{{Short description|Non-commissioned member rank of the Royal Canadian Navy}} {{Infobox military rank | name = Master Sailor | native_name = {{lang|fr|Matelot-chef}} | image = 50px | image_size = | alt = | caption = | image2 = | image_size2 = | alt2 = | caption2 = | image3 = | image_size3 = | alt3 = | caption3 = | country = {{flag|Canada}} | service branch = {{navy|Canada}} | abbreviation = {{ubl | MS | {{lang|fr|matc}} {{in lang|fr}}}} | rank group = Junior ranks | rank = | NATO rank = OR-4 | Non-NATO rank = | pay grade = | formation = | abolished = | higher rank = Petty officer second class | lower rank = Sailor first class | equivalents = Master corporal | history = }}
'''Master sailor''',<ref name="Global">{{Cite web|title=Royal Canadian Navy drops 'seaman' title for gender-neutral term 'sailor'|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7301880/canadian-navy-seaman-sailor/|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Global News|language=en-US}}</ref> formerly '''Master seaman''',<ref>{{cite web|title=Government of Canada. D Cdts. National Defence. "''Cadet Instructor Cadre - Basic Officer Qualification Course - Programmed Instructional Package''". 2006. Chapter 2, Annex A, "''Abbreviations for Titles and Appointments''". p.33.|url=http://www.cadets.forces.gc.ca/est/eric/doc/manuels_dep_guides/DEP_CQEO_E.pdf|accessdate=2007-12-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706184012/http://www.cadets.forces.gc.ca/est/eric/doc/manuels_dep_guides/DEP_CQEO_E.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-06}}. (6.81 MB).</ref> or ''matelot-chef (matc)'' in French, is a non-commissioned member rank of the Royal Canadian Navy, which is between sailor first class and petty officer 2nd class. Technically, the rank is actually an appointment, with appointees holding the rank of sailor first class.<ref name="QR&O">{{cite web|title=QR&O: Volume I - Chapter 3 Rank, Seniority, Command and Precedence (Section 3.08)|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/policies-standards/queens-regulations-orders/vol-1-administration/ch-3-rank-seniority-command-precedence.html|access-date=2024-08-07}}</ref> If demoted, a master sailor will become a sailor second class or sailor first class depending on seniority. However, the process to be appointed is very similar to that of a promotion, and holding the appointment of master sailor is a prerequisite to promotion to PO2.
A contributing factor to the confusion of 'appointment' vs 'promotion' is that when promoted/appointed to master sailor, the sailor enters a new pay scale, unlike appointment to sailor second class, wherein the sailor has simply entered a new incentive level within the pay scale for ordinary sailors (sailors third class).<ref name="Military Pay">{{cite web|title=Regular Force pay by rank|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/pay-pension-benefits/pay/regular.html#toc0|access-date=2024-08-07}}</ref>
A master sailor is equal to a master corporal of the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The rank of master sailor is sometimes{{when|date=April 2026}} referred to{{according to|date=April 2026}} as "master killick", from "killick", the slang for sailor first class. Those personnel junior to the master sailor, however, are advised{{by who|date=April 2026}} to refrain from addressing the holder by that term.{{explain|date=April 2026}}
In September 2020 the name of the rank was changed from master seaman to master sailor as part of a change to gender-neutral rank names.<ref name="Global"/>
==References== <references/>
Category:Military ranks of Canada Category:Naval ranks