Commissioned Officers

Part III

These officers hold presidential commissions. They are appointed by the President and confirmed at their ranks by the Senate. They are trained as leaders and hold command positions. Commissioned officers are the highest in the military. Their primary function is to provide overall management and leadership in their area of responsibility. Commissioned officers must have a minimum of a four-year bachelor’s degree. As they move up the ranks, if they want to be promoted, they will have to earn a master’s degree.

Commissioned officers are commissioned through specific commissioning programs such as one of the Military Academies, ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) or OCS (Officer Candidate School). There are ten commissioned officer grades, ranging from the 2^nd Lieutenant to the four-star general. Commissioned officers outrank all warrant officers and enlisted personnel.

There are also two basic “types” of commissioned officers: Line and Non-Line. A Non-Line officer is a non-combat specialist which includes medical officers, lawyers and chaplains. Non-Line officers cannot command combat troops. The Commissioned officers are divided into three groups: Company Officers, Field Officers and General Officers.

Company Officers (Junior Officers)ranks include Captain, First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant. Units under the command of junior officers are generally not expected to operate independently for any significant length of time. Company officers also fill staff roles in some units.

Field Officers or Senior officers are officers who typically command units that can be expected to operate independently for short periods of time (infantry battalions, artillery regiments, large warships, air squadrons). Field officers also commonly fill staff positions.

The term “field officers” is primarily used by Armies and Marines, Air Forces and Navies generally prefer the term “senior officer”.

Field officers ranks include Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Major.

Officers who typically command units or formations that are expected to operate independently for extended periods of time (brigades or flotillas or squadrons of ships) are referred to variously as General Officers (Army, Marines and Air Forces) or Flag Officers (Navy).

The General Officers include the following grades: General of the Army, General, Lieutenant General, Major General and Brigadier General.

Navy Flag Officer ranks are named after the traditional practice of showing the presence of such an officer with a flag on a ship.

General Officer ranks may be referred to as “star ranks” for the number of stars worn on some rank insignia.

1. commission – патент на офицерский чин;

2. bachelor’s degree – степень бакалавра;

3. to fill the position – занимать должность

1.9. Согласитесь или не согласитесь со следующими высказываниями:

Use: True, False

1. The personnel of the US Armed Forces consists of three main categories: Enlisted Men, Warrant officers and Commissioned officers.

2. Warrant officers are the “backbone” of the military, they perform the primary job that need to be done.

3. Enlisted Men comprise Other Grades, Specialists and Noncommissioned officers.

4. Specialists are responsible for direct control of junior military members.

5. WOs are very highly – trained specialists, they provide specialized knowledge, instruction and leadership to enlisted members and Commissioned Officers.

6. WOs are selected from the NCOs and appointed by the President.

7. Commissioned Officers are appointed by the President and confirmed at their rank by the Senate.

8. The primary mission of the Commissioned Officers is to provide management and leadership in their area of responsibility.

9. The Commissioned Officers are divided into two groups: Company officers and Field officers.

10. Company officer ranks include Captain, First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant.

11. Field officers commonly fill staff positions.

12. Field officer ranks include: Major and Colonel.

1.10. Расположите следующие вопросы в порядке, соответствующем содержанию текста:

1. What grades do the General officers include?

2. What categories does the personnel of the US Armed Forces consist of?

3. Who are Commissioned Officers appointed and confirmed by?

4. Who are WOs appointed by?

5. What is the primary function of the Commissioned Officers?

6. What is the only Armed Service which does not have Warrant Officers?

7. What ranks do Company officers include?

8. What ranks do Field officers include?

9. What is the function of the Enlisted Personnel?

10. What category comprises Other Grades, Specialists and NCOs?

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