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<span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Marine Corps</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Marine_Corps-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Navy_and_Coast_Guard" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Navy_and_Coast_Guard"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Navy and Coast Guard</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Navy_and_Coast_Guard-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Air_Force_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Air_Force_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.4</span> <span>Air Force</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Air_Force_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox 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Available in 33 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-33" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">33 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF_%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A9" title="قائد وحدة – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="قائد وحدة" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komandir" title="Komandir – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Komandir" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B7%D1%96%D1%80" title="Камандзір – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Камандзір" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%80_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5" title="Командир на поделение – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Командир на поделение" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comandant" title="Comandant – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Comandant" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cv mw-list-item"><a href="https://cv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%80" title="Командир – Chuvash" lang="cv" hreflang="cv" data-title="Командир" data-language-autonym="Чӑвашла" data-language-local-name="Chuvash" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Чӑвашла</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velitel" title="Velitel – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Velitel" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kommandeur" title="Kommandeur – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Kommandeur" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comandante_militar" title="Comandante militar – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Comandante militar" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komandante" title="Komandante – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Komandante" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B3%D8%B1_%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87" title="افسر فرمانده – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="افسر فرمانده" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandant" title="Commandant – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Commandant" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%A7%80%ED%9C%98%EA%B4%80" title="지휘관 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="지휘관" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapovjednik" title="Zapovjednik – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Zapovjednik" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komandan_militer" title="Komandan militer – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Komandan militer" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%A4%D7%A7%D7%93_(%D7%AA%D7%A4%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%93)" title="מפקד (תפקיד) – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="מפקד (תפקיד)" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kk mw-list-item"><a href="https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%80" title="Командир – Kazakh" lang="kk" hreflang="kk" data-title="Командир" data-language-autonym="Қазақша" data-language-local-name="Kazakh" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Қазақша</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegawai_memerintah" title="Pegawai memerintah – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Pegawai memerintah" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%8C%87%E6%8F%AE%E5%AE%98" title="指揮官 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="指揮官" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dow%C3%B3dca" title="Dowódca – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Dowódca" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comandante" title="Comandante – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Comandante" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%80" title="Командир – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Командир" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commanding_officer" title="Commanding officer – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="Commanding officer" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velite%C4%BE" title="Veliteľ – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Veliteľ" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sl mw-list-item"><a href="https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komandir" title="Komandir – Slovenian" lang="sl" hreflang="sl" data-title="Komandir" data-language-autonym="Slovenščina" data-language-local-name="Slovenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenščina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sh mw-list-item"><a href="https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapovjednik" title="Zapovjednik – Serbo-Croatian" lang="sh" hreflang="sh" data-title="Zapovjednik" data-language-autonym="Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски" data-language-local-name="Serbo-Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komentaja" title="Komentaja – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Komentaja" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bef%C3%A4lhavare" title="Befälhavare – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Befälhavare" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%80" title="Командир – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Командир" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C6%B0_l%E1%BB%87nh" title="Tư lệnh – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="Tư lệnh" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-yi mw-list-item"><a href="https://yi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A7%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%99%D7%A8" title="קאמאנדיר – Yiddish" lang="yi" hreflang="yi" data-title="קאמאנדיר" data-language-autonym="ייִדיש" data-language-local-name="Yiddish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ייִדיש</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%8C%87%E6%8F%AE%E5%AE%98" title="指揮官 – Cantonese" lang="yue" hreflang="yue" data-title="指揮官" data-language-autonym="粵語" data-language-local-name="Cantonese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>粵語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%8C%87%E6%8F%AE%E5%AE%98" title="指揮官 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="指揮官" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit 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#36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-More_citations_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" 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Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22Commanding+officer%22">"Commanding officer"</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22Commanding+officer%22+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Commanding+officer%22&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Commanding+officer%22+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Commanding+officer%22">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Commanding+officer%22&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">January 2017</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Cooperation_of_the_Allied_Forces_on_the_Western_Front,_1914-1918_Q7179.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/The_Cooperation_of_the_Allied_Forces_on_the_Western_Front%2C_1914-1918_Q7179.jpg/275px-The_Cooperation_of_the_Allied_Forces_on_the_Western_Front%2C_1914-1918_Q7179.jpg" decoding="async" width="275" height="224" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/The_Cooperation_of_the_Allied_Forces_on_the_Western_Front%2C_1914-1918_Q7179.jpg/413px-The_Cooperation_of_the_Allied_Forces_on_the_Western_Front%2C_1914-1918_Q7179.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/The_Cooperation_of_the_Allied_Forces_on_the_Western_Front%2C_1914-1918_Q7179.jpg/550px-The_Cooperation_of_the_Allied_Forces_on_the_Western_Front%2C_1914-1918_Q7179.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3045" data-file-height="2480" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Douglas_Haig,_1st_Earl_Haig" title="Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig">Douglas Haig</a> and <a href="/wiki/Ferdinand_Foch" title="Ferdinand Foch">Ferdinand Foch</a> inspecting the <a href="/wiki/Gordon_Highlanders" title="Gordon Highlanders">Gordon Highlanders</a>, 1918</figcaption></figure> <p>The <b>commanding officer</b> (<b>CO</b>) or <b>commander</b>, or sometimes, if the incumbent is a <a href="/wiki/General_officer" title="General officer">general officer</a>, <b>commanding general</b> (<b>CG</b>), is the officer in <a href="/wiki/Command_and_control" title="Command and control">command</a> of a <a href="/wiki/Military_organization" title="Military organization">military unit</a>. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as they see fit, within the bounds of <a href="/wiki/Military_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Military law">military law</a>. In this respect, commanding officers have significant responsibilities (for example, the <a href="/wiki/Use_of_force_in_international_law" title="Use of force in international law">use of force</a>, finances, equipment, the <a href="/wiki/Geneva_Conventions" title="Geneva Conventions">Geneva Conventions</a>), duties (to higher authority, mission effectiveness, <a href="/wiki/Duty_of_care" title="Duty of care">duty of care</a> to personnel), and powers (for example, discipline and <a href="/wiki/Punishment" title="Punishment">punishment</a> of personnel within certain limits of military law). </p><p>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. The commanding officer is often assisted by an <a href="/wiki/Executive_officer" title="Executive officer">executive officer</a> (XO) or <a href="/wiki/Second-in-command" title="Second-in-command">second-in-command</a> (2i/c), who handles personnel and day-to-day matters, and a <a href="/wiki/Senior_enlisted_advisor" title="Senior enlisted advisor">senior enlisted advisor</a>. Larger units may also have <a href="/wiki/Staff_(military)" title="Staff (military)">staff officers</a> responsible for various responsibilities. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Commonwealth">Commonwealth</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Commonwealth"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Army_and_Royal_Marines">Army and Royal Marines</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Army and Royal Marines"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/British_Army" title="British Army">British Army</a>, <a href="/wiki/Royal_Marines" title="Royal Marines">Royal Marines</a>, and many other <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations" title="Commonwealth of Nations">Commonwealth</a> military and <a href="/wiki/Paramilitary" title="Paramilitary">paramilitary</a> organisations, the commanding officer of a unit is appointed. Thus the office of CO is an appointment. The appointment of commanding officer is exclusive to commanders of major units (<a href="/wiki/Regiment" title="Regiment">regiments</a>, <a href="/wiki/Battalion" title="Battalion">battalions</a> and similar sized units). It is customary for a commanding officer to hold the rank of <a href="/wiki/Lieutenant_colonel_(United_Kingdom)" title="Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)">lieutenant colonel</a>, and they are usually referred to within the unit simply as "the colonel" or the CO. "The colonel" may also refer to the holder of an honorary appointment of a senior officer who oversees the non-operational affairs of a regiment. However, the rank of the appointment holder and the holder's appointment are separate. That is, not all lieutenant colonels are COs, and although most COs are lieutenant colonels, that is not a requirement of the appointment. </p><p>Sub-units and minor units (<a href="/wiki/Company_(military_unit)" title="Company (military unit)">companies</a>, <a href="/wiki/Squadron_(army)" title="Squadron (army)">squadrons</a> and <a href="/wiki/Artillery_battery" title="Artillery battery">batteries</a>) and formations (brigades, divisions, corps and armies) do not have a commanding officer. The officer in command of a minor unit holds the appointment of <b>officer commanding</b> (<b>OC</b>). Higher formations have a commander (e.g. brigade commander) or a <a href="/wiki/General_officer_commanding" title="General officer commanding">general officer commanding</a> (GOC). Area commands have a commander-in-chief (e.g. C-in-C Land Army, C-in-C British Army of the Rhine). The OC of a sub-unit or minor unit is today customarily a <a href="/wiki/Major_(United_Kingdom)" title="Major (United Kingdom)">major</a> (although formerly usually a <a href="/wiki/Captain_(BARM)" class="mw-redirect" title="Captain (BARM)">captain</a> in infantry companies and often also in cavalry squadrons), although again the rank of the appointment holder and the holder's appointment are separate and independent of each other. </p><p>In some cases, independent units smaller than a sub-unit (e.g. a military police platoon that reports directly to a formation such as a brigade) will also have an OC appointed. In these cases, the officer commanding can be a captain or even a lieutenant. The commanders of administrative organisations, such as schools or wings, may also be designated officers commanding or commanders. </p><p>Appointments such as CO and OC may have specific powers associated with them. For example, they may have statutory powers to promote soldiers or to deal with certain disciplinary offences and award certain punishments. The CO of a unit may have the power to sentence an offender to 28 days' detention, whereas the OC of a sub-unit may have the power to sentence an offender to three days' restriction of privileges. </p><p>Commanders of units smaller than sub-units (e.g. <a href="/wiki/Platoon" title="Platoon">platoons</a>, <a href="/wiki/Troop" title="Troop">troops</a> and <a href="/wiki/Section_(military_unit)" title="Section (military unit)">sections</a>) are not specific appointments and officers or NCOs who fill those positions are simply referred to as the commander or leader (e.g. platoon commander, troop leader, section commander/leader, etc.). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Air_force">Air force</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Air force"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force" title="Royal Air Force">Royal Air Force</a>, the title of commanding officer is reserved for station commanders or commanders of independent units, including flying squadrons. As with the British Army, the post of a commander of a lesser unit such as an administrative <a href="/wiki/Wing_(military_aviation_unit)" class="mw-redirect" title="Wing (military aviation unit)">wing</a>, <a href="/wiki/Squadron_(aviation)" title="Squadron (aviation)">squadron</a> or <a href="/wiki/Flight_(military_unit)" title="Flight (military unit)">flight</a> is referred to as the officer commanding (OC). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Navy">Navy</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Navy"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Navy" title="Royal Navy">Royal Navy</a> and many others, 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 <a href="/wiki/Skipper_(boating)" class="mw-redirect" title="Skipper (boating)">"skipper"</a> or even "boss". </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="United_States">United States</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: United States"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Schwarzkopf_speaks_with_troops_1992.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Schwarzkopf_speaks_with_troops_1992.jpg/250px-Schwarzkopf_speaks_with_troops_1992.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="167" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Schwarzkopf_speaks_with_troops_1992.jpg/375px-Schwarzkopf_speaks_with_troops_1992.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Schwarzkopf_speaks_with_troops_1992.jpg/500px-Schwarzkopf_speaks_with_troops_1992.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1800" data-file-height="1200" /></a><figcaption>General <a href="/wiki/Norman_Schwarzkopf_Jr." title="Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.">Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.</a> speaks with American troops during the <a href="/wiki/Gulf_War" title="Gulf War">Gulf War</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>, the status of commanding officer is duly applied to all commissioned officers who hold lawful command over a military unit, ship, or installation. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Army">Army</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Army"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The commanding officer of a <a href="/wiki/Company_(military_unit)" title="Company (military unit)">company</a>, usually a <a href="/wiki/Captain_(armed_forces)" title="Captain (armed forces)">captain</a>, is referred to as the <a href="/wiki/Company_commander" class="mw-redirect" title="Company commander">company commander</a> (or the <a href="/wiki/Artillery_battery" title="Artillery battery">battery</a>/troop commander for <a href="/wiki/Artillery" title="Artillery">artillery</a>/<a href="/wiki/Cavalry" title="Cavalry">cavalry</a>) units. The commanding officer of a <a href="/wiki/Battalion" title="Battalion">battalion</a> (or <a href="/wiki/Squadron_(army)" title="Squadron (army)">squadron</a> of <a href="/wiki/Cavalry" title="Cavalry">cavalry/armored cavalry</a>) is usually a <a href="/wiki/Lieutenant_colonel" title="Lieutenant colonel">lieutenant colonel</a>. The commanding officer of a <a href="/wiki/Brigade" title="Brigade">brigade</a>, a <a href="/wiki/Colonel_(United_States)" title="Colonel (United States)">colonel</a>, is the <a href="/wiki/Brigade_commander" class="mw-redirect" title="Brigade commander">brigade commander</a>. At the <a href="/wiki/Division_(military)" title="Division (military)">division</a> level and higher, however, the commanding officer is referred to as the <a href="/wiki/General_officer" title="General officer">commanding general</a>, as these officers hold <a href="/wiki/General_officer" title="General officer">general officer</a> rank. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Warrant_officer_(United_States)" title="Warrant officer (United States)">Warrant officers</a> in the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Armed_Forces" title="United States Armed Forces">United States Armed Forces</a> are single career-track officers that can, and occasionally do, hold command positions within certain specialty units, i.e. <a href="/wiki/Special_Forces_(United_States_Army)" class="mw-redirect" title="Special Forces (United States Army)">Special Forces</a> and <a href="/wiki/United_States_Army_Aviation_Branch" title="United States Army Aviation Branch">Army Aviation</a>. However, warrant officers usually do not command if a commissioned officer is present; normally they serve as <a href="/wiki/Executive_officer" title="Executive officer">executive officer</a> (<a href="/wiki/Second-in-command" title="Second-in-command">2IC</a>). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Marine_Corps">Marine Corps</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Marine Corps"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Dark_Horse_Battalion_welcomes_new_commanding_officer_DVIDS420318.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Dark_Horse_Battalion_welcomes_new_commanding_officer_DVIDS420318.jpg/250px-Dark_Horse_Battalion_welcomes_new_commanding_officer_DVIDS420318.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="167" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Dark_Horse_Battalion_welcomes_new_commanding_officer_DVIDS420318.jpg/375px-Dark_Horse_Battalion_welcomes_new_commanding_officer_DVIDS420318.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Dark_Horse_Battalion_welcomes_new_commanding_officer_DVIDS420318.jpg/500px-Dark_Horse_Battalion_welcomes_new_commanding_officer_DVIDS420318.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3456" data-file-height="2304" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/3rd_Battalion,_5th_Marines" title="3rd Battalion, 5th Marines">Dark Horse Battalion</a> welcomes new commanding officer</figcaption></figure> <p>The commanding officer of a <a href="/wiki/Company_(military_unit)#Marine_Corps" title="Company (military unit)">company</a>, usually a <a href="/wiki/Captain_(armed_forces)" title="Captain (armed forces)">captain</a>, is referred to as the <a href="/wiki/Company_commander" class="mw-redirect" title="Company commander">company commander</a> or the <a href="/wiki/Artillery_battery#United_States_Marine_Corps" title="Artillery battery">battery</a> commander (for <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_battalions#artillery_battalions" title="List of United States Marine Corps battalions">field artillery</a> and <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_battalions#low_altitude_air_defense_battalions" title="List of United States Marine Corps battalions">low altitude air defense units</a>). The commanding officer of a <a href="/wiki/Battalion#United_States_Marine_Corps" title="Battalion">battalion</a> or a <a href="/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Aviation#Squadrons" title="United States Marine Corps Aviation">squadron</a> (<a href="/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Aviation" title="United States Marine Corps Aviation">Marine aviation</a>), is usually a <a href="/wiki/Lieutenant_colonel" title="Lieutenant colonel">lieutenant colonel</a>. The commanding officer of a <a href="/wiki/Regiment#United_States_Marine_Corps" title="Regiment">regiment</a>, <a href="/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Aviation#Groups" title="United States Marine Corps Aviation">aviation group</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Marine_air-ground_task_force#Marine_Expeditionary_Unit_(MEU)" class="mw-redirect" title="Marine air-ground task force">Marine Expeditionary Unit</a> (MEU) is a <a href="/wiki/Colonel_(United_States)" title="Colonel (United States)">colonel</a>. At the <a href="/wiki/Marine_air-ground_task_force#Marine_Expeditionary_Brigade_(MEB)" class="mw-redirect" title="Marine air-ground task force">Marine Expeditionary Brigade</a> (MEB), <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_logistics_groups" title="List of United States Marine Corps logistics groups">Marine Logistics Group</a> (MLG), <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_divisions" title="List of United States Marine Corps divisions">Marine Division</a> (MARDIV), <a href="/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Aviation#Wings" title="United States Marine Corps Aviation">Marine Aircraft Wing</a> (MAW), <a href="/wiki/Marine_air-ground_task_force#Marine_Expeditionary_Force_(MEF)" class="mw-redirect" title="Marine air-ground task force">Marine Expeditionary Force</a> (MEF), and <a href="/wiki/Fleet_Marine_Force" title="Fleet Marine Force">Fleet Marine Force</a> (FMF) levels; however, the commanding officer is referred to as the <a href="/wiki/General_officer" title="General officer">commanding general</a>, as these officers hold <a href="/wiki/General_officer" title="General officer">general officer</a> rank. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Navy_and_Coast_Guard">Navy and Coast Guard</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Navy and Coast Guard"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a> and <a href="/wiki/United_States_Coast_Guard" title="United States Coast Guard">United States Coast Guard</a>, commanding officer is the official title of the commander of a ship, but they are usually referred to as "<a href="/wiki/Sea_captain" title="Sea captain">the Captain</a>" regardless of their actual rank: "Any naval officer who commands a ship, submarine or other vessel is addressed by naval custom as 'captain' while aboard in command, regardless of their actual rank."<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> They may be informally referred to as "Skipper", though allowing or forbidding the use of this form of address is the commanding officer's prerogative. </p><p>A prospective commanding officer (PCO) is a U.S. Navy officer who has been selected for his/her own command. The term is used in correspondence or in reference to the officer before they assume command of the unit (ship, squadron, unit, etc.). </p><p>If the sailor in command of a unit is an enlisted member, rather than a commissioned or <a href="/wiki/Warrant_officer" title="Warrant officer">warrant officer</a>, he or she is referred to as the "officer in charge" rather than "commanding officer". In the Coast Guard it is common for smaller cutters to be commanded by a <a href="/wiki/Chief_petty_officer" title="Chief petty officer">chief petty officer</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Air_Force_2">Air Force</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Air Force"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a>, the commanding officer of a unit is similarly referred to as the unit commander, such as <a href="/wiki/Squadron_(aviation)" title="Squadron (aviation)">squadron</a> commander, <a href="/wiki/Group_(military_aviation_unit)" class="mw-redirect" title="Group (military aviation unit)">group</a> commander, <a href="/wiki/Wing_(military_aviation_unit)" class="mw-redirect" title="Wing (military aviation unit)">wing</a> commander, and so forth. Squadron commanders (the base unit of the United States Air Force) are usually majors or lieutenant colonels. Group commanders (made up of two or more squadrons) are usually colonels, while wing commanders may be colonels (typical wings) or generals (larger wings). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Command_and_control" title="Command and control">Command and control</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Staff_(military)" title="Staff (military)">Staff (military)</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commanding_officer&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">America's Navy: Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet: Navy Officer Titles: Captain, <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/Pages/Navy-Officer-Titles.aspx">http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/Pages/Navy-Officer-Titles.aspx</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200625104209/https://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/Pages/Navy-Officer-Titles.aspx">Archived</a> 2020-06-25 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist 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<li><a href="/wiki/Military_history" title="Military history">History</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_military_technology" title="History of military technology">Technology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_specialism" title="Military specialism">Occupational roles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_recruitment" title="Military recruitment">Recruitment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_security" title="National security">National security</a></li> <li><i>Roles:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Soldier" title="Soldier">Soldier</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sailor" title="Sailor">Sailor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Airman" title="Airman">Airman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Enlisted_rank" title="Enlisted rank">Enlisted rank</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Officer_(armed_forces)" title="Officer (armed forces)">Officer</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Commanding officer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Executive_officer" title="Executive officer">Executive officer</a></li></ul> <ul><li><i>Protocols and structure:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_rank" title="Military rank">Ranks</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_comparative_military_ranks" title="List of comparative military ranks">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_uniform" title="Military uniform">Uniforms</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_awards_and_decorations" title="Military awards and decorations">Awards and decorations</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_military_decorations" title="List of military decorations">By country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_highest_military_decorations" class="mw-redirect" title="List of highest military decorations">Highest</a></li></ul></li> <li><i>Categories:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Military_ranks" title="Category:Military ranks">Ranks</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Forces</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Command_and_control" title="Command and control">Command and control</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ministry_of_defence" title="Ministry of defence">Defense ministry</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Military" title="Military">Armed Forces</a>:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Army" title="Army">Army</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Navy" title="Navy">Navy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Air_force" title="Air force">Air force</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marines" title="Marines">Marines</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_force" title="Space force">Space force</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Special_forces" title="Special forces">Special forces</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Airborne_forces" title="Airborne forces">Airborne forces</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commando" title="Commando">Commando</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Frogman" title="Frogman">Frogman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Militia" title="Militia">Militia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_reserve_force" title="Military reserve force">Reserves</a></li> <li><i>Functional specialties:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_communications" title="Military communications">Communications</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combat_engineer" title="Combat engineer">Engineers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_intelligence" title="Military intelligence">Intelligence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reconnaissance" title="Reconnaissance">Reconnaissance</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_reconnaissance_units" title="List of reconnaissance units">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Medical_corps" title="Medical corps">Medical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_police" title="Military police">Military police</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gendarmerie" title="Gendarmerie">Gendarmerie</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Security_forces" title="Security forces">Security forces</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Border_guard" title="Border guard">Border guard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Coast_guard" title="Coast guard">Coast guard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_logistics" title="Military logistics">Logistics</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Military_logistics_units_and_formations" title="Category:Military logistics units and formations">By country</a></li></ul></li> <li><i>Categories:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Combat_occupations" title="Category:Combat occupations">Combat occupations</a></li> <li><i>Development:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_recruit_training" title="Military recruit training">Basic training</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_exercise" title="Military exercise">Military maneuvers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combat" title="Combat">Combat training</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Military_branch" title="Military branch">Branches</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i>Land units:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combat_arms" title="Combat arms">Combat arms</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infantry" title="Infantry">Infantry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Armoured_fighting_vehicle" title="Armoured fighting vehicle">Armor</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cavalry" title="Cavalry">Cavalry</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Artillery" title="Artillery">Artillery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Special_reconnaissance" title="Special reconnaissance">Special reconnaissance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Signal_corps" title="Signal corps">Signal corps</a></li> <li><i>Naval units:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Warship" title="Warship">Warships</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Surface_combatant" title="Surface combatant">Surface</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Littoral_combat_ship" title="Littoral combat ship">Littoral</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patrol_boat" title="Patrol boat">Patrol</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Submarine" title="Submarine">Submarines</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">Aircraft carriers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Landing_craft" title="Landing craft">Landing craft</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Auxiliary_ship" title="Auxiliary ship">Auxiliary ship</a></li> <li><i>Air units:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fighter_aircraft" title="Fighter aircraft">Fighters</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bomber" title="Bomber">Bombers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Airborne_early_warning_and_control" title="Airborne early warning and control">Command</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Close_air_support" title="Close air support">Close air support</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electronic-warfare_aircraft" title="Electronic-warfare aircraft">Electronic-warfare</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reconnaissance_aircraft" title="Reconnaissance aircraft">Reconnaissance</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Structure</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Military_organization" title="Military organization">Organization</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Structure_of_contemporary_armed_forces" title="Category:Structure of contemporary armed forces">By country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Structure_of_contemporary_armies" title="Category:Structure of contemporary armies">Armies by country</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Command_hierarchy" title="Command hierarchy">Chain of command</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Unified_combatant_command" title="Unified combatant command">Unified combatant command</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Staff_(military)" title="Staff (military)">General staff</a></li> <li><i>Land:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Army_group" title="Army group">Army group</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Field_army" title="Field army">Field army</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Corps" title="Corps">Corps</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_military_corps" title="List of military corps">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Division_(military)" title="Division (military)">Division</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_military_divisions" title="List of military divisions">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brigade" title="Brigade">Brigade</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Brigades_by_type" title="Category:Brigades by type">By type</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Regiment" title="Regiment">Regiment</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Regiments_by_country" title="Category:Regiments by country">By country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Regiments_by_type" title="Category:Regiments by type">By type</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battalion" title="Battalion">Battalion</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Battalions_by_country" title="Category:Battalions by country">By country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Battalions_by_type" title="Category:Battalions by type">By type</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Platoon" title="Platoon">Platoon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Squad" title="Squad">Squad</a></li> <li><i>Naval:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naval_fleet" title="Naval fleet">Naval fleet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Task_force#Naval" title="Task force">Task force</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Carrier_strike_group" title="Carrier strike group">Carrier strike group</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Division_(naval)" title="Division (naval)">Division</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Flotilla" title="Flotilla">Flotilla</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Squadron_(naval)" title="Squadron (naval)">Squadron</a></li> <li><i>Air:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combat_box" title="Combat box">Combat box</a></li> <li><i>Special units by nation:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battle_Fleet" title="Battle Fleet">Battle Fleet; U.S. Navy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Front_(military_formation)" title="Front (military formation)">Front; Russian land forces</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Vehicles</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i>Ground:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_vehicle" title="Military vehicle">Ground</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_military_vehicles" title="List of military vehicles">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combat_vehicle" title="Combat vehicle">Combat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Tracked_military_vehicles" title="Category:Tracked military vehicles">Tracked vehicles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Wheeled_military_vehicles" title="Category:Wheeled military vehicles">Wheeled vehicles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Armoured_fighting_vehicle" title="Armoured fighting vehicle">Armor</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tank" title="Tank">Tank</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infantry_fighting_vehicle" title="Infantry fighting vehicle">Infantry fighting vehicle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_armoured_fighting_vehicles" title="Lists of armoured fighting vehicles">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_armoured_fighting_vehicles_by_country" title="List of armoured fighting vehicles by country">By country</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Armored_car_(military)" title="Armored car (military)">Armored car</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scout_car" title="Scout car">Scout car</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_vehicle#Military_trucks" title="Military vehicle">Truck</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Military_trucks" title="Category:Military trucks">List</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gun_truck" title="Gun truck">Gun truck</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-propelled_artillery" title="Self-propelled artillery">Self-propelled artillery</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_howitzers#Self-propelled_howitzers" title="List of howitzers">List</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-propelled_anti-aircraft_weapon" title="Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon">Anti-aircraft</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_railways" title="Military railways">Rail</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Weapons</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;font-weight:normal;">Land</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Weapon" title="Weapon">Weapons</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_weapons" title="Lists of weapons">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><i>Artillery:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Field_artillery" title="Field artillery">Artillery</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_artillery" title="List of artillery">List</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_artillery_by_country" title="List of artillery by country">By country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Artillery_battery" title="Artillery battery">Battery</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Field_gun" title="Field gun">Field gun</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_field_guns" title="List of field guns">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Howitzer" title="Howitzer">Howitzer</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_howitzers" title="List of howitzers">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rocket_artillery" title="Rocket artillery">Rocket</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_rocket_artillery" title="List of rocket artillery">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Small_Arms_and_Light_Weapons" class="mw-redirect" title="Small Arms and Light Weapons">Infantry guns</a>:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Service_pistol" title="Service pistol">Pistols</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Machine_gun" title="Machine gun">Machine guns</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_machine_guns" title="List of machine guns">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Service_rifle" title="Service rifle">Service rifles</a>:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battle_rifle" title="Battle rifle">Battle rifles</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_battle_rifles" title="List of battle rifles">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Assault_rifle" title="Assault rifle">Assault rifle</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_assault_rifles" title="List of assault rifles">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sniper_rifle" title="Sniper rifle">Sniper rifle</a></li> <li><i>Other infantry weapons:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bazooka" title="Bazooka">Bazooka</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anti-tank_gun" title="Anti-tank gun">Anti-tank gun</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_anti-tank_guns" title="List of anti-tank guns">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Grenade" title="Grenade">Grenade</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Grenades" title="Category:Grenades">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Flamethrower" title="Flamethrower">Flamethrower</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bayonet" title="Bayonet">Bayonet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combat_knife" title="Combat knife">Combat knife</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Military_knives" title="Category:Military knives">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Missile" title="Missile">Missiles</a>:</i> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Shoulder-fired_missile" title="Shoulder-fired missile">Shoulder-fired</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anti-tank_guided_missile" title="Anti-tank guided missile">Anti-tank</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_missiles" title="List of missiles">List</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_missiles_by_country" title="List of missiles by country">By country</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mortar_(weapon)" title="Mortar (weapon)">Mortar</a> <ul><li><i>Lists:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_infantry_mortars" title="List of infantry mortars">Infantry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_heavy_mortars" title="List of heavy mortars">Heavy</a></li></ul></li> <li><i>Other:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Land_mine" title="Land mine">Land mine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shell_(projectile)" title="Shell (projectile)">Shells</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;font-weight:normal;">Sea/Air:</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Missile" title="Missile">Guided missiles</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_missiles" title="List of missiles">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Naval_warfare" title="Naval warfare">Naval</a>:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naval_artillery" title="Naval artillery">Naval artillery</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_naval_guns" title="List of naval guns">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anti-ship_missile" title="Anti-ship missile">Anti-ship missiles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Torpedo" title="Torpedo">Torpedoes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Depth_charge" title="Depth charge">Depth charges</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Close-in_weapon_system" title="Close-in weapon system">Close-in weapons</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Aerial_warfare" title="Aerial warfare">Aerial</a>:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Aircraft_guns" title="Category:Aircraft guns">Guns</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Air-launched_missiles" title="Category:Air-launched missiles">Missiles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aerial_bomb" title="Aerial bomb">Bombs</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Equipment</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Military_technology" title="Military technology">Military equipment</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_military_equipment" title="Lists of military equipment">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Military_equipment_by_country" title="Category:Military equipment by country">By country</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combat_helmet" title="Combat helmet">Helmet</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_combat_helmets" title="List of combat helmets">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_camouflage" title="Military camouflage">Camouflage</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_military_clothing_camouflage_patterns" title="List of military clothing camouflage patterns">List</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Body_armor" title="Body armor">Body armor</a></li> <li><i>Facilities:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_base" title="Military base">Military base</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_military_installations" title="Lists of military installations">Lists</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Field_hospital" title="Field hospital">Field hospital</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Combat systems</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fire-control_system" title="Fire-control system">Fire-control system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fire-control_radar" title="Fire-control radar">Fire-control radar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Director_(military)" title="Director (military)">Director (military)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combat_information_center" title="Combat information center">Combat information center</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sonar" title="Sonar">Sonar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Radar" title="Radar">Radar</a></li> <li><i>Historical:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ship_gun_fire-control_system" title="Ship gun fire-control system">Ship gun fire-control</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gun_data_computer" title="Gun data computer">Gun data computer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Torpedo_Data_Computer" title="Torpedo Data Computer">Torpedo Data Computer</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/War" title="War">Warfare</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/War" title="War">War</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battle" title="Battle">Battle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strategy" title="Strategy">Strategy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_tactics" title="Military tactics">Tactics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combat" title="Combat">Combat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_science" title="Military science">Military science</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Diplomacy" title="Diplomacy">Diplomacy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/International_law" title="International law">International law</a></li> <li><i>By era:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prehistoric_warfare" title="Prehistoric warfare">Prehistoric</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ancient_warfare" title="Ancient warfare">Ancient</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Medieval_warfare" title="Medieval warfare">Post-classical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Early_modern_warfare" title="Early modern warfare">Early modern</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Modern_warfare" title="Modern warfare">Late modern</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Industrial_warfare" title="Industrial warfare">industrial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fourth-generation_warfare" title="Fourth-generation warfare">fourth-gen</a></li></ul></li> <li><i>By type:</i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Armoured_warfare" title="Armoured warfare">Armoured warfare</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Artillery" title="Artillery">Artillery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Barrage_(artillery)" title="Barrage (artillery)">Barrage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Biological_warfare" title="Biological warfare">Biological</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_camouflage" title="Military camouflage">Camouflage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cavalry" title="Cavalry">Cavalry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chemical_warfare" title="Chemical warfare">Chemical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Class_conflict" title="Class conflict">Class</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combined_arms" title="Combined arms">Combined arms</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conventional_warfare" title="Conventional warfare">Conventional</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cyberweapon" title="Cyberweapon">Cyber</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Area_denial_weapon" title="Area denial weapon">Denial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Disinformation" title="Disinformation">Disinformation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Drone_warfare" title="Drone warfare">Drone</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electronic_warfare" title="Electronic warfare">Electronic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infantry" title="Infantry">Infantry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lawfare" title="Lawfare">Lawfare</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Loitering_munition" title="Loitering munition">Loitering</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Martial_music" title="Martial music">Music</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nuclear_warfare" title="Nuclear warfare">Nuclear</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Psychological_warfare" title="Psychological warfare">Psychological</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Radiological_warfare" title="Radiological warfare">Radiological</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Unconventional_warfare" title="Unconventional warfare">Unconventional</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Battlespace" title="Battlespace">Battlespace</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Aerospace <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aerial_warfare" title="Aerial warfare">Air</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Airborne_forces" title="Airborne forces">Airborne</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_warfare" title="Space warfare">Space</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Land_warfare" title="Land warfare">Land</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cold-weather_warfare" title="Cold-weather warfare">Cold-region</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Desert_warfare" title="Desert warfare">Desert</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jungle_warfare" title="Jungle warfare">Jungle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mountain_warfare" title="Mountain warfare">Mountain</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Urban_warfare" title="Urban warfare">Urban</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naval_warfare" title="Naval warfare">Sea</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Amphibious_warfare" title="Amphibious warfare">Amphibious</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Blue-water_navy" title="Blue-water navy">Blue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brown-water_navy" title="Brown-water navy">Brown</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Green-water_navy" title="Green-water navy">Green</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Surface_warfare" title="Surface warfare">Surface</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Underwater_warfare" title="Underwater warfare">Underwater</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Subterranean_warfare" title="Subterranean warfare">Subterranean</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tunnel_warfare" title="Tunnel warfare">Tunnel</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cyberwarfare" title="Cyberwarfare">Cyber</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Information_warfare" title="Information warfare">Information</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Military_tactics" title="Military tactics">Tactics</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_military_tactics" title="List of military tactics">List of military tactics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Air_combat_manoeuvring" title="Air combat manoeuvring">Aerial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Airlift" title="Airlift">Airlift</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Airbridge_(logistics)" title="Airbridge (logistics)">Airbridge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Airdrop" title="Airdrop">Airdrop</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battle" title="Battle">Battle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cavalry_tactics" title="Cavalry tactics">Cavalry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charge_(warfare)" title="Charge (warfare)">Charge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Counterattack" title="Counterattack">Counterattack</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Counterinsurgency" title="Counterinsurgency">Counterinsurgency</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Defeat_in_detail" title="Defeat in detail">Defeat in detail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Defensive_fighting_position" title="Defensive fighting position">Foxhole</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Envelopment" title="Envelopment">Envelopment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Guerrilla_warfare" title="Guerrilla warfare">Guerrilla</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Morale" title="Morale">Morale</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shock_and_awe" title="Shock and awe">Rapid dominance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Siege" 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title="Attrition warfare">Attrition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Counter-offensive" class="mw-redirect" title="Counter-offensive">Counter-offensive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Culminating_point" title="Culminating point">Culminating</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Defence_in_depth" title="Defence in depth">Defence in depth</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fabian_strategy" title="Fabian strategy">Fabian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mosaic_Warfare" class="mw-redirect" title="Mosaic Warfare">Mosaic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_deception" title="Military deception">Deception</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strategic_defence" title="Strategic defence">Defensive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strategic_depth" title="Strategic depth">Depth</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strategic_goal_(military)" title="Strategic goal (military)">Goal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naval_strategy" title="Naval strategy">Naval</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Offensive_(military)" title="Offensive (military)">Offensive</a></li> 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