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The commanding officer (CO) 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, within the bounds of military law. In this respect, commanding officers 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, commanding officers 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 commanding officer is highly valued, and in theory only goes to the best officers. The commanding officer is often assisted by an Executive Officer (XO) or Second-in-Command (2i/c), who handles personnel and day-to-day matters. Larger units may also have staff officers of various responsibilities.
In the Royal Navy and United States Navy, Commanding Officer 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".
British and Commonwealth Armed Forces
In the British Army, Royal Marines, and many other Commonwealth military and paramilitary organisations, the title of Commanding Officer is reserved for commanders of major units (regiments, battalions and similar sized units), almost invariably holding the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and usually referred to within the unit simply as "the Colonel".
The commander of a minor unit (company, squadron or battery) is referred to as the Officer Commanding (OC). Officers and NCOs in charge of platoons, troops and sections are just referred to as Commanders (Platoon Commander, Troop Commander, Section Commander, etc).
In the Royal Air Force, the title of Commanding Officer is reserved for the commanders of squadrons and wings.
See also
"Commanding officer"