CSM
Abbreviation with 5 meanings
| Stands for | Command Sergeant Major (US Army) |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 5 |
| Categories | Military, Education & Academia, Business & Finance, Science & Engineering |
CSM has five meanings. The most common are Command Sergeant Major (US Army) (US Army rank) and Certified ScrumMaster (professional certification); it can also stand for Customer success manager, Company Sergeant Major and Command and Service Module.
Meanings of CSM at a glance
| # | CSM stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Command Sergeant Major (US Army) | Military › US Army Rank |
| 2 | Certified ScrumMaster | Education & Academia › Professional Certification |
| 3 | Customer success manager | Business & Finance › Job Title |
| 4 | Company Sergeant Major | Military › British Military Rank |
| 5 | Command and Service Module | Science & Engineering › Astronomy & Space |
1. Command Sergeant Major (US Army)
Military · US Army Rank Abbreviations
Army E-9 title for the senior enlisted leader of a battalion, brigade, division or larger command. The CSM advises the commander on all enlisted matters, enforces standards and is identified by a wreath around the star in the rank insignia.
Example: CSM Torres will speak to the battalion about safety before holiday block leave.
The commander and command sergeant major are described as a "command team." Like first sergeant, CSM is a positional rank: a sergeant major selected for the Command Sergeant Major Program is laterally appointed. In the British Army CSM means something different, the company sergeant major, a Warrant Officer Class 2.
2. Certified ScrumMaster
Education & Academia · Professional Certification Abbreviations · also used in business
Entry-level agile certification from the Scrum Alliance for people who facilitate Scrum teams, earned by attending a live course of about 14 to 16 hours with a Certified Scrum Trainer and passing a 50-question online test.
Example: The job posting asks for a CSM and experience coaching two development teams.
Candidates must answer at least 37 of 50 questions correctly. Renewal every two years requires a fee and continuing education credits called Scrum Education Units. Scrum.org's Professional Scrum Master (PSM) is the main competitor and does not require a course.
3. Customer success manager
Business & Finance · Job Title Abbreviations
Professional who helps existing customers adopt and get value from a product, usually software, through onboarding, training, check-ins and proactive advice, with the aim of reducing churn and increasing renewals and expansion. CSMs are typically measured on retention.
Example: Our CSM noticed usage dropping and set up retraining sessions before the renewal date.
Customer success emerged as a distinct function in software-as-a-service companies in the 2000s and 2010s. Unlike support, which reacts to problems, a CSM works proactively. In agile software development, CSM also refers to the Certified ScrumMaster credential.
4. Company Sergeant Major
Military · British Military Rank Abbreviations
Senior non-commissioned leader of a British Army infantry company, a Warrant Officer Class 2 responsible for discipline, administration and resupply. Equivalent appointments are squadron sergeant major (SSM) and battery sergeant major (BSM) in other arms.
Example: The CSM told the platoons to have water and ammunition replenished before last light.
The CSM is the closest British equivalent to a US first sergeant. In the US Army, CSM means command sergeant major, a pay grade E-9 position at battalion level and above, so the abbreviation must be read in context.
5. Command and Service Module
Science & Engineering · Astronomy & Space Abbreviations
Main spacecraft of the Apollo program: the cone-shaped command module housed the three-person crew and was the only part to return to Earth, while the cylindrical service module provided propulsion, power and oxygen. During landings, one astronaut stayed aboard the CSM in lunar orbit.
Example: Michael Collins orbited the Moon alone in the CSM Columbia while Armstrong and Aldrin walked below.
North American Aviation built the CSM. The service module was discarded just before reentry, and the command module splashed down under three parachutes. The Apollo 1 fire in 1967, which killed three astronauts during a ground test, led to a major CSM redesign.
Related abbreviations
More US Army rank abbreviations
- CDT – Cadet (US Army)
- COL – Colonel (US Army)
- Cpl – Corporal (US Marine Corps)
- CPT – Captain (US Army)
- CW2 – Chief Warrant Officer 2
- CW3 – Chief Warrant Officer 3
- CW4 – Chief Warrant Officer 4
- CW5 – Chief Warrant Officer 5
See all 34 US Army rank abbreviations →
More professional certification abbreviations
- CQE – Certified Quality Engineer
- CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
- CSCP – Certified Supply Chain Professional
- CSCS – Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
- CSP – Certified Safety Professional
- CSPO – Certified Scrum Product Owner
- CSSBB – Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
- CSSGB – Certified Six Sigma Green Belt