Officer Commanding
Encyclopedia
The Officer Commanding is the commander of a sub-unit or minor unit (smaller than battalion
size), 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
commander (typically a Major
). However, the commanders of independent units of smaller than company size, detachments
and administrative organisations, such as schools or wings
, may also be designated Officers Commanding.
The term Officer Commanding cannot be applied to any officer who is given command of a minor unit. For example, a platoon
commander whose platoon is part of a company would not be an Officer Commanding. The Officer Commanding with power over that platoon would be the company OC. Officer Commanding is an appointment that confers a level of additional powers and responsibilities on the appointee.
Officers Commanding are generally given the same power and responsibilities as Commanding Officers of battalions and regiment
s. They are held responsible for the unit's properties and monies, can hear disciplinary charges against soldier
s, sailor
s, or airmen
under their command, and can delegate these powers.
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
size), principally used in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. In other countries, the term Commanding Officer
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...
is applied to commanders of minor as well as major units.
Normally an Officer Commanding is 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...
, squadron or battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
commander (typically a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
). However, the commanders of independent units of smaller than company size, detachments
Detachment (military)
A detachment is a military unit. It can either be detached from a larger unit for a specific function or be a permanent unit smaller than a battalion. The term is often used to refer to a unit that is assigned to a different base from the parent unit...
and administrative organisations, such as schools or wings
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
, may also be designated Officers Commanding.
The term Officer Commanding cannot be applied to any officer who is given command of a minor unit. For example, a 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...
commander whose platoon is part of a company would not be an Officer Commanding. The Officer Commanding with power over that platoon would be the company OC. Officer Commanding is an appointment that confers a level of additional powers and responsibilities on the appointee.
Officers Commanding are generally given the same power and responsibilities as Commanding Officers of battalions and regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s. They are held responsible for the unit's properties and monies, can hear disciplinary charges against 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, sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
s, or airmen
Airman
An airman is a member of the air component of a nation's armed service. In the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force , it can also refer to a specific enlisted rank...
under their command, and can delegate these powers.