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 officers 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).
Read more about this topic: Regimental Sergeant Major
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