Captain
Captain (abbrev: CAPT [naval], CPT [martial]) is an officer paygrade within the Royal Manticoran Navy, the Royal Manticoran Marine Corps, the Royal Manticoran Army, the Grayson Space Navy, and the Republic of Haven Navy.
Historical Context
From Latin, capitaneus, the head or chief. The evolution of the commanding officer of ships derives from the batsuen (boatswain) or the rector in the eleventh century; about 1300, the rank of captain came into general use. The master, although he sailed the ship, was of lower rank than the captain. In a British order in council in 1748, the relative rank was settled with the Army by dividing Navy captains into three grades. It was deemed at that time that any officer in command was entitled to the title of captain while in command, regardless of actual rank. All captains not eligible on the list for promotion to rear admiral were originally called "masters and commanders" and had "C" after their names. The rank was shortened to "commander" in 1794. The term "cdr." in the British Navy was used after the names of commanders in 1826. "Post captain," a term used in the Royal Navy and once used in the American Navy, distinguished captains commanding frigates from master commanders or commanders next in rank. There never was a commission of "post captain." In 1747, the rank of captain was first clearly defined in the British Navy. Captains who commanded post ships took rank, if of three years standing, with colonels in the Army. Until the year 1824, the Royal Navy list classed such captains as post captains. Until 1862, captain was the highest commissioned officer in the US Navy, and according to his duty, ranks with lieutenant colonel, colonel, or brigadier general.
Army/Marine Use
Prior to the professionalization of the armed services of European nations subsequent to the French Revolution, a captain was a nobleman who purchased the right to head a company from the previous holder of that right. He would in turn receive money from another nobleman to serve as his lieutenant. The funding to provide for the troops came from the monarch or his government; the captain had to be responsible for it. If he was not, or was otherwise court-martialed, he would be dismissed ("cashiered"), and the monarch would receive money from another nobleman to command the company. Otherwise, the only pension for the captain was selling the right to another nobleman when he was ready to retire.
TRMN
Within The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc., this rank is used among most of the branches of service:
Within this Navy, the rank of Captain is split into the two subgrades of O-6A and O-6B, which is Captain (jg) (CAPTJG) and Captain of the List or Captain (sg) (CAPTSG), respectively. An officer holding the rank of Captain (jg) is superior to all Commanders, and inferior in seniority to all Captains of the List. Captains of the List are, in turn, inferior to all Commodores.
Captains (jg) are appointed to command any vessel type from Heavy Cruiser to Superdreadnought. They can also be appointed to a headquarters department or division (ie: Director of Publications for the Bureau of Communications). Prior to the issuance of Admiralty Order 1510-02, officers appointed to command superdreadnoughts and LAC Carriers received a brevet promotion to Captain of the List. Following the order, however, promotions to O-6B are controlled by the Admiralty through appointment only.
Captains of the List are typically appointed to command divisions of heavy cruiser and above, or possibly command of larger echelon forces such as squadrons and task groups, although such promotions are not always guaranteed.
Rank Insignia
While both sub-grades of Captain wear the same shoulderboards and sleeve stripes, the difference lies in the collar devices. A Captain (jg) wears a Commander's collar device of four diamonds, while a Captain of the List wears a unique device of a single circle.
| Paygrade | Rank | Collar Device | Shoulderboard | Sleeves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-6A | Captain (jg) | 
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| O-6B | Captain of the List Captain (sg) |
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Promotion & Training
To qualify to hold the rank of Captain (jg), a member must have successfully completed SIA-RMN-0106 (Captain (jg) Examination) from the Saganami Island Naval Academy's Officers Academy, or an equivalent examination from another learning institution. For Captain of the List, one must have successfully completed SIA-RMN-1001 (Captain of the List Examination) from the War College.
Promotion to Captain (jg) may only be conferred by a promotion board and to qualify to stand before the board, an officer must have at least eighteen (18) months' time in grade along with the above stated training. Promotion to Captain of the List is by Admiralty appointment only.[1]
Royal Manticoran Marine Corps
A Captain (CPT) of the Marine Corps is a company grade officer with the paygrade of O-3. Captains are superior to all first lieutenants and inferior in grade to all majors.
Marine captains are usually placed in command of company-sized marine detachment, or may serve as a staff officer within the headquarters company of a larger echelon force, such as a battalion or regiment.
Rank Insignia
| Paygrade | Rank | Collar Device | Shoulderboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| O-3 | Captain | 
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Promotion & Training
To qualify to hold the rank of Captain within the Marine Corps, a member must have successfully completed SIA-RMMC-0103 (Captain Examination) from the Saganami Island Naval Academy's Officers Academy, or an equivalent examination from another learning institution.
Prior to consideration for promotion to the rank of captain, an officer must have at least six months time in grade as a 1st Lieutenant and the above stated training before standing for a promotion board.
Royal Manticoran Army
A Captain (CPT) of the Army is a company grade officer with the paygrade of O-3. Captains are superior to all first lieutenants and inferior in grade to all majors.
Army captains are usually placed in command of a company-sized fighting force, or of an installation, such as an Army Outpost. They may also serve as a staff officer within the headquarters company of a larger echelon force, such as a battalion or regiment, or a larger installation such as a Fort.[2]
Rank Insignia
| Paygrade | Rank | Collar Device | Shoulderboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| O-3 | Captain | 
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Promotion & Training
To qualify to hold the rank of Captain within the Army, a member must have successfully completed KR1MA-RMA-0103 (Advanced Officer Training Examination) from the King Roger I Military Academy's Officer Training Center, or an equivalent examination from another learning institution.
Prior to consideration for promotion to the rank of captain, an officer must have at least six months time in grade as a First Lieutenant and the above stated training before standing for a promotion board.[1]
Captains within the Grayson Space Navy are field grade officers with the paygrade of O-6. An officer holding the rank of Captain is superior in grade to all Commanders, and inferior all Commodores.
Captains are typically appointed to command any vessel type from Heavy Cruiser to Superdreadnought. They can also be appointed to a headquarters department or division (ie: Staff Communications Officer to the High Admiral of the Grayson Space Navy). They can also be appointed to command divisions of heavy cruiser and above, or possibly command of larger echelon forces such as squadrons and task groups, although such promotions are not always guaranteed.
Rank Insignia
| Paygrade | Rank | Insignia |
|---|---|---|
| O-6 | Captain | 
|
Promotion & Training
To qualify to hold the rank of Captain, a member must have successfully completed IMNA-GSN-0106 (Captain Examination) from the Isaiah Mackenzie Naval Academy's Officer Training Center, or an equivalent examination from another learning institution.
Promotion to Captain may only be conferred by a promotion board and to qualify to stand before the board, an officer must have at least eighteen (18) months' time in grade as a Commander, along with the above stated training.[1]
A Captain within the Republic of Haven Navy is a field grade officer with the paygrade of O-6. An officer holding the rank of Captain is superior in grade to all Commanders, and inferior all Commodores.
Captains are typically appointed to command any vessel type from Heavy Cruiser to Superdreadnought. They can also be appointed to a headquarters department or division. They can also be appointed to command divisions of heavy cruiser and above, or possibly command of larger echelon forces such as squadrons and task groups, although such promotions are not always guaranteed.
Rank Insignia
| Paygrade | Rank | Insignia |
|---|---|---|
| O-6 | Captain | File:O6r.png |
Promotion & Training
To qualify to hold the rank of Captain, a member must have successfully completed SIA-RMN-0106 (Captain (jg) Examination) from the Saganami Island Naval Academy's Officers Academy, or an equivalent examination from another learning institution.
Promotion to Captain may only be conferred by a promotion board and to qualify to stand before the board, an officer must have at least eighteen (18) months' time in grade along with the above stated training.[1]
See Also
- O-6 equivalents from other branches of The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc.:
- O-3 equivalents from other branches of The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc.:
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Admiralty Order 1510-02
- ↑ RMA Soldier's Guide (Revision 17May2014)
| TRMN Ranks | |||||||
| Type | Grade | Navy | Marines/Army | Type | Grade | Fleet | Marines/Army |
| Officers | Enlisted | ||||||
| Flag Officers |
F6 | AotF HADM GdF |
MotC MotA |
NCO Ranks |
E10 | SMCPON OSBdF FSMCPO CSMCPO MCPON SMCPO OSB |
SGTMAJRMMC SGTMAJRMA CSGTMAJ RSGTMAJ |
| F5 | FADM GADM |
MSHL FMSHL |
E9 | MCPO SB |
SGTMAJ | ||
| F4 | ADM | GEN | E8 | SCPO HB |
1SGT | ||
| F3 | VADM | LTGEN | E7 | CPO OB |
MSGT | ||
| F2 | RADM KADM |
MAJGEN | E6 | PO1 B |
SSGT | ||
| F1 | CDRE FADM |
BRGEN | E5 | PO2 OMT |
PSGT | ||
| Field Grade Officers |
O6 | CAPT CAPTSG CAPTJG KDS |
COL | E4 | PO3 MT |
CPL | |
| O5 | CDR FK |
LTCOL | Non-Rate Enlisted Ranks |
E3 | S1C HGEFR |
LCPL | |
| O4 | LCDR KK |
MAJ | E2 | S2C OGEFR |
PFC | ||
| Company Grade Officers |
O3 | LTSG KL |
CPT | E1 | S3C GEFR |
PVT | |
| O2 | LTJG OLDS |
1LT | Training Ranks |
N/A | MID CDT SK | ||
| O1 | ENS LDS |
2LT | |||||
| Warrant Officers | |||||||
| W5 | W4 | W3 | W2 | W1 | |||
| MCWO SMCWO |
SCWO MCWO |
CWO SCWO |
WO1 CWO |
WO2 WO | |||