Introduction
The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit.
The CO has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as they see fit, within the bounds of military law. In this respect, CO’s have significant responsibilities (for example, the use of force, finances, equipment, the Geneva Conventions), duties (to higher authority, mission effectiveness, duty of care to personnel), and powers (for example, discipline and punishment of personnel within certain limits of military law).
In some countries, CO may be of any commissioned rank. Usually, there are more officers than command positions available, and time spent in command is generally a key aspect of promotion, so the role of CO is highly valued. The CO is often assisted by an executive officer (XO) or second-in-command (2IC), who handles personnel and day-to-day matters, and a senior enlisted advisor (SEA). Larger units may also have staff officers responsible for various responsibilities.
Commonwealth
Army
In the British Army, Royal Marines, and many other Commonwealth military and paramilitary organisations, the CO of a unit is appointed. Thus the office of CO is an appointment. The appointment of CO is exclusive to commanders of major units (regiments, battalions and similar sized units). It is customary for a CO to hold the rank of lieutenant colonel (OF-4), and they are usually referred to within the unit simply as “the colonel” or the CO. “The colonel” may also refer to the holder of an honorary appointment of a senior officer who oversees the non-operational affairs of a regiment. However, the rank of the appointment holder and the holder’s appointment are separate. That is, not all lieutenant colonels are COs, and although most COs are lieutenant colonels, that is not a requirement of the appointment.
Sub-units and minor units (companies, squadrons and batteries) and formations (brigades, divisions, corps and armies) do not have a CO. The officer in command of a minor unit holds the appointment of “officer commanding” (OC). Higher formations have a commander (usual for a brigade) or a general officer commanding (GOC). Area commands have a commander-in-chief (e.g. C-in-C Land Army, C-in-C British Army of the Rhine). The OC of a sub-unit or minor unit is today customarily a major (although formerly usually a captain in infantry companies and often also in cavalry squadrons), although again the rank of the appointment holder and the holder’s appointment are separate and independent of each other.
In some cases, independent units smaller than a sub-unit (e.g. a military police platoon that reports directly to a formation such as a brigade) will also have an OC appointed. In these cases, the officer commanding can be a captain or even a lieutenant.
Appointments such as CO and OC may have specific powers associated with them. For example, they may have statutory powers to promote soldiers or to deal with certain disciplinary offences and award certain punishments. The CO of a unit may have the power to sentence an offender to 28 days’ detention, whereas the OC of a sub-unit may have the power to sentence an offender to 3 days’ restriction of privileges.
Commanders of units smaller than sub-units (e.g. platoons, troops and sections) are not specific appointments and officers or non-commissioned officers (NCOs) who fill those positions are simply referred to as the commander or leader (e.g. platoon commander, troop leader, section commander/leader, etc.).
Royal Air Force
In the Royal Air Force, the title of CO is reserved for station commanders or commanders of independent units, including flying squadrons. As with the British Army, the post of a commander of a lesser unit such as an administrative wing, squadron or flight is referred to as the officer commanding (OC).
Royal Navy
In the Royal Navy and many others, CO is the official title of the commander of any ship, unit or installation. However, they are referred to as “the captain” no matter what their actual rank, or informally as “skipper” or even “boss”.
United States
In the United States, the status of CO is duly applied to all commissioned officers who hold lawful command over a military unit, ship, or installation.
Army
The CO of a company, usually a captain, is referred to as the company commander (or the battery/troop commander for artillery/cavalry) units. The CO of a battalion (or squadron of cavalry/armoured cavalry) is usually a lieutenant colonel. The CO of a brigade, a colonel, is the brigade commander. At the division level and higher, however, the CO officer is referred to as the commanding general (CG), as these officers hold general officer rank.
Although holding a leadership position in the same sense as commanders, the individual in charge of a platoon, the smallest unit of soldiers led by a commissioned officer, typically a second lieutenant, is referred to as the platoon leader, not the platoon commander. This officer does have command of the soldiers under him but does not have many of the command responsibilities inherent to higher echelons. For example, a platoon leader cannot issue non-judicial punishment.
Non-commissioned officers may be said to have charge of certain smaller military units. They cannot, however, hold command as they lack the requisite authority granted by the head of state to do so. Those wielding “command” of individual vehicles (and their crews) are called vehicle commanders. This distinction in title also applies to officers who are aircraft commanders (“pilot in command”), as well as officers and enlisted soldiers who are tank and armoured vehicle commanders. While these officers and NCOs have tactical and operational command (including full authority, responsibility, and accountability – especially in the case of aircraft commanders) of the soldiers and equipment in their charge, they are not accorded the legal authority of a “commanding officer” under the uniform code of military justice (UCMJ) or military regulations.
Warrant officers in the US Armed Forces are single career-track officers that can, and occasionally do, hold command positions within certain specialty units, i.e. Special Forces and Army Aviation. However, warrant officers usually do not command if a commissioned officer is present; normally they serve as executive officer (2IC).
Marine Corps
The CO of a company, usually a captain, is referred to as the company commander or the battery commander (for field artillery and low altitude air defence units). The CO of a battalion or a squadron (Marine aviation), is usually a lieutenant colonel. The CO of a regiment, aviation group, or Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a colonel, is the regimental/group/MEU commander. At the Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Marine Logistics Group (MLG), Marine Division (MARDIV), Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), and Fleet Marine Force (FMF) levels; however, the CO is referred to as the CG, as these officers hold general officer rank.
The officer in charge of a platoon, the smallest tactical unit of Marines usually led by a commissioned officer, typically a first or second lieutenant, is referred to as the platoon commander. This distinction in title also applies to officers who are aircraft commanders, as well as officers, staff NCOs (staff sergeant – master sergeant), and non-commissioned officers (corporal and sergeant) who are tank and armoured vehicle commanders. While these officers, SNCOs, and NCOs have tactical and operational command (including full authority, responsibility, and accountability – especially in the case of aircraft commanders) of the Marines and equipment in their charge, they are not accorded the legal authority of a “commanding officer” under the UCMJ or military regulations.
Navy
In the United States Navy, CO is the official title of the commander of a ship, but they are usually referred to as “the Captain” regardless of their actual rank: “Any naval officer who commands a ship, submarine or other vessel is addressed by naval custom as “captain” while aboard in command, regardless of their actual rank.” They may be informally referred to as “Skipper”, though allowing or forbidding the use of this form of address is the CO’s prerogative.
A prospective commanding officer (PCO) is a US Navy officer who has been selected for their own command. The term is used in correspondence or in reference to the officer before they assume command of the unit (ship, squadron, unit, etc.).
The novel Surface and Destroy by Michael Sturma has detailed accounts of PCOs and their experience in unrestricted submarine warfare.
