Commander

Commander is a military rank used in many navies but not generally in armies or air forces. It is below Captain and above Lieutenant-Commander. The rank evolved in the 18th and early 19th centuries and was originally known as Master and Commander. The Royal Navy shortened Master and Commander to Commander in 1814.

Related Topics:
Military rank - Navies - Armies - Air force - Captain - Lieutenant-Commander

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A commander in the Royal Navy and the United States Navy is equivalent in rank to a lieutenant-colonel in the army. A commander may command a frigate, destroyer, submarine, aviation squadron or shore installation, or may serve on a staff. A commander who commands a unit may be referred to as "Captain". In the United States Navy a unit commander may be informally referred to as "skipper."

Related Topics:
Royal Navy - United States Navy - Lieutenant-colonel - Frigate - Destroyer - Submarine

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In the highest levels of U.S. military command structure, "commander" refers to what used to be called commander-in-chief, or CINC, until October 24, 2002 (CINC is still used in casual speech). This is usually referred to with the area of which the officer is commander. For instance, General Tommy Franks was CENTCOM commander until July 7, 2003.

Related Topics:
U.S. military - Commander-in-chief - October 24 - 2002 - Tommy Franks - CENTCOM - July 7 - 2003

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In the British Army, the term "commander" is officially applied to the non-commissioned officer in charge of a section (section commander) or vehicle (vehicle commander), to the subaltern or captain commanding a platoon (platoon commander), or to the brigadier commanding a brigade (brigade commander). Other officers commanding units are usually referred to as the Officer Commanding (OC), Commanding Officer (CO) or General Officer Commanding (GOC), depending on rank and position, although the term "commander" may be applied to them informally.

Related Topics:
British Army - Non-commissioned officer - Section - Subaltern - Captain - Platoon - Brigadier - Brigade - Officer Commanding - Commanding Officer - General Officer Commanding

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