Captain (USA)
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Please see "Captain (military)" for other versions of this rank
Captain is a rank in the United States armed forces that ranks between a First Lieutenant and Major (O-3 in the United States Army, U.S. Air Force, and United States Marines), or a rank between a Commander and Rear Admiral (Lower Half) (O-6 in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard). For example, an Army Captain is equivalent to a Navy Lieutenant, and a Navy Captain is equivalent to an Army Colonel. Navy and Coast Guard Captains still wear the silver eagle insignia of a Colonel.
[edit] Early history
The rank of Captain first appeared in the United States during the American Revolutionary War. A Captain was the officer placed in charge of a company of soldiers and was granted a commission from the regimental Colonel. A Captain was afforded one to several Lieutenants, depending on the size of the company, and the Captain’s commission could be revoked or expired at the end of a particular military campaign.
The Continental Navy used the rank of Captain as the Commander of a sailing vessel at war, with the Captain having several Lieutenants on board, as well as a Sailing Master to assist in their duties. This use of the Navy Captain rank carried over into the United States Navy, however with the addition of the rank of Commander and Lieutenant Commander, between Captain and Lieutenant, a Navy Captain was soon the equivalent of an Army Colonel.
[edit] 19th century
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[edit] Modern usage
Captains in the United States Army and Marine Corps generally command and control company-sized units (62 to 190 Soldiers), together with a principal Non Commissioned Officer assistant. They instruct at service schools and combat training centers and are often staff officers at the battalion level. In medical units, captain is the entry-level rank for doctors and those possesing a Doctors of Pharmacy. In Judge Advocate General units, captain is the entry-level rank for lawyers who already have their academic degree and are members of a Bar.
Captains in the United States Marine Corps are sometimes referred to as "skipper" in informal situations. This term for a captain is most often used by very senior staff non-commissioned officers.
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| Student Officer | O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 | O-7 | O-8 | O-9 | O-10 | O-11 (wartime only) | Special Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Navy: | MIDN/OC | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | ADM | FADM | Admiral of the Navy |
| United States Marine Corps: | Midn | 2ndLt | 1stLt | Capt | Maj | LtCol | Col | BGen | MajGen | LtGen | Gen | (no equivalent) | (no equivalent) |
| United States Army: | CDT/OC | 2LT | 1LT | CPT | MAJ | LTC | COL | BG | MG | LTG | GEN | General of the Army |
General of the Armies |
| United States Air Force: | Cadet | 2nd Lt | 1st Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig Gen | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | General of the Air Force |
(no equivalent) |
| United States Coast Guard: | CDT | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | ADM | (no equivalent) | (no equivalent) |
