- Company Quartermaster Sergeant
Company Quartermaster Sergeant is a
military rank or appointment.Canada
A Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) in the
Canadian Forces is thenon-commissioned officer in a company who is in charge of supplies. The CQMS also serves as deputy to theCompany 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 inCommunications Command . Battery Quartermaster Sergeant (BQMS) is the equivalent in theRoyal Canadian Artillery .Ireland
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 theCompany 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.
United Kingdom
The Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) in the
British Army andRoyal Marines is thenon-commissioned officer in a company who is in charge of supplies. The CQMS also serves as deputy to theCompany 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 theRoyal Corps of Transport . Battery Quartermaster Sergeant (BQMS) is the equivalent in theRoyal Artillery . Squadron Quartermaster Corporal (SQMC) is the equivalent in theHousehold Cavalry (in which it is an appointment ofStaff Corporal ).United States
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 andpicket lines. He inspected the company horses and mules, and reported any problems to the Veterinary Surgeon of theregiment . 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 RegimentalQuartermaster , 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 ofCorporal .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 intoUnited States military regulations until 1866.A Battery Quartermaster Sergeant was also authorised for every
artillery battery from4 May 1861 . They began to adopt the same unofficial chevrons as the cavalry from May 1863.
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