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In the US Military, the TITLES of "Captain" and "Commander" can be both a RANK and/or POSITION. Examples: 1. A US Navy Ensign (Gold Bar rank insignia and equal to a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army) can command a small craft, and legally be called the "Commander" or "Captain" of that small boat. Even though he is NOT a Captain or Commander in rank. 2. The US Navy DOES have the rank of Captain and Commander. And yet, a man wearing the insignia of a US Navy Captain (Silver Eagle) or a Commander (Silver Oak Leaf) may NOT BE IN COMMAND OF A VESSEL. He might be working a desk in some office, on some base somewhere. 3. Then, there is the man who is actually a US Naval Commander (wearing the insignia of a US Naval Commander-Silver Oak Leaf) who is commanding a US Navy Vessel. Or a US Navy Captain who is really a US Navy Captain (wearing the rank of a US Navy Captain-Silver Eagle) who is the Captain of the US Naval vessel. 4. The US Army, US Marines, US Air Force do NOT have the rank of "Commander" or "Lieutenant Commander" in their organizations. LT(jg)-Lieutenant Junior Grade (equal to a US Army 1st Lieutenant-Silver Bar) John F. Kennedy was the "Captain" and/or "Commander" of his Patrol Torpedo Boat (#109) during WWII.

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17y ago

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