In US military usage, a company-grade officer is a Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, or Captain.
In the Army, company-grade officers are typically assigned to a company as a platoon leader or executive officer (lieutenants) or as a commander (captains). They may also be assigned as staff officers. They may preside over a summary court-martial. Higher ranks are called Field Grade Officers.
In the Navy and the Coast Guard, a company-grade officer is called a junior officer or JO. A junior officer in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard is considered to be any officer holding the rank of Ensign (O-1) through Lieutenant Commander (O-4).
In the Air Force, a company-grade officer may be referred to as a CGO.
Famous quotes containing the word officer:
“No officer should be required or permitted to take part in the management of political organizations, caucuses, conventions, or election campaigns. Their right to vote and to express their views on public questions, either orally or through the press, is not denied, provided it does not interfere with the discharge of their official duties. No assessment for political purposes on officers or subordinates should be allowed.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)