Company Quartermaster Sergeant
Encyclopedia
Company quartermaster sergeant is a military rank
or appointment.
is the non-commissioned officer
in a company
who is in charge of supplies. The CQMS also serves as deputy to the Company Sergeant Major
and is the second most senior NCO in the company. This appointment is held by a Warrant Officer. Historically, before Unification of the three services, the rank of Staff Sergeant was generally reserved for CQMS appointees in the former Canadian Army.
Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant (SQMS) is the equivalent in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
, Canadian Military Engineers
, and in Communications Command. Battery Quartermaster Sergeant (BQMS) is the equivalent in the Royal Canadian Artillery.
The rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) (Ceathrúsháirsint Complacht in Irish
) is also used in the Irish Army
. It is an actual rank and is subordinate to the Company Sergeant
(equivalent to a Company Sergeant Major). The CQMS is in charge of supplies, transport, stores, weapons, ammunition and accommodation. He or she answers to the CS in matters regarding the physical welfare of the troops, including issue of kit and the supply of food and water etc.
The title of Company Quartermaster Sergeant is used in the infantry and most corps units. However, in the artillery the rank is known as Battery Quartermaster Sergeant (BtyQMS, not to be confused with the higher rank of Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant
(BQMS), which is equivalent to a Warrant officer
), and in the cavalry it is known as Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant (SQMS).
The Air Corps
uses the rank of Flight Quartermaster Sergeant.
) is also used in the Myanmar Army. The CQMS is in charge of supplies, transport, stores, weapons, ammunition and accommodation. And also the deputy to the Company Sergeant Major(CSM) and is the second most senior NCO in the company. The title of Company Quartermaster Sergeant is used in Myanmar Army and its equivalent rank in Myanmar Air Force is Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant (SQMS), and in Myanmar Navy is Chief Petty Officer(CPO).
and Royal Marines
is the non-commissioned officer
in a company
who is in charge of supplies. The CQMS also serves as deputy to the Company Sergeant Major
and is the second most senior NCO in the company.
Company Quartermaster Sergeant was once a separate rank. However, by the Second World War
it was an appointment of Staff Sergeant
(Colour Sergeant
in the Royal Marines), and remains so today. In infantry companies, the CQMS is always addressed as "Colour Sergeant".
Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant (SQMS) is the equivalent in the Royal Armoured Corps
, Special Air Service
, Royal Engineers
, Royal Corps of Signals
, Army Air Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps
, Royal Logistic Corps
, and formerly in the Royal Corps of Transport
. Battery Quartermaster Sergeant (BQMS) is the equivalent in the Royal Artillery
. Squadron Quartermaster Corporal (SQMC) is the equivalent in the Household Cavalry
(in which it is an appointment of Staff Corporal
).
From 4 May 1861, each company of cavalry was authorised a Company Quartermaster Sergeant. The Company Quartermaster Sergeant was responsible for the company wagon and all the property it contained, including the tents, the company mess gear, the company desk, the company library, the ordnance
, the subsistence provisions, and the company tools. He was further charged with overseeing the camp set-up of the tents and picket
lines. He inspected the company horses and mules, and reported any problems to the Veterinary Surgeon of the regiment
. He was also responsible for acquiring fuel, forage
for the horses, and straw for bedding for the company. These were normally drawn from the supplies of the Regimental Quartermaster
, along with replacements for uniforms and equipment. When they were not available from stores, the Company Quartermaster Sergeant was responsible for forage parties to acquire them. The Company Quartermaster Sergeant was required to sign for the uniforms and equipment that were in his custody and before disbursing these items to a soldier, he required a signature of receipt, countersigned by an officer.
The rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant was not a command position, although he was required to know the drills, and the duties and responsibilities of the line NCOs. He was the second most senior NCO in the company after the First Sergeant
. During combat, his place was safeguarding the company wagon and its supplies. He was generally required to fight only in defence of the company property. In an extreme emergency, he could be used to replace a fallen line NCO, but this was extremely rare. The wagons were driven by Teamsters, who were usually members of the company. Additionally, each cavalry company was authorized a Wagoner with the rank of Corporal
.
The Company Quartermaster Sergeant wore three chevrons with a single straight tie in worsted
. Although worn by volunteer cavalry from 1862, this rank badge was not incorporated into United States
military regulations until 1866.
A Battery Quartermaster Sergeant was also authorised for every artillery battery
from 4 May 1861. They began to adopt the same unofficial chevrons as the cavalry from May 1863.
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
or appointment.
Canada
A Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) in the Canadian ForcesCanadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
is the non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
in a company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
who is in charge of supplies. The CQMS also serves as deputy to the Company Sergeant Major
Company Sergeant Major
A company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
and is the second most senior NCO in the company. This appointment is held by a Warrant Officer. Historically, before Unification of the three services, the rank of Staff Sergeant was generally reserved for CQMS appointees in the former Canadian Army.
Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant (SQMS) is the equivalent in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps is the armoured branch of service of the Canadian Army, including regular force and reserve regiments.-History:...
, Canadian Military Engineers
Canadian Military Engineers
The Canadian Military Engineers is the military engineer branch of the Canadian Forces.-Mission:The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces...
, and in Communications Command. Battery Quartermaster Sergeant (BQMS) is the equivalent in the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Ireland
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
) is also used in the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
. It is an actual rank and is subordinate to the Company Sergeant
Company Sergeant
Company Sergeant is a non-commissioned officer rank in the Irish Army equivalent to a First Sergeant in the United States Army and Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army....
(equivalent to a Company Sergeant Major). The CQMS is in charge of supplies, transport, stores, weapons, ammunition and accommodation. He or she answers to the CS in matters regarding the physical welfare of the troops, including issue of kit and the supply of food and water etc.
The title of Company Quartermaster Sergeant is used in the infantry and most corps units. However, in the artillery the rank is known as Battery Quartermaster Sergeant (BtyQMS, not to be confused with the higher rank of Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant is a military rank in some militaries, and an appointment in others.-Irish Defence Forces:Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant is a rank in the Irish Army and Irish Air Corps equivalent to Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army...
(BQMS), which is equivalent to a Warrant officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
), and in the cavalry it is known as Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant (SQMS).
The Air Corps
Irish Air Corps
The Air Corps is the air component of the Defence Forces of Ireland providing support to the Army and Naval Service, together with non-military air services such as search and rescue and the Ministerial Air Transport Service...
uses the rank of Flight Quartermaster Sergeant.
Myanmar
The rank of The rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) (တပ္ခြဲတပ္ၾကပ္ႀကီး in BurmeseBurmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
) is also used in the Myanmar Army. The CQMS is in charge of supplies, transport, stores, weapons, ammunition and accommodation. And also the deputy to the Company Sergeant Major(CSM) and is the second most senior NCO in the company. The title of Company Quartermaster Sergeant is used in Myanmar Army and its equivalent rank in Myanmar Air Force is Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant (SQMS), and in Myanmar Navy is Chief Petty Officer(CPO).
United Kingdom
The Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) in the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
is the non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
in a company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
who is in charge of supplies. The CQMS also serves as deputy to the Company Sergeant Major
Company Sergeant Major
A company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
and is the second most senior NCO in the company.
Company Quartermaster Sergeant was once a separate rank. However, by the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was an appointment of Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
(Colour Sergeant
Colour Sergeant
Colour sergeant or colour serjeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2....
in the Royal Marines), and remains so today. In infantry companies, the CQMS is always addressed as "Colour Sergeant".
Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant (SQMS) is the equivalent in the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
, Special Air Service
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
, Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
, Army Air Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
, Royal Logistic Corps
Royal Logistic Corps
The Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength...
, and formerly in the Royal Corps of Transport
Royal Corps of Transport
The Royal Corps of Transport was a British Army Corps formed in 1965 from the transport elements of the Royal Army Service Corps and the movement control element of the Royal Engineers . The depot was Buller Barracks in Aldershot...
. Battery Quartermaster Sergeant (BQMS) is the equivalent in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. Squadron Quartermaster Corporal (SQMC) is the equivalent in the Household Cavalry
Household Cavalry
The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions, a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Head of state.Canada's Governor General's...
(in which it is an appointment of Staff Corporal
Staff Corporal
Staff Corporal is the equivalent rank to Staff Sergeant in the Household Cavalry, ranking between Corporal of Horse and Warrant Officer Class 2. He may hold an appointment such as Squadron Quartermaster Corporal. A Staff Corporal wears four point-up rank chevrons on his cuff, surmounted by a crown...
).
United States
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
, the subsistence provisions, and the company tools. He was further charged with overseeing the camp set-up of the tents and picket
Picket line
A picket line is a horizontal rope, along which horses are tied at intervals. The rope can be on the ground, at chest height , or overhead. The overhead form usually is called a high line....
lines. He inspected the company horses and mules, and reported any problems to the Veterinary Surgeon of the regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
. He was also responsible for acquiring fuel, forage
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
for the horses, and straw for bedding for the company. These were normally drawn from the supplies of the Regimental Quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
, along with replacements for uniforms and equipment. When they were not available from stores, the Company Quartermaster Sergeant was responsible for forage parties to acquire them. The Company Quartermaster Sergeant was required to sign for the uniforms and equipment that were in his custody and before disbursing these items to a soldier, he required a signature of receipt, countersigned by an officer.
The rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant was not a command position, although he was required to know the drills, and the duties and responsibilities of the line NCOs. He was the second most senior NCO in the company after the First Sergeant
First Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
. During combat, his place was safeguarding the company wagon and its supplies. He was generally required to fight only in defence of the company property. In an extreme emergency, he could be used to replace a fallen line NCO, but this was extremely rare. The wagons were driven by Teamsters, who were usually members of the company. Additionally, each cavalry company was authorized a Wagoner with the rank of Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
.
The Company Quartermaster Sergeant wore three chevrons with a single straight tie in worsted
Worsted
Worsted , is the name of a yarn, the cloth made from this yarn, and a yarn weight category. The name derives from the village of Worstead in the English county of Norfolk...
. Although worn by volunteer cavalry from 1862, this rank badge was not incorporated into United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military regulations until 1866.
A Battery Quartermaster Sergeant was also authorised for every artillery battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
from 4 May 1861. They began to adopt the same unofficial chevrons as the cavalry from May 1863.