [[Singapore Armed Forces]], the CSM appointment is usually held by a [[Staffstaff Sergeantsergeant]], [[master sergeant]] (the usual rank for a CSM of a non-HQ company){{dubious|date=April 2011}} or [[Mastersecond Sergeantwarrant officer]]. In (the usual rank for a CSM of a battalion or brigade HQ company,). heHe may be addressed as "CSM" by superiors, and as "Sergeant Major" (for a staff sergeant or master sergeant) or "encik" (for a second warrant officer) by subordinates. The CSM is often respectfully addressed by all as "Encik", [[Malay language|Malay]] for "uncleMister", but the permission for junior enlisted men to do so should not be taken for granted.

Training schools sometimes refer to companies as "wings"; instead of a CSM, the wing has a wing sergeant major. In the case of the [[Officer Cadet School (Singapore)|Officer Cadet School]], WSMs are second or first warrant officers, likely due to the greater experience required for the appointment.

The CSM is the senior [[Specialist (Singapore)|specialist]] in the company. He is in charge of the welfare and discipline of the specialists and enlisted men within, and usually has the company commander's ear. Drill and ceremonies is the CSM's responsibility. He supervises the instruction of drill by the [[platoon sergeant]]s, and will conduct company rehearsals for parades prior to actual parade rehearsals. On the parade square, the CSM carries a black [[pace stick]].

As an experienced senior specialist, the CSM is expected to be an expert in the weapons and equipment employed by the company, and will assist in instruction where necessary. During exercises or operations, the CSM, aided by the [[company quartermaster sergeant]] and company medic, is in charge of organizing the company's logistics, manpower, and medical treatment and evacuation. If necessary, he can be tasked to lead a detachment composed of [[Carl Gustav recoilless rifle|recoilless rifles]] and [[General-purpose machine gun|machine guns]] (known in Singapore military doctrine as a "company block force"), to protect the rifle company from flanking attacks by enemy light armoured vehicles along a contested axis.

==United Kingdom==

In the [[File:United Kingdom]], CSM is an appointment held by [[Warrant Officer]]s Class 2-Army-OR-8a (WO22022).svg|thumb|upright=0.75|Insignia inof thea [[British Army]] andWO2 [[Royalcompany Marinessergeant major]].

In the [[United Kingdom]], CSM is an appointment held by [[warrant officer|warrant officers class 2]] in the [[British Army]] and [[Royal Marines]] (and previously by [[quartermaster sergeant]]s in the Royal Marines).{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}<ref>Note that in the British Armed Forces, the plural is "company sergeant majors" and not "company sergeants major". {{London Gazette |issue=48587 |date=16 April 1981 |page=5671 |supp=y}} {{London Gazette |issue=25044 |date=2 December 1881 |page=6467 }} The earliest usage of "sergeant majors" in ''[[The Times]]'' is in 1822. The last of the (very occasional) usages of "sergeants major", except when referring to American NCOs, is in 1938.</ref> The same appointment is referred to in the Cavalry as Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM) and in the [[Royal Regiment of Artillery]] as a Battery Sergeant Major (BSM).

By 1913, there were two [[colour sergeant]]s in each infantry company. On 1 October 1913, they received the two new appointments of company sergeant major and [[company quartermaster sergeant]], with one of each in each company.<ref>"Four-Company Battalions", ''[[The Times]]'', 17 September 1913</ref><ref>"New Rates of Pay in the Army", ''[[The Times]]'', 14 October 1913</ref> The appointment of company sergeant major wore the colour sergeant's old rank badge of a crown over three chevrons until it became an appointment of the new rank of warrant officer class II in 1915 and adopted the rank badge of a large crown on the lower sleeve.

A CSM, BSM or SSM is generally addressed as "Sergeant Major" (or often as "Sir" or "Ma'am" by subordinates), or "Sergeant Major". However, a cavalry SSM is often addressed as "Mr (surname)" by officers, and as "Mr (surname), Sir" by his subordinates, with the salutation "Sergeant Major" being reserved for [[Staffstaff Sergeantsergeant]]s. Typically for the British Army, protocol can vary widely between units, creating a minefield for outsiders, new recruits, and soldiers serving outside their parent regiments.

The most famous fictional exampleexamples isare perhaps Battery Sergeant Major Tudor BrynneBryn 'Shut Up' Williams, portrayed by [[Windsor Davies]] in the 1970s' sitcom ''[[It Ain't Half Hot Mum]]''; and Company Sergeant Major Percival Bullimore and Company Sergeant Major Claude Snudge, played by [[William Hartnell]] and [[Bill Fraser]], respectively, in the 1958–63 Granada television comedy series ''[[The Army Game]]''.

A CSM, BSM or SSM is generally addressed as "Sergeant Major" (or often as "Sir" or "Ma'am" by subordinates). However, a cavalry SSM is often addressed as "Mr (surname)" by officers, and as "Mr (surname), Sir" by his subordinates, with the salutation "Sergeant Major" being reserved for [[Staff Sergeant]]s. Typically for the British Army, protocol can vary widely between units, creating a minefield for outsiders, new recruits, and soldiers serving outside their parent regiments.

==Footnotes==

The most famous fictional example is perhaps Battery Sergeant Major Tudor Brynne 'Shut Up' Williams, portrayed by [[Windsor Davies]] in the 1970s sitcom ''[[It Ain't Half Hot Mum]]''.

{{Reflist}}

{{UK enlisted ranks}}

==External link==

{{Authority control}}

*[http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/mediawiki-1.5.5/index.php?title=Company_Sergeant_Major Information on Canadian Company Sergeants Major in the 20th Century.]

[[Category:Military ranks of the Commonwealth]]

[[Category:Military ranksappointments of Australia]]

[[Category:Military ranksappointments of Canada]]

[[Category:Military ranks of the United KingdomSingapore]]

[[Category:Military appointments of the British Army]]

[[Category:Military appointments of the Royal Marines]]

[[Category:Warrant officers]]