Company commander A company commander is the commanding officer of a company , a military unit which typically consists of 100 to 250 soldiers , often organized into three or four smaller units called platoon s . The exact organization of a company varies by country , service , and unit type . Aviation companies can have as few as 40 personnel , while some specialized companies such as maintenance or training units are considerably larger and may number as many as 500 personnel . In some forces , the second - in - command of a company is called the executive officer ( XO ) . Historically , companies were often formed and financed by individual owners rather than by the state . Sometimes these men were unable to personally exercise leadership and command over the men in their units , and would designate another individual to serve in that capacity Austria . In the Austrian Army , a company commander is called a " Kompaniekommandant " ( abbreviated " KpKdt " ) . Germany . In the German Army , a company commander is referred to as a Kompaniechef or Einheitsführer and is usually a captain , sometimes a lieutenant or major . In many companies of the medical corps ( Sanitätsdienst ) , the Kompaniechef must be a medical officer ( Sanitätsoffizier ) and has the rank of major , titled as an Oberstabsarzt ( staff doctor ) or may possibly be a lieutenant colonel Oberfeldarzt ( field doctor ) . In the artillery and the army ' s anti - aircraft defense corps the company commander is called a Batteriechef . In the German Air Force and Army Aviation Corps the title is " Staffelkapitän " , while in training schools " Inspektionschef " . Switzerland . In the Swiss Army , a company commander is called a Kompaniekommandant ( abbreviated Kp Kdt ) . In practical service , a Kompaniekommandant has the rank of lieutenant until graduating from Führungslehrgang or FLG ( Leadership course ) 1 and completing Abverdienen ( practical service ) , at which point they are promoted to captain . A Kompaniekommandant who leads a Stabskompanie can be promoted to major . Turkey . In the Turkish Army , a company commander is called a Bölük Komutanı ( abbreviated " Bl . K . " ) . Usually a company commander is in the rank of Captain . United Kingdom . In the British Army , Royal Marines and Canadian Army , the term " Company Commander " is also commonly used for the officer ( usually a major ) formally titled the Officer Commanding ( OC ) a company currently in the territorial army most OC are at the rank of Captain . United States . In the United States Army and Marine Corps , the position of company commander is usually held by a captain with three to six years of service as an officer . A senior first lieutenant may be selected for company command in lieu of an available captain . As commanding officer , he or she exercises full command and control over the unit and may exercise non - judicial punishment authority over unit personnel . A company command is usually considered a prestigious assignment and important in career progression if an officer hopes to attain higher rank . A typical tour of duty for this assignment is 18 to 24 months in the active duty component and 24 to 36 months in the reserve component s . Usually , a company executive officer ( a first lieutenant ) and a company first sergeant are assigned to assist the company commander and are vital to his or her success in commanding the unit . Some specialized company - sized units , such as aviation companies using the Boeing CH - 47 Chinook airframe , are assigned a major as a company commander due to the increased responsibility of such assignments ; the platoons which comprise these company are typically commanded by captains rather than lieutenants , with a captain , rather than a first lieutenant , as the company ' s second - in - command . In the United States Coast Guard , a Company Commander is the enlisted person in charge of a recruit company ' s training during boot camp . They are the Coast Guard ' s equivalent of a drill instructor . ( The United States Navy once used the same term in its recruit training , but that title has been replaced by " Recruit Division Commander " . )