A Brief History of Ranks in the RCMP
Readers who check the RCMP Graves databank will also discover various ranks which have been used in the Force since it’s inception in 1873. These ranks and abbreviations include: Scouts, Sub/Constable (Sub/Cst.), Special Constable (S/Cst.), Marine Constable (M/Cst.), Auxiliary Constable (A/Cst.), Reserve Constable (R/Cst.) Civilian Members (CM), Civilian Employees (CE) and Chaplains.
The abbreviations used for traditional RCMP ranks are as follows:
- Commissioner (Comm’r.)
- Deputy Commissioner (D/Comm’r.)
- Assistant Commissioner (A/Comm’r.)
- Chief Superintendent (C/Supt.)
- Superintendent (Supt.)
- Inspector (Insp.)
- Sub/Inspector (S/Insp.)
- Corps Sergeant Major (CSM)
- Sergeant/Major (SM)
- Staff Sergeant Major (S/S/M)
- Staff Sergeant (S/Sgt.)
- Sergeant (Sgt.)
- Corporal (Cpl.)
- Constable (Cst.)
In the Force, it is not uncommon to discover that a person has engaged in the RCMP under one rank such as Civilian Member and later is transferred or promoted to another rank or category such as Constable. In these cases, one will see more than one rank listed beside their name such as:(CM) & (Cst.)