What does a company sergeant major do?

I know this involves military work, but I'm a bit unclear on what a company sergeant major's role is. Do they focus mostly on training or are they involved in more strategic operations within a unit? How does this role fit within the larger military structure?

The position of a Company Sergeant Major (CSM) plays a pivotal role within the structure of the military, mainly at the company level. More specifically, the role typically falls under the non-commissioned officer ranks in the British Army, Canadian Armed Forces, and other Commonwealth countries.

The CSM primarily focuses on the welfare, training, and discipline of the soldiers within their company. Essentially, they serve as the bridge or conduit between the commissioned officers (such as the Company Commander) and the enlisted soldiers. This makes them key in managing and maintaining the smooth functioning and efficiency of their unit.

From a training perspective, the CSM does not typically handle the actual training but oversees the process and ensures the standards are met. They might plan and coordinate the training activities, but their role isn't as hands-on as that of the instructors or trainers.

On the strategic side, while the CSM is not normally involved in high-level strategic decision-making, which falls under the purview of the commissioned officers, they still contribute significantly to strategic operations. Their input about the company's overall readiness, morale, logistical needs, and the capabilities of the individual soldiers is often critical to higher-level decision-making.

Finally, as part of the larger military structure, the CSM is usually just under the Company Commander in the chain of command within a specific company, making the role an extremely important one. However, keep in mind, that this can vary slightly based on specific military traditions and organizational structures.

To sum up, while a CSM's exact duties will depend on the unit they're a part of, their core function is to ensure the well-being, discipline, and training efficacy of the soldiers under their watch while providing valuable input to higher-ups to aid in strategic decision-making.