Regimental Sergeant Major Regimental Sergeant Major ( RSM ) is an appointment held by Warrant Officer s Class 1 ( WO1 ) in the British Army , the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations , including Australia and New Zealand ; and by Chief Warrant Officer s ( CWO ) in the Canadian Forces . Only one WO1 / CWO holds the appointment of RSM in a regiment or battalion , making him the senior warrant officer ; in a unit with more than one WO1 , the RSM is considered to be " first amongst equals " . The RSM is primarily responsible for maintaining standards and discipline and acts as a father figure to his subordinates . Australia . Like most Commonwealth forces , the RSM in the Australian Army is the senior warrant officer of the regiment or battalion , normally a Warrant Officer Class 1 ( WO1 ) . In addition , the senior warrant officer in the Australian Army holds the unique rank of Warrant Officer ( introduced in 1991 and senior to WO1 ) and the appointment of Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army ( RSM - A ) . This appointment , based on the United States Army ' s practice of appointing a Sergeant Major of the Army , has existed since January 1983 , and was originally held by a WO1 . It is the equivalent of the Royal Australian Navy ' s Warrant Officer of the Navy ( WO - N ) and the Royal Australian Air Force ' s Warrant Officer of the Air Force ( WOFF - AF ) . Canada . In the Canadian Forces , the appointment of Regimental Sergeant Major is normally held by an army Chief Warrant Officer ( CWO ) . Due to the combined nature of the Canadian Forces , however , it is not impossible for an air force Chief Warrant Officer or a naval Chief Petty Officer 1st Class ( CPO1 ) to rise to that post , especially in units with a high number of support trades personnel ; examples might include a Logistics Branch CPO1 being appointed RSM of a service battalion , or an air force Communications and Electronics Branch CWO appointed to the position in a Communication Regiment . As well , it is possible that a Master Warrant Officer may be appointed to an RSM position , in an acting or even official capacity , due to shortages of available CWOs , or in anticipation of a promotion , etc . Regimental Sergeants Major in the Canadian Forces are sometimes informally referred to in third person by their appointment , for example " RSM Bloggins " while their commanding officer s universally hold the privilege of addressing them as " RSM " ( and the practice of doing so by subordinates may be governed by regimental tradition ) . In no case is an RSM supposed to be addressed simply as " Sergeant Major " . The practice of subordinates addressing the RSM as " Sir " or " Ma ' am " applies only to Regimental Sergeants Major who are army or air force CWOs ; naval CPO1s are universally addressed as " Chief " , regardless of any appointments held . The equivalent position in a higher formation , such as a brigade - group or Land Force Area , is sometimes termed " Regimental Sergeant Major " ( for example , the Regimental Sergeant Major of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group ) , but this practice is not universal ( for example , the Brigade Sergeant Major of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group ) . Singapore . Like most Commonwealth forces , the RSM in the Singapore Armed Forces is usually the most senior warrant officer in the unit . Depending on the size of the unit , RSMs can be Second ( 2WO ) , First ( 1WO ) , Master ( MWO ) , or Senior ( SWO ) Warrant Officers . Exceptions to this are : During exercises and operations , the role of the RSM is to organize the battalion for movement , and to assist the unit S1 ( Manpower Officer ) in manpower administration . In camp , he is the master of drill , parades and ceremonies . He supervises the Company Sergeants Major and Platoon Sergeant s in the instruction of drill , and is in charge of the organization of formal parades . On the parade square , the RSM , with his pace stick , is " king " . He has authority over all soldiers and even has the power to order punishment for subalterns ( junior commissioned officers such as captains and lieutenants ) . In fact , the RSM may conduct " subalterns ' parades " - private sessions for junior officers to perfect their foot and sword drills away from the critical eyes of the other ranks . Senior officers may address him simply as " RSM " , while , as a warrant officer , he is addressed " Sir " by those junior in rank . As a senior NCO , he is often addressed " Encik " ( " mister " in Malay ) as well by officers and relatively senior NCO ranks ( this is an informal right which is not to be assumed by enlisted personnel ) . United Kingdom . In the British Army , the RSM is always addressed as " Sir " or " Ma ' am " by his or her subordinates . Officers can address him or her as " Sergeant Major " ( Foot Guards regiments ) , " Mr / Mrs / Miss ( surname ) " or as " RSM " . Like most WO1s , an RSM wears a Sam Browne instead of a sash , which is worn by WO2s . In the Household Cavalry , the appointment is Regimental Corporal Major ( RCM ) . United States . The equivalent rank in the US Army is a Command Sergeant Major . The billet , as opposed to rank , of Regimental Sergeant Major exists in the United States Marine Corps , as the senior enlisted adviser to the Regimental Commander .