In the military, a captain is a commissioned officer with the rank of captain. Different militaries around the world, as well as the major branches of the US Armed Forces, use this rank. A captain in the United States Army is in charge of a company, which can range from 100 to 200 soldiers depending on the type of unit. He is usually in charge of training, organizing, and providing supplies to the men under his command. An army captain may also serve as a staff member for a higher-ranking officer or as a specialist within an army, whether in the United States or elsewhere.
Army captain candidates must complete several stages of training, including basic military training and various leadership courses relevant to the officer’s command. A future captain in the United States military must complete Officer Candidate School, the United States Military Academy, a Reserve Officers Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) program, or a direct commission. Most U.S. Army captains in combat-related fields will start their careers as lower-ranking officers to gain the necessary skills and leadership qualities to command a larger contingent of soldiers.
The types of units under an army captain’s command have a big impact on his job. An infantry captain is usually in charge of a company of soldiers, which consists of four platoons of soldiers as well as additional support personnel to assist the commander in his duties. Within a battalion or regiment, an infantry captain must coordinate with other company commanders and usually takes orders from a lieutenant colonel or colonel. He must determine the best methods for carrying out the orders and missions that have been assigned to his company, as well as assigning orders to the lieutenants in charge of each platoon.
A troop is a group of armored vehicles, such as tanks and other fighting vehicles, that is led a captain. Armor captains in the United States Army are typically in charge of 12 tanks spread across three platoons, as well as a two-tank command element. The tank captain, like the infantry commander, will be responsible for coordinating with other elements of the US Army and completing the missions that his superiors have assigned to him.
Certain non-combat officers within a military can also be given the title of army captain. When doctors, chaplains, and lawyers join the Army, they typically receive a direct commission to the rank of captain. These officers usually have civilian degrees in a variety of fields and provide vital support to the military.