Master-at-arms
Encyclopedia
A master-at-arms may be a naval rating
responsible for discipline and law enforcement, 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 the Army
and the Station Warrant Officer
in the Royal Air Force
. A warrant officer
or chief petty officer
, the MAA is in charge of discipline and is addressed as "Master"; even if the rating in question is a woman, she is still addressed as "Master" and known as the master-at-arms. The MAA is assisted by regulators of the Royal Navy Police, of which he is himself a member. He is nicknamed the "jaunty", a corruption of the French
gendarme
, or the "joss/jossman". The non-substantive (trade) badge of an MAA is a crown within a wreath.
, a master-at-arms is a commissioned officer of the Army Physical Training Corps
posted as an SO2 or SO3 at divisional HQ or higher command, responsible for overseeing all fitness training in subordinate units. APTC Warrant Officer
s Class 1 fill the role at brigade HQs, while Warrant Officer Class 2 or staff sergeant
physical training instructor
s are embedded at unit level. Master-at-arms is also an appointment in the Army Cadet Force
, given to a cadet with the rank of cadet sergeant
or above who takes command of drill on a divisional level.
, a Master-at-Arms (MA) is the rating concerned with law enforcement, antiterrorism, force protection and expeditionary warfare. They serve as a military police
force onboard Naval ships and installations, both Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside Continental United States (OCONUS). MAs traditionally report to the Commanding Officer (CO) of the command, through the Executive Officer (XO) or Operations Officer (OPS), in maintaining good order and discipline, enforcing rules and regulations, and protecting life and property. The MA rating is also supplemented by DoD personnel
and contractors. The current active duty number of MAs consists of approximately 10,000 sailors. The expansion from 3,500 personnel in the year 2000 to the current manning level is due to the expanding role of the MAs in Antiterrorism/Force Protection (ATFP) duties rather than traditional law enforcement.
Some law enforcement duties may include Military Working Dog (MWD) handlers (NEC 2005/2006), Criminal Investigators (NEC 2002), Brig Afloat/Naval Corrections (NEC 2008), Patrolmen, Gate Sentries, Physical Security Specialist, Small Arms Marksmanship Instructors (SAMI) (NEC 0812), AT/FP Training Supervisor (NEC 9501), and at some bases Harbor Patrol. In support of the Global War on Terrorism
(GWOT), today's MA force is being forward deployed to many places around the world including Cuba, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Djibouti, among other locations overseas. MAs may be assigned to a Mobile Security Expeditionary Force (MESF) or Squadrons, Riverine Squadrons (RIVRON), Maritime Civil Affairs Group (MCAG), or a special forces
unit where they will conduct ATFP and expeditionary missions. These missions typically include Protective Service Specialist (NEC 2009), Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) Teams, Embarked Security Teams aboard a ships with minimal self-defense capability, fortifying landside locations, and securing foreign ports for use by U.S. warships. Most MAs who perform these type of ATFP related duties now report through the newly formed Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
(NECC) from their chain of command. In civilian life, MAs would be detectives, police officers, corrections officers, and port security personnel. MA "A" School is located at Lackland AFB
, San Antonio, Texas
. MAs also receive further training and certifications depending on their specialties within the rate.
U.S. Navy MAs are often called upon by commanding officers to train ship's troops in tactical boarding and seizure to deter piracy
worldwide. Masters at Arms are highly trained in preplanned responses in regards to multiple variances of maritime terrorist attacks such as piracy. These highly trained individuals are designated to neutralize threats and promote safely executed maritime missions.
Naval rating
A Naval Rating is an enlisted member of a country's Navy, subordinate to Warrant Officers and Officers hence not conferred by commission or warrant...
responsible for discipline and law enforcement, 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.
Royal Navy
The master-at-arms is a ship's senior rating, comparable in many respects to the regimental sergeant majorRegimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
in the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and the Station Warrant Officer
Station Warrant Officer
The Station Warrant Officer is the senior Warrant Officer on a British Royal Air Force station. The SWO is responsible for discipline and is therefore comparable to the Garrison Sergeant Major in a British Army unit...
in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. A warrant officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
or chief petty officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
, the MAA is in charge of discipline and is addressed as "Master"; even if the rating in question is a woman, she is still addressed as "Master" and known as the master-at-arms. The MAA is assisted by regulators of the Royal Navy Police, of which he is himself a member. He is nicknamed the "jaunty", a corruption of the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
gendarme
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
, or the "joss/jossman". The non-substantive (trade) badge of an MAA is a crown within a wreath.
British Army
In the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, a master-at-arms is a commissioned officer of the Army Physical Training Corps
Army Physical Training Corps
The Royal Army Physical Training Corps is the British Army corps responsible for physical fitness and physical education. Its members are all Royal Army Physical Training Corps Instructors ....
posted as an SO2 or SO3 at divisional HQ or higher command, responsible for overseeing all fitness training in subordinate units. APTC Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
s Class 1 fill the role at brigade HQs, while Warrant Officer Class 2 or staff sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
physical training instructor
Physical Training Instructor
Physical Training Instructor is a term used primarily in the British Armed Forces and British police, as well as some other Commonwealth countries, for an instructor in physical fitness.-United Kingdom:...
s are embedded at unit level. Master-at-arms is also an appointment in the Army Cadet Force
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
, given to a cadet with the rank of cadet sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
or above who takes command of drill on a divisional level.
United States Navy
In the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, a Master-at-Arms (MA) is the rating concerned with law enforcement, antiterrorism, force protection and expeditionary warfare. They serve as a military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
force onboard Naval ships and installations, both Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside Continental United States (OCONUS). MAs traditionally report to the Commanding Officer (CO) of the command, through the Executive Officer (XO) or Operations Officer (OPS), in maintaining good order and discipline, enforcing rules and regulations, and protecting life and property. The MA rating is also supplemented by DoD personnel
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and contractors. The current active duty number of MAs consists of approximately 10,000 sailors. The expansion from 3,500 personnel in the year 2000 to the current manning level is due to the expanding role of the MAs in Antiterrorism/Force Protection (ATFP) duties rather than traditional law enforcement.
Some law enforcement duties may include Military Working Dog (MWD) handlers (NEC 2005/2006), Criminal Investigators (NEC 2002), Brig Afloat/Naval Corrections (NEC 2008), Patrolmen, Gate Sentries, Physical Security Specialist, Small Arms Marksmanship Instructors (SAMI) (NEC 0812), AT/FP Training Supervisor (NEC 9501), and at some bases Harbor Patrol. In support of the Global War on Terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
(GWOT), today's MA force is being forward deployed to many places around the world including Cuba, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Djibouti, among other locations overseas. MAs may be assigned to a Mobile Security Expeditionary Force (MESF) or Squadrons, Riverine Squadrons (RIVRON), Maritime Civil Affairs Group (MCAG), or a special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit where they will conduct ATFP and expeditionary missions. These missions typically include Protective Service Specialist (NEC 2009), Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) Teams, Embarked Security Teams aboard a ships with minimal self-defense capability, fortifying landside locations, and securing foreign ports for use by U.S. warships. Most MAs who perform these type of ATFP related duties now report through the newly formed Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
The Navy Expeditionary Combat Command serves as the single functional command to centrally manage current and future readiness, resources, manning, training and equipping of the United States Navy's 40,000 expeditionary forces who are currently serving in every theater of operation. The NECC was...
(NECC) from their chain of command. In civilian life, MAs would be detectives, police officers, corrections officers, and port security personnel. MA "A" School is located at Lackland AFB
Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. MAs also receive further training and certifications depending on their specialties within the rate.
U.S. Navy MAs are often called upon by commanding officers to train ship's troops in tactical boarding and seizure to deter piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
worldwide. Masters at Arms are highly trained in preplanned responses in regards to multiple variances of maritime terrorist attacks such as piracy. These highly trained individuals are designated to neutralize threats and promote safely executed maritime missions.