In land armies, a quartermaster is an officer who supervises logistics and requisitions, manages stores or barracks, and distributes supplies and provisions.

In many navies, a quartermaster is a seaman or petty officer with responsibility for navigation and operation of the helm of a ship.

For land armies, the term was first coined in Germany as Quartiermeister and initially denoted a court official with the duty of preparing the monarch's sleeping quarters.

From at least the English Civil War period until 1813, the quartermaster was the senior NCO in a British cavalry troop, in which context he had nothing to do with supply.

In that year, the position was replaced by the new appointment of troop sergeant major, with the cavalry adopting commissioned, regimental quartermasters as described above.

From Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps standing orders: For many centuries – indeed perhaps as long as there have been organized military units – the appointment of quartermaster has been significant in armies.

As the complexities of the Army and its material increased, an officer with greater professional technical knowledge of the problems that surround stores management was required for the Quartermaster's duties.

In large camps and higher headquarters (brigade, division and corps HQ), apart from the staff officer in charge of logistics, there is also a role defined mostly as "camp commander", who is in charge of the HQ logistic issues, ceremonies and parades and discipline.

The ranks of IDF quartermasters vary from sergeant major to CWO, depending on the size of the camp.

Quartermasters are identified (in all IDF branches) by a blue and white aiguillette on the left shoulder.

In the British Army and Royal Marines, the quartermaster (QM) is the commissioned officer in a battalion or regiment responsible for supply.

It is a Sustainment, formerly combat service support (CSS), branch of the United States Army.

On U.S. Navy submarines, the job of a quartermaster is done by a qualified navigation electronics technician (NAV-ET).

Pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy elevated the rank of quartermaster to much higher powers and responsibilities than it had aboard non-pirate merchant or naval vessels.

[9][8] The quartermaster also was chiefly responsible for discipline, assessing punishments for crewmen who transgressed the articles.

The Quartermaster Award is also the highest rank in the Sea Scouts, BSA, an older youth (age 13–21) co-ed program.