what is a quartermaster

A quartermaster is a military term that can have different meanings depending on the country and service. In land armies, a quartermaster is generally a relatively senior soldier who supervises stores or barracks and distributes supplies and provisions. In many navies, a quartermaster is an officer with particular responsibility for steering and signals. In the British Army and Royal Marines, the quartermaster (QM) is the commissioned officer in a battalion or regiment responsible for supply. Additionally, in the modern navy, a quartermaster is a petty officer who specializes in navigation and stands watch as an assistant to Officers of the deck and navigators, serving as helmsman and performing ship control.