Quartermaster sergeant

Quartermaster sergeant (Irish: ceathrúsháirsint) appointments in the Irish Defence Forces include: A quartermaster sergeant in the British Army and Royal Marines is traditionally a non-commissioned officer or warrant officer who is responsible for supplies or stores.

In the Royal Marines, quartermaster sergeant was an actual rank between colour sergeant and regimental sergeant major[1] (and equivalent to warrant officer class II in the Army) until the Royal Marines themselves re-adopted the ranks of warrant officer class I and II in 1973[2] (although the term continued to be used interchangeably for warrant officers class II until at least 1981[3]).

The equivalent ranks in the Band Service were staff bandmaster and quartermaster sergeant bugler.

[4] In 1776 the Continental Army established the rank of quartermaster sergeant as the second most senior soldier in the non-commissioned headquarters element of an infantry regiment.

Both armies varied the colour of the stripes by assigning red for artillery, yellow for cavalry, and blue for infantry.

Their task was to assist the quartermaster of the regiment with ordering, storing and distributing various equipage (clothing, tents, etc.)

Particularly with cavalry and artillery regiments, acquiring and distributing forage was an important function of the quartermaster sergeant.

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.

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.