Master-at-arms

2024-06-02T04:16:22Z

2001:8003:3685:5801:C4E4:933D:435D:B283:

{{Short description|Variety of military positions}}
{{distinguish|man-at-arms}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
A '''master-at-arms''' (US: '''MA'''; UK and some Commonwealth: '''MAA''') may be a [[naval rating]], responsible for [[law enforcement]], regulating duties, security, anti-terrorism/force protection (AT/FP) for a country's [[navy]]; an army officer responsible for physical training; or a member of the crew of a [[merchant ship]] (usually a passenger vessel) responsible for security and law enforcement. In some navies, a '''ship's corporal''' is a position—not the rank—of a [[petty officer]] who assists the master-at-arms in his various duties. Historically, a master-at-arms was responsible for the training of soldiers during peace time, or actively involved in leading the defense of a fortification during war time.

In some countries, the term ''navy police'' is used for a part of a navy responsible for law enforcement, such as the [[Royal Navy Police]], known as the Royal Navy Regulating Branch until 2007.

== United Kingdom ==
[[File:The Royal Navy during the Second World War A18524.jpg|thumb|right|On board [[HMS Rodney (29)|HMS ''Rodney'']], the master-at-arms (left) reads out the names at the "captain's defaulters and requestmen" parade (a type of [[court martial]] for minor offences), during [[World War II]]]]

=== Royal Navy ===
The master-at-arms (MAA) is a ship's senior rating, normally carrying the rank of chief petty officer or warrant officer. They are in charge of discipline aboard ship, assisted by regulators of the [[Royal Navy Police]], of which they are a member. The non-substantive (trade) badge of an MAA is a crown within a wreath.

The post of master-at-arms was introduced to the Royal Navy during the reign of King Charles I; their original duties were to be responsible for the ship's small arms and edged weapons, and to drill the ship's company in their use.<ref>Connell, Royal H. and Mack, William P. (2004), [https://books.google.com/books?id=wvKiBiWKrzMC&dq=%22master-at-arms%22+royal+naval+tradition&pg=PA314 ''Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions''], Naval Institute Press, {{ISBN|1-55750-330-3}} (p. 314)</ref> This was not an onerous task, and masters-at-arms came to be made responsible for "regulating duties"; their role as weapons instructors was eventually taken over by the chief gunner.<ref>[http://www.readyayeready.com/tradition/customs-of-the-navy/4-ranks.htm ReadyAyeReady.com – ''Customs of the Navy'' Chapter 4 – Ranks]</ref>

The MAA is addressed as "Master" if holding the rank of chief petty officer, regardless of gender, and is often nicknamed the "jaunty", a corruption of the French [[gendarme]], or the "joss/jossman".

As a result of the [[Armed Forces Act 2006]], the term Regulating Branch was changed to Service Police and the branch title changed to the [[Royal Navy Police]] and reported to their respective service's [[Provost Marshal]], who was responsible to the [[First Sea Lord]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Regulating Branch and Royal Navy Police Association History|url=http://www.rba93.com/history/history.html|website=Regulating Branch and Royal Navy Police Association|access-date=13 June 2014}}</ref>

=== British Army ===
In the [[British Army]], a master-at-arms is an [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] of the [[Royal Army Physical Training Corps]], posted as an SO2 or SO3 at divisional headquarters or higher command, and responsible for overseeing all fitness training in subordinate units. The role is filled by RAPTC [[Warrant Officer Class III|WO1s]] at brigade headquarters, while [[Warrant Officer Class III|WO2s]] or [[staff sergeant]] [[physical training instructor|PTIs]] are embedded at unit level.

== United States Navy ==
{{main|Master-at-arms (United States Navy)}}
In the [[United States Navy]], the master-at-arms rating is responsible for law enforcement, investigations, [[Police dog|K-9]], expeditionary, and anti-terrorism/force protection operations.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cutler|first=Deborah W. and Thomas J. Cutler|title=Dictionary of Naval Terms|year=2005|publisher=Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=978-1-59114-150-1|page=140}}</ref> It is one of the oldest ratings in the United States Navy, having been recognized since the Navy's inception.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Royal Navy specialisms]]
[[Category:Military provost ranks]]

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Master-at-arms