Captain

Captain is both a nautical term and a military rank. The word came to English via French from the Latin capitaneus ("chief") which is itself derived from the Latin word for "head" (caput).

Military

In armies and marines, Captain is the rank (equivalent of Nato rank code OF-2) of a commissioned officer that is a rank below a Major. The military rank of Captain is ranked three steps lower than a naval Captain, and has no special authority with respect to a ship and is just another passenger or crew member whilst on board.

Related Topics:
Marines - Commissioned officer - Major

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Prior to the professionalization of the armed services of European nations subsequent to the French revolution, a captain was a nobleman who purchased the right to head a company from the previous holder of that right. He would in turn receive money from another nobleman to serve as his lieutenant. The funding to provide for the troops came from the monarch or his government; the captain had to be responsible for it.

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If he were not, or were otherwise court-martialed, he was dismissed ("cashiered"), and the monarch would receive money from another nobleman to command the company. Otherwise, the only pension for the captain was selling the right to another nobleman when he was ready to retire.

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In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, a captain's insignia consists of two silver bars. In the British Army and Royal Marines the insignia is a vertical row of three pips (sometimes called "stars").

Related Topics:
United States Army - United States Marine Corps - British Army - Royal Marines - Pips

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Captains in the United States Army and Marine Corps generally command companies, which usually consist of four to six platoons (each commanded by a lieutenant). However, there are some special units which have platoons commanded by captains, such as some aviation platoons and many special forces units. This is not a punishment, but rather an honor, as those platoons usually have some special operational capacity that requires them to be commanded by an officer with more experience than a lieutenant. A captain reports to his boss, usually his battalion commander (a lieutenant colonel). However, there are some administrative and other duties at battalion level and larger (brigade, division) which are handled by captains, for example the S-1 through S-4 officers of a battalion, or some staff positions in the G shops at division. In the British Commonwealth nations a Captain generally is the Second in Command (2IC) of a company or combat support platoon commanders.

Related Topics:
Companies - Platoons - Lieutenant - Aviation platoons - Special forces - Battalion - Lieutenant colonel - Brigade - Division - British Commonwealth

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Note that Marine units ("ship's soldiers", often responsible for security on modern warships and at embassies, as well as their amphibious assault and expeditionary duties) use rank designations similar to that of the army for all ranks

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In Germany the rank is Hauptmann.

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