Commandant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Commandant is a military or police title or rank.
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[edit] Ireland
In the both the Army and Aircorps of Defence Forces Ireland the rank of "Commandant" is equivalent to the rank of Major. In the Naval Service the equivalent rank is Lieutenant Commander.
[edit] France
Commandant (shortened from Capitaine-commandant, i.e. a captain commanding (a battalion)), is a rank of the French Army and French Air Force which is used instead of major.
The commandant is also styled chef de bataillon (Battalion Head) in the Infantry, chef d'escadrons (Squadrons Head) in the armored Cavalry and chef d'escadron (Squadron Head - note the lack of s) in the Artillery and the Gendarmerie.
Commandant is also the style, but not the rank, of the senior officers of the French Navy (capitaine de corvette, capitaine de frégate and capitaine de vaisseau).
Prior to the of armies subsequent to the French Revolution, the Major was the officer appointed by the King to keep track of the expenditures and readiness of a regiment. He could be either a commoner or a nobleman, and was graded as a Commissar, not an officer. The officer at commandant rank level was the chef de bataillon or chef d'escadron.
Major is now, however, the most senior Warrant Officer rank, above Adjudant-chef.
[edit] Latin America
Commandant, in Spanish Comandante, is a senior military rank used in some Central American countries. Comandante can be translated into English either as commandant or as commander. The rank may also be found in numerous paramilitary organizations, such as the Sandinistas.
The rank Comandante en Jefe, (Commandant-in-Chief or Commander-in-Chief) may be found in the nation of Cuba as a supreme military rank held by Fidel Castro. Translated as "Commander in Chief", the rank of Comandante en Jefe is the equivalent of a Field Marshal or General of the Army.
Comandante was also the title of a motion picture regarding the life of Castro.
[edit] United States
In the United States the following two appointments currently exist:
Formerly, Admirals were appointed as commandants of Naval Districts.
[edit] Variations
- Colonel-Commandant, in the British Army between 1922 and 1928, an appointment held by senior colonels, later replaced by the rank of Brigadier
- Captain-Commandant, in the Belgian Army, the highest rank of subaltern officer, ranking above Captain and below Major
- Rank and Insignia of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces
