The Virtual Navy

Commander Naval Education and Training

COMMANDING OFFICERS COURSE

  

Commanding Officers 

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 to run the unit as he sees fit, 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 United States Navy, commanding officer is the official title of the commander of a ship, but they are usually referred to as "the Captain" regardless of their actual rank, or informally referred to as "Skipper".

Commanding Officer, Wing/Group/Squadron/Team (CO):

  • Shall oversee command of their entire Wing, Group, Squadron, or Team.
  • Has the power to recruit new members.
  • Has the power to nominate members under his command for promotion/advancement and commendations.
  • Shall hold no rank lower than Captain or higher than that of Captain.

 

4.3 Behavior.

All Members will conduct themselves in a military fashion and style while in a game. The boundary where people start taking the game too seriously, and begin to act hostile towards other participants, will be enforced. All orders will be obeyed by lower ranks and be done to the best of their ability. Sportsmanlike conduct is demanded with other members, and especially in competitions with other Clans/Organizations. Any act of Espionage, Treason, or Mutiny will result in an immediate dismissal from the VNAVY. The posting of obscene, abusive, insulting material (or material defamatory to the RL US Forces or its coalition partners) on message boards will also lead to immediate dismissal.
 

The award of medals and/or badges to members is intended to be VIRTUAL only.   The VNAVY does not authorize or condone the wearing of such medals and/or badges in real life by any member.  Attention of members is drawn to US Federal Law (18 US I.33.704) which forbids the wearing of service medals and badges (or color imitations thereof), except as authorized by law.   Accordingly, the bio page for each member on this website is merely a computer generated graphic and is intended to be fully compliant with Federal Law.

 

7.5 Keeping Immediate Superiors Informed.

Commanders shall keep their immediate superiors appropriately informed of:

  1. the organization of their commands, the prospective and actual movements of the units of their commands, and the location of their headquarters;

  1. plans for employment of their forces;

  1. the condition of their commands and of any required action pertaining thereto which is beyond their capacity or authority;

  1. intelligence information which may be of value;

  1. any battle, engagement or other significant action involving units of their commands;

  1. any important service or duty performed by persons or units of their commands; and

  1. unexecuted orders and matters of interest upon being relieved of command.

 

7.6 Organization of Staff.

The term "staff" means those officers and other designated persons assigned to a commander to assist him or her in the administration and operation of his or her command.

The staff shall be organized into such divisions as may be prescribed by the commander concerned or by higher authority. These divisions shall conform in nature and designation, as practicable and as appropriate, to those of the staffs of superiors.

The staff of a flag or general officer may include one or more personal aides.

7.7 Authority and Responsibilities of Officers of a Staff.

The officers of a staff shall be responsible for the performance of those duties assigned to them by the commander and shall advise the commander on all matters pertaining thereto. In the performance of their staff duties they shall have no command authority of their own. In carrying out such duties, they shall act for, and in the name of, the commander.

Section 8: The Commanding Officer

8.1 Applicability.

In addition to commanding officers, the provisions of this chapter shall apply, where pertinent, to aircraft commanders, officers in charge (including warrant officers and petty officers when so detailed) and those persons standing the command duty.

8.2 Responsibility.

The responsibility of the commanding officer for his or her command is absolute, except when, and to the extent to which, he or she has been relieved therefrom by competent authority, or as provided otherwise in these regulations. While the commanding officer may, at his or her discretion, and when not contrary to law or regulations, delegate authority to subordinates for the execution of details, such delegation of authority shall in no way relieve the commanding officer of continued responsibility for the safety, well-being and efficiency of the entire command.

A commanding officer who departs from orders or instructions, or takes official action which is not, in accordance with such orders or instructions, does so upon his or her own responsibility and shall report immediately the circumstances to the officer from whom the prior orders or instructions were reviewed. Of particular importance is the commanding officer's duty to take all necessary and appropriate action in self-defense of the command.

8.3 Organization of Commands.

All commands and other activities of the Virtual Navy shall be organized and administered in accordance with law, and the orders and instructions of the commanding officer shall be in accordance therewith.

8.4 Effective Organized Force Always Present.

Under no circumstances shall any ship or station be left without an organized force that will be effective in any emergency, and, consistent with existing requirements, capable of ensuring satisfactory operation.

8.5 Relationship with Executive Officer.

The commanding officer shall keep the executive officer informed of the commanding officer's policies, and normally shall issue all orders relative to the duties of the command through the executive officer. Normally, the commanding officer shall require that all communications of an official nature from subordinated to the commanding officer be transmitted through the executive officer.

8.6 Inspections, Muster and Sighting of Personnel.

The commanding officer shall hold periodic inspections of the material condition of the command, not on weekends or holidays, to determine deficiencies and cleanliness. When the size of the command precludes completion of the inspection in a reasonable time, the commanding officer shall designate zones to be inspected by heads of departments or other responsible officers, and shall personally inspect at least one zone, alternating zones in order that the commanding officer inspects the entire command at minimum intervals.

The commanding officer shall ensure that, consistent, with their employment, the personnel of the command present at all times a neat, clean and virtual military appearance. To assist in attaining this standard of appearance, the commanding officer shall, in the absence of operational exigency, hold periodic personnel inspections.

The presence of all persons attached to the command shall be accounted for weekly. Persons who have not been sighted by a responsible senior shall be reported absent.

8.7 Records.

The commanding officer shall require that records relative to personnel, material and operations, as required by the current instructions, are maintained properly by those responsible thereof.

8.8 Training and Education.

The commanding officer shall:

  1. endeavor to increase the specialized and general professional knowledge of the personnel under his or her command by the frequent conduct of drills, classes and instruction, and by the utilization of appropriate fleet and service schools;

  1. encourage and provide assistance and facilities to the personnel under his or her command who seek to further their education in professional or other subjects;

  1. afford frequent opportunities to the executive officer, and to other officers of the ship as practicable, to improve their skill in commanding the unit.

8.9 Delivery of Orders to Personnel.

The commanding officer shall not withhold any orders or other communications received from higher authority for any person under his or her command, except for good and sufficient reasons, which he or she shall at once report to such higher authority. Communications of personal nature may be withheld by a commanding officer for good reason until completion of mission or duty.

8.10 Effectiveness for Service.

The commanding officer shall exert every effort to maintain the command in a state of maximum effectiveness for war or other service consistent with the degree of readiness as may be prescribed by proper authority. Effectiveness for service is directly related to the state of personnel and material readiness.

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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