Colonel Commandant
Encyclopedia
Colonel Commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English-speaking countries. The title, not a substantive rank, could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels. Today, the holder often has an honorary role outside the executive military structures, such as advocacy for the troops.
In 1921, the Army abolished the rank of Brigadier-General and replaced it with the new ranks of Colonel-Commandant and Colonel on the Staff: Colonels-Commandant commanded brigades, depots or training establishments, while Colonels on the Staff held administrative appointments. Like Brigadier-General, both of the new ranks were temporary, the holder reverting to his original rank at the end of his appointment. They were both were abolished in 1928, replaced by the rank of Brigadier (though the rank insignia — a crown over three "pips" or stars — remained the same).
In the Royal Marines
, the ranks or appointments of Colonel Commandant and Colonel 2nd Commandant dated back to 1755, when fifty companies of marines were raised in three divisions: each division had a Colonel Commandant and Colonel 2nd Commandant. These ranked below Major-General and above Colonel
. The Royal Marines did not use the rank of Brigadier-General until 1913, and dispensed with it again, along with the Army, in 1922. Like the Army, the Royal Marines adopted the appointment of Brigadier in 1928, but the two grades of Colonel Commandant persisted at least as far as World War II
. By 1957, however, they had been abolished.
The title of Colonel-Commandant is now used as an honorary or ceremonial title relating to a military corps. For example, General Sir Richard Dannatt, has been Colonel-Commandant of the Army Air Corps as well as the full-time role as Chief of the General Staff
and Brigadier Jane Arigho, a retired Director of Army Nursing Services, is the Colonel-Commandant of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
.
The Colonel Commandant of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
(RCAC), is an appointment given by the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada
to a distinguished retired armoured forces officer. The appointment is for three years, during which the incumbent is on the Canadian Forces
' reserve list
as the senior officer of the Corps. He is responsible for advising the army commander on matters pertaining to the RCAC. A colonel commandant travels widely to canvass the views of all ranks in the Corps and frequently attends military policy conferences, ceremonies and unit celebrations. He is an ex-officio member of the RCAC Association's executive committee.
In 2001, the Canadian Forces Medical Branch (CFMB) canvassed past and present members for nominations to the role of Colonel Commandant. The role is ceremonial but the colonel commandant acts as a link between the CFMB and the wider civilian medical community. The position is not restricted to former senior medical officers; consideration is given to medical practitioners who are "particularly prominent and well respected within the world of civilian medicine."
.
Australian formations, such as the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police
and the Royal Australian Regiment
(RAR) have Colonel Commandants, a retired soldier whose role is to act as advocate for the troops' interests. This requires visits to wherever the corps or regiment is deployed.
the post of Colonel Commandant is an honorary post held by the most senior serving member of a Corps
or Regiments, he/she is usually a general officer in the rank of Major General
and above. The post is found is all Corps
and Regiments of the army.
affixed on a maroon/vine red background is used.
In the National Cadet Corps, which is closely connected to Indian Universities the Vice Chancellor of the university is given the honorary rank of 'Colonel Commandant'. Vice Chancellors are eligible to wear the NCC Khakhi uniform and wear the insignia, even though they would not have any military experience. In NCC this appointment is purely ceremonial.
, he/she is usually a general officer or a brigadier
. The post is found in all Corps
of the army as well as the Mechanized Infantry Regiment
and the Sri Lanka National Guard
. It is similar in function to that of Colonel of the Regiment found in multi battalion infantry regiments.
cavalry against British troops at Charleston
The highest ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps
was formerly titled Colonel Commandant: the title now is simply Commandant
.
United Kingdom
In the British Army, the term colonel commandant goes back at least to the American War of Independence, when it denoted an officer in command of a regiment.In 1921, the Army abolished the rank of Brigadier-General and replaced it with the new ranks of Colonel-Commandant and Colonel on the Staff: Colonels-Commandant commanded brigades, depots or training establishments, while Colonels on the Staff held administrative appointments. Like Brigadier-General, both of the new ranks were temporary, the holder reverting to his original rank at the end of his appointment. They were both were abolished in 1928, replaced by the rank of Brigadier (though the rank insignia — a crown over three "pips" or stars — remained the same).
In the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
, the ranks or appointments of Colonel Commandant and Colonel 2nd Commandant dated back to 1755, when fifty companies of marines were raised in three divisions: each division had a Colonel Commandant and Colonel 2nd Commandant. These ranked below Major-General and above Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. The Royal Marines did not use the rank of Brigadier-General until 1913, and dispensed with it again, along with the Army, in 1922. Like the Army, the Royal Marines adopted the appointment of Brigadier in 1928, but the two grades of Colonel Commandant persisted at least as far as World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. By 1957, however, they had been abolished.
The title of Colonel-Commandant is now used as an honorary or ceremonial title relating to a military corps. For example, General Sir Richard Dannatt, has been Colonel-Commandant of the Army Air Corps as well as the full-time role as Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
Chief of the General Staff has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board...
and Brigadier Jane Arigho, a retired Director of Army Nursing Services, is the Colonel-Commandant of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps is the nursing branch of the British Army and part of the Army Medical Services....
.
Canada
The Canadian Forces widely uses Colonels Commandant as honorary appointments to act as advocates for members and to advise on relevant policy matters. In Reserve Regiments there has usually been an Honorary Colonel and an Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel, while in the Regular Force, the title used is Colonel Commandant or Colonel of the Regiment. Many units also have a Colonel-in-Chief who is often a member of the Royal Family, frequently with a name connection to the Regiment. Example: The Queen's York Rangers (First American Regiment) having the Queen and later the Duke of York, as Colonel-in-Chief. In the Artillery, the Monarch holds this role with the appellation "Captain-General". All of these "honoraries" are in head-of-family roles, approachable in varying degrees by anyone in the "regimental family".The Colonel Commandant of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps is the armoured branch of service of the Canadian Army, including regular force and reserve regiments.-History:...
(RCAC), is an appointment given by the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
to a distinguished retired armoured forces officer. The appointment is for three years, during which the incumbent is on the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
' reserve list
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
as the senior officer of the Corps. He is responsible for advising the army commander on matters pertaining to the RCAC. A colonel commandant travels widely to canvass the views of all ranks in the Corps and frequently attends military policy conferences, ceremonies and unit celebrations. He is an ex-officio member of the RCAC Association's executive committee.
In 2001, the Canadian Forces Medical Branch (CFMB) canvassed past and present members for nominations to the role of Colonel Commandant. The role is ceremonial but the colonel commandant acts as a link between the CFMB and the wider civilian medical community. The position is not restricted to former senior medical officers; consideration is given to medical practitioners who are "particularly prominent and well respected within the world of civilian medicine."
Australia
Until 1882, William Acland Douglas, who served in the 50th Regiment, was colonel-commandant of the military forces in VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
Australian formations, such as the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police
Royal Australian Corps of Military Police
The Royal Australian Corps of Military Police is a corps within the Australian Army. Previously known as the Australian Army Provost Corps, it was formed on 3 April 1916 as the ANZAC Provost Corps...
and the Royal Australian Regiment
Royal Australian Regiment
The Royal Australian Regiment is the parent regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army and is the senior infantry regiment of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps...
(RAR) have Colonel Commandants, a retired soldier whose role is to act as advocate for the troops' interests. This requires visits to wherever the corps or regiment is deployed.
Bangladesh
In the Bangladesh ArmyBangladesh Army
The Bangladesh Army is the land forces branch and the largest of the three uniformed service of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of Bangladesh's security and defense strategies including defense of the nation's...
the post of Colonel Commandant is an honorary post held by the most senior serving member of a Corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
or Regiments, he/she is usually a general officer in the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and above. The post is found is all Corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
and Regiments of the army.
India
In India Colonel commandant is a 'non-substantive' rank, and is usually held by general officers mostly Major Generals or Lieutenant Generals. The officer would have been once part of the regiment, and in this role he represents the regiment and its men at the higher level of military hierarchy. This is especially in matters related to troop welfare. In photographs where the officer is portrayed as the 'Colonel Commandant', the rank insignia of a BrigadierBrigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
affixed on a maroon/vine red background is used.
In the National Cadet Corps, which is closely connected to Indian Universities the Vice Chancellor of the university is given the honorary rank of 'Colonel Commandant'. Vice Chancellors are eligible to wear the NCC Khakhi uniform and wear the insignia, even though they would not have any military experience. In NCC this appointment is purely ceremonial.
Sri Lanka
In the Sri Lankan Army the post of Colonel Commandant is an honorary post held by the most senior serving member of a CorpsCorps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
, he/she is usually a general officer or a brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
. The post is found in all Corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
of the army as well as the Mechanized Infantry Regiment
Mechanized Infantry Regiment
The Mechanized Infantry Regiment is the newest regiment in the Sri Lanka Army. It is made up of three regular battalions. Establish in 2007 its battalions equipped with Type 63 and WZ551 armoured personnel carriers make up the Mechanized Infantry Brigade .-History:The Mechanized Infantry Regiment...
and the Sri Lanka National Guard
Sri Lanka National Guard
The Sri Lanka National Guard is the largest regiment in the Sri Lanka Army. It is a Volunteer Regiment made up of 32 battalions coming under the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.-History:The Sri Lanka National Guard was founded by Lt. Col. D.W...
. It is similar in function to that of Colonel of the Regiment found in multi battalion infantry regiments.
United States
In 1779, Hungarian-born Colonel Commandant Michael Kovats died leading the Continental ArmyContinental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
cavalry against British troops at Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
The highest ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
was formerly titled Colonel Commandant: the title now is simply Commandant
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
.