Company sergeant major A company sergeant major ( CSM ) , is the senior non - commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries , responsible for administration , 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 mainly is the company quartermaster sergeant ' s ( CQMS ) , and evacuating the wounded and collecting prisoners of war . 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 " Kompaniefeldwebel " ( formerly " hauptfeldwebel " in the " Wehrmacht " and " Nationale Volksarmee " ) are the United States Army and German Heer equivalents respectively . 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 address the CSM as " Warrant " . Singapore . In the Singapore Armed Forces , the CSM appointment is usually held by a staff sergeant , master sergeant ( the usual rank for a CSM of a non - HQ company ) or second warrant officer ( the usual rank for a CSM of a battalion HQ company ) . He may be addressed as " CSM " by superiors , and as " Sergeant Major " ( for a staff sergeant or master sergeant ) or " Sir " ( for a second warrant officer ) by subordinates . The CSM is often respectfully addressed by all as " Encik " , Malay for " Mister " , 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 for 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 in the company . He is in charge of the welfare and discipline of the specialists and enlisted men within , and is 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 in 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 , usually comprising recoilless rifles and machine guns , to accomplish an identified task . United Kingdom . In the United Kingdom , CSM is an appointment held by warrant officers class 2 in the British Army and Royal Marines ( and previously by quartermaster sergeant s in the Royal Marines . ) A CSM , BSM or SSM is generally addressed 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 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 . The most famous fictional examples are perhaps Battery Sergeant Major Tudor Brynne ' 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 " .