Company Commander
Encyclopedia
A company commander is the commanding officer
of a company
, a military unit which typically consists of 100 to 350 soldier
s, often organized into three or four smaller units called platoon
s. (The exact organization of a company varies by country, service, and unit type; some specialized companies such as maintenance units are considerably larger and may number as many as 500 personnel). In some forces, the second-in-command of a company is called the executive officer
(XO).
Historically, companies were often formed and financed by individual owners rather than by the state
. Sometimes these men were unable to personally exercise leadership and command over the men in their units, and would designate another individual to serve in that capacity
, a company commander is referred to as a Kompaniechef or Einheitsführer and is usually a captain, sometimes a lieutenant
or major
. In many companies of the medical corps (Sanitätsdienst), the Kompaniechef must be a medical officer (Sanitätsoffizier) and has the rank of major, titled as an Oberstabsarzt (staff doctor) or may possibly be a lieutenant colonel
Oberfeldarzt (field doctor).
In the artillery and the army's anti-aircraft defense corps the company commander is called a Batteriechef. In the German Air Force
and Army Aviation Corps the title is "Staffelkapitän", while in training schools "Inspektionschef".
until graduating from Führungslehrgang or FLG (Leadership course) 1 and completing Abverdienen (practical service), at which point they are promoted to captain. A Kompaniekommandant who leads a Stabskompanie
can be promoted to major.
, Royal Marines
and Canadian Army, the term "Company Commander" is also commonly used for the officer (usually a major) formally titled the Officer Commanding
(OC) a company.
and Marine Corps
, the position of company commander is usually held by a captain with three to six years' of service as an officer. A senior first lieutenant
may be selected for company command in lieu of an available captain. As commanding officer, he or she exercises full command and control over the unit and may exercise non-judicial punishment authority over unit personnel. A company command is usually considered a prestigious assignment and important in career progression if an officer hopes to attain higher rank. A typical tour of duty for this assignment is 18 to 24 months in the active duty
component and 24 to 36 months in the reserve components. Usually, a company executive officer (a first lieutenant) and a company first sergeant
are assigned to assist the company commander and are vital to his or her success in commanding the unit. Some specialized company-sized units, such as aviation
companies using the Boeing CH-47 Chinook airframe, are assigned a major
as a company commander due to the increased responsibility of such assignments; the platoons which comprise these company are typically commanded by captains rather than lieutenants.
In the United States Coast Guard
, a Company Commander is the enlisted person in charge of a recruit company's training during boot camp
. They are the Coast Guard's equivalent of a drill instructor
. (The United States Navy
once used the same term in its recruit training, but that title has been replaced by "Recruit Division Commander".)
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of a company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
, a military unit which typically consists of 100 to 350 soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s, often organized into three or four smaller units called platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
s. (The exact organization of a company varies by country, service, and unit type; some specialized companies such as maintenance units are considerably larger and may number as many as 500 personnel). In some forces, the second-in-command of a company is called the executive officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
(XO).
Historically, companies were often formed and financed by individual owners rather than by the state
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
. Sometimes these men were unable to personally exercise leadership and command over the men in their units, and would designate another individual to serve in that capacity
Austria
In the Austrian Army, a company commander is called a Kompaniekommandant (abbreviated "KpKdt").Germany
In the German ArmyGerman Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
, a company commander is referred to as a Kompaniechef or Einheitsführer and is usually a captain, sometimes a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
or major
Major (Germany)
Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
. In many companies of the medical corps (Sanitätsdienst), the Kompaniechef must be a medical officer (Sanitätsoffizier) and has the rank of major, titled as an Oberstabsarzt (staff doctor) or may possibly be a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Oberfeldarzt (field doctor).
In the artillery and the army's anti-aircraft defense corps the company commander is called a Batteriechef. In the German Air Force
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
and Army Aviation Corps the title is "Staffelkapitän", while in training schools "Inspektionschef".
Switzerland
In the Swiss Army, a company commander is called a Kompaniekommandant (abbreviated Kp Kdt). In practical service, a Kompaniekommandant has the rank of lieutenantOberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
until graduating from Führungslehrgang or FLG (Leadership course) 1 and completing Abverdienen (practical service), at which point they are promoted to captain. A Kompaniekommandant who leads a Stabskompanie
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
can be promoted to major.
Turkey
In the Turkish Army, a company commander is called a Bölük Komutanı (abbreviated "Bl.K."). Usually a company commander is in the rank of Captain.United Kingdom
In the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
and Canadian Army, the term "Company Commander" is also commonly used for the officer (usually a major) formally titled the Officer Commanding
Officer Commanding
The Officer Commanding is the commander of a sub-unit or minor unit , principally used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. In other countries, the term Commanding Officer is applied to commanders of minor as well as major units.Normally an Officer Commanding is a company, squadron or battery...
(OC) a company.
United States
In the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, the position of company commander is usually held by a captain with three to six years' of service as an officer. A senior first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
may be selected for company command in lieu of an available captain. As commanding officer, he or she exercises full command and control over the unit and may exercise non-judicial punishment authority over unit personnel. A company command is usually considered a prestigious assignment and important in career progression if an officer hopes to attain higher rank. A typical tour of duty for this assignment is 18 to 24 months in the active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
component and 24 to 36 months in the reserve components. Usually, a company executive officer (a first lieutenant) and a company first sergeant
First Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
are assigned to assist the company commander and are vital to his or her success in commanding the unit. Some specialized company-sized units, such as aviation
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
companies using the Boeing CH-47 Chinook airframe, are assigned a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
as a company commander due to the increased responsibility of such assignments; the platoons which comprise these company are typically commanded by captains rather than lieutenants.
In the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, a Company Commander is the enlisted person in charge of a recruit company's training during boot camp
Recruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
. They are the Coast Guard's equivalent of a drill instructor
Drill instructor
A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer or Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the armed forces or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of indoctrinating new recruits entering the military into the customs and...
. (The United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
once used the same term in its recruit training, but that title has been replaced by "Recruit Division Commander".)