commandant (rank)

{{Unsourced section|date=March 2025}}

{{lang|fr|Commandant d'aviation}} was the Canadian French term for the air force rank of squadron leader (prior to the 2014 amendment of the National Defence Act).{{cn|date=May 2018}} The rank of squadron leader itself had not been held by active duty personnel in the Canadian Forces since 1968 when it was replaced by major.

Commandant (Comdt) ({{langx|ga|Ceannfort}}) is a military rank in both the Irish Army and Irish Air Corps.{{cite web |title=Army Rank Markings |url=http://www.military.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/images/Info_Centre/Posters/rank_markings/Army_Rank_Markings_01.png |website=military.ie |publisher=Defence Forces (Ireland) |access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425021608/http://www.military.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/images/Info_Centre/Posters/rank_markings/Army_Rank_Markings_01.png |archive-date=25 April 2016}} It is equivalent to major and squadron leader. In the Irish Naval Service, the equivalent rank is lieutenant commander.

Image:IE-Army-OF3.png|Irish Army commandant's subdued rank slide

File:Ireland-AirForce-OF-3.svg|Irish Air Corps rank insignia

File:IE-Aircorps-OF3.png|Irish Air Corps rank insignia (green)

Commandant is a rank in the Central Armed Police Forces of India (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB). It is equivalent to the rank of Colonel/Captain/Group Captain. Commandant rank officers generally command battalions in the CAPFs. In the Indian Coast Guard, ranks of Commandant and Commandant (Junior grade) exist. While Commandant is equivalent to Colonel/Captain/Group Captain, Commandant (Junior grade) is equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel/Commander/Wing Commander.{{cite web |title=Rank Structure - Officers |url=https://joinindiancoastguard.cdac.in/rank_structure_officers.html |website=joinindiancoastguard.cdac.in |access-date=8 October 2023}}

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox military rank

| name = Commandant

| native_name = {{lang|fr|Commandant}}

| image = {{nobreak| 50px 50px}}

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Army and air force insignia

| image2 =

| image_size2 =

| alt2 =

| caption2 =

| image3 =

| image_size3 =

| alt3 =

| caption3 =

| country = {{flag|France}}

| service branch = Army
Air Force
Gendarmerie

| abbreviation = CDT

| rank group = Senior officer

| rank =

| NATO rank = OF-3

| Non-NATO rank =

| pay grade =

| formation =

| abolished =

| higher rank = Lieutenant colonel

| lower rank = Captain

| equivalents = Corvette captain

| history =

}}

Commandant is an officer-grade rank of the Military of France,{{cite book |title=Instruction N° 10300/DEF/EMAT/LOG/ASH |date=13 June 2005 |publisher=Staff of the French Army |url=https://rescue18.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/INSTRUCTION-N-10300_DEF_EMAT_LOG_ASH-DEF_DCCAT_LOG_REG.pdf |access-date=30 May 2021 |language=fr |archive-date=12 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612085956/https://rescue18.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/INSTRUCTION-N-10300_DEF_EMAT_LOG_ASH-DEF_DCCAT_LOG_REG.pdf |url-status=dead }} specifically the French Army and the French Air and Space Force, in both of which it has NATO level OF-3: equivalent to major or lieutenant-commander. In this context, it is shortened form of the previous rank {{lang|fr|capitaine-commandant}}: i.e. a "captain commanding (a battalion)".

The {{lang|fr|commandant}} is also styled {{lang|fr|chef de bataillon}} ("battalion leader") in the infantry, {{lang|fr|chef d'escadrons}} ("squadrons leader"){{efn|Before 1815, a French cavalry squadron was formed by assembling two companies. In 1815, cavalry companies were redesignated as squadrons and - a few years later - the battalion-equivalent units in the cavalry (several squadrons) were named squadrons groups (groupes d'escadrons) so the rank of the commanding officer of a squadrons group became chef d'escadrons (with an s) in the French cavalry.}} in the armoured cavalry and {{lang|fr|chef d'escadron}} ("squadron leader") in the artillery and the {{lang|fr|Gendarmerie}}. They are all addressed as either Mon commandant, or Commandant.{{efn|Mon commandant (Mon for Monsieur) is used for male officers.}}

=== French Army ===

The French Army is divided into "horse troops" (troupes à cheval, with silver braids){{efn|There are a few exceptions: for example the Spahis (a cavalry unit) have yellow braids}} and "foot troops" (troupes à pied - with golden braids)

• Troupes à cheval (horse troops):
• cavalry, tanks : chef d'escadrons
• transportation units, artillery : chef d'escadron
• Troupes à pied (foot units):
• infantry, combat engineers : chef de bataillon

The Gendarmerie, while not part of the Army, uses a comparable rank system

• Gendarmerie line officers: chef d'escadron - four silver (white) braids for the Departmental Gendarmerie, four golden (yellow) braids for the Mobile Gendarmerie and the Republican Guard
• Gendarmerie administrative corps: commandant - four silver (white) braids

• Air and Space force: commandant

In the French Navy, {{lang|fr|commandant}} is a appointment or operational command, rather than a rank, namely, the commanding officer (CO) of a ship, e.g. {{lang|fr|capitaine de vaisseau}} (vessel), {{lang|fr|capitaine de frégate}} (frigate), {{lang|fr|capitaine de corvette}} (corvette) or {{lang|fr|lieutenant de vaisseau}}. As such, it can refer to the holders of several ranks. They are all adressed as commandant, regardless of rank or sex.

While the most frequent equivalent of Commandant is Major in English-speaking courntries, the word Major (France) has had - and still has - an entirely different meaning in the French Armed forces.

Prior to the French Revolution, the {{lang|fr|major}} was the officer appointed by the King to keep track of the expenditures and readiness of a regiment. He could have a deputy (an {{lang|fr|aide-major}}) and could be either a commoner or a nobleman. A major was graded as a commissar, not an officer.

Since the lieutenant-colonel rank had been abolished by the Revolution, during the Napoleonic Period, it was replaced by the rank of Major. The Major was second in command of a regiment and frequently in charge of the bataillon de dépot or the escadron de dépot training recruits in the rear. Olex Sokolov - L'Armée de Napoléon, Jan 2003, Éditions Commios, isbn 2-9518364-1-4, p 123 The officer at commandant rank level was the {{lang|fr|chef de bataillon}} or {{lang|fr|chef d'escadron}}.

Nowadays, {{lang|fr|Major}} is the most senior warrant officer rank, above {{lang|fr|adjudant-chef}}.

Commandant is also a rank in the National Police and in other civilian administrations.

File:commandant.png |French infantry - chef de bataillon

File:Commandant des armes à cheval.png |French cavalry - chef d'escadron(s)

File:French Air Force-commandant.svg |French Air and Space Force commandant

File:Ingénieur de l'AE 7-10e échelon.png |Commandant des Eaux et Forêts

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2022}}

In the Spanish Army and Spanish Air Force, the rank of {{lang|es|comandante}} is senior to a captain and junior to a lieutenant colonel, making it equivalent to the rank of major or squadron leader in English-speaking countries.

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2022}}

{{lang|es|Comandante}} ("commandant") is a military officer rank used in some Latin American countries.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} The Chilean Air Force uses the rank of {{lang|es|comandante de escuadrilla}} ("squadron commandant") as a rank equivalent to the British rank of squadron leader. The Peruvian Air Force uses the rank of {{lang|es|comandante}} as an equivalent to lieutenant-colonel or wing commander.

{{lang|es|Comandante}} can be translated into English either as "commandant" or as "commander". The rank may also be found in numerous paramilitary and guerrilla organizations, such as the Sandinistas and the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.

File:Fach escu.gif|Chilean Air Force squadron commandant rank insignia (epaulette)

File:Comandante de Escuadrilla (FACH).png|Chilean Air Force squadron commandant rank insignia (sleeve)

File:COMMANDANT SA ARMY PRE-1994 NUTRIA.jpg

In South Africa, commandant was the title of the commanding officer of a commando (militia) unit, initially in the Cape Colony and later also in the Boer republics.

From 1950 to 1994 commandant was the official designation of the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the South African Army, South African Air Force, and South African Medical Service.

From 1950 to 1957, the rank insignia for a commandant ({{lang|af|Kommandant}} in Afrikaans) was a crown over a five-pointed star.{{cite journal|author-last1=Jooste |author-first1=L. |title=Die politieke koerswending van 1948 besorg 'n nuwe identiteit aan die Unieverdedigingsma |trans-title=The political turnaround of 1948 brings a new identity to the Union Defense Force |journal=Militaria |date=1996 |volume=26 |issue=2 |language=Afrikaans |pages=113–128}}{{cite journal|author-last1=Radburn |author-first1=A. |title=South African Army Ranks and Insignia |journal=Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies |date=1990 |volume=20 |issue=2}} In 1957 the crown was replaced by a pentagonal castle device based on the floor plan of the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, South Africa's oldest military building. In 1994, the rank of commandant / {{lang|af|kommandant}} reverted to lieutenant colonel.{{cite journal|journal=Salut |date=May 1994 |volume=1 |issue=1 |page=4}}

From 1968 to 1970, a related rank, chief commandant ({{lang|af|hoofkommandant}}), existed in the Commando Forces [the rural part-time, territorial reserve, roughly equivalent to a National Guard or Home Guard].{{cite journal|author-last1=Retief |author-first1=J.J. |title=Die rang van hoofkommandant in die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag |journal=Military History Journal |date=December 1997 |volume=10 |issue=6 |language=Afrikaans}} This rank of chief commandant existed purely in the army and slotted in between commandant and colonel. The rank was only used by officers commanding commando groups (i.e. a small formation consisting of two or more commando units).

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2022}}

In the United Kingdom the term commandant usually refers to an appointment, not a rank. However, between 1922 and 1928 the rank of brigadier-general was replaced by colonel-commandant. This was not well received, and was replaced by brigadier.

Later, senior commandant and chief commandant were Auxiliary Territorial Service ranks equivalent to major and lieutenant-colonel respectively used between 1939 and May 1941, when they were replaced by senior and chief commander. The Commanding Officers of individual battalions of the Brigade of Gurkhas was designated a Commandant, rather than a commanding officer; and so with the Bermuda Militia Artillery (1895-1965). These ranks were also used in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force until December 1939, when they were replaced by squadron officer and wing officer (equating to squadron leader and wing commander) respectively. The rank was also used for senior commanders of the Ulster Special Constabulary (B Specials).

File:10.AlgA-MAJ.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
{{small|{{langx|ar|رائد|Ra'id}})}}
(Algerian Land Forces){{cite web |title=Ranks |url=https://www.mdn.dz/site_principal/sommaire/presentation/armoiries_an.php |website=mdn.dz |publisher=Ministry of National Defence (Algeria) |access-date=30 May 2021}}

File:Benin Army OF-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Benin Army){{cite web |title=LOI N° 2005-43 DU 26 JUIN 2006 |url=https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/94851/111467/F-404511779/BEN-94851.pdf |website=ilo.org |publisher=National Assembly (Benin) |access-date=13 June 2021 |pages=19-20, 35-36 |language=fr |date=26 June 2006}}

File:11. Burkina Faso Army - MAJ.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Burkina Faso Ground Forces){{cite web |title=LOI N° 037-2016/AN PORTANT CONDITIONS D'AVANCEMENT DES PERSONNELS D'ACTIVE DES FORCES ARMEES NATIONALES |url=https://lavoixdujuristebf.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/loi_037_avancement_personnel_fan.pdf |date=2015 |access-date=3 June 2021 |pages=17–21 |lang=fr |archive-date=31 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831104305/https://lavoixdujuristebf.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/loi_037_avancement_personnel_fan.pdf |url-status=dead }}

File:Cameroon-Army-OF-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Cameroon Ground Forces)

File:13.CAGF-MAJ.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Central African Ground Forces)

File:Chad-Army-OF-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Chadian Ground Forces)

File:Comoros-Army-OF-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Comorian Army)

File:11-ROCongo Army-MAJ.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Congolese Ground Forces){{cite web |title=Grades appellations distinctions |url=https://defense.gouv.cg/gradesappellationsdistinctions/ |website=defense.gouv.cg |publisher=Ministry of National Defense (Republic of the Congo) |access-date=7 June 2021 |language=fr}}

File:Djibouti-Army-OF-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Djiboutian Army)

File:10. EGLF-MAJ.svg|{{lang|es|Comandante}}
(Army of Equatorial Guinea)

File:Army-FRA-OF-03.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(French Army)

File:14.GLF-MAJ.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Gabonese Army)

File:Mali-Army-OF-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Guinea Ground Forces)

File:Ireland-Army-OF-3.svg|Commandant
{{small|({{langx|ga|Ceannfort}})}}
(Irish Army)

File:Ivory Coast-Army-OF-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Ivory Coast Ground Forces){{cite web |title=GRADES / APPELLATIONS / DISTINCTIONS |url=http://www.defense.gouv.ci/culture/grades |website=defense.gouv.ci |publisher=Ministère de la Défense |access-date=23 September 2020 |language=fr |archive-date=1 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001165925/https://www.defense.gouv.ci/culture/grades |url-status=dead }}

File:Madagascar-Army-OF-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Madagascar Ground Forces){{cite web |title=LOI N° 96-029 portant Statut Général des Militaires |url=http://www.defense.gov.mg/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LOI-96-029.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710195555/http://www.defense.gov.mg/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LOI-96-029.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |website=defense.gov.mg |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Madagascar) |access-date=10 July 2021 |pages=2 |language=fr |date=15 November 1996}}

File:09.Mali Army-MAJ.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Mali Army){{cite web|title=2011 - Plaquette sur les insignes et blasons des Forces Armées du Mali|url=http://www.memoriamali.com/webdossier/2011-parcours-historique-de-la-region-de-segou/|language=fr|date=23 April 2011 |access-date=17 October 2020 }}

File:13-Moroccan Army-MAJ.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Royal Moroccan Army){{cite book |last1=Ehrenreich |first1=Frederich |editor1-last= Nelson |editor1-first=Harold D. |title=Morocco: a country study |series=Area Handbook |date=1985 |location=Washington, D.C. |lccn=85600265 |pages=350–351 |edition=5th |chapter=National Security}}

File:Blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Niger Army){{cite web |author1=Bureau international des droits des enfants |title=État des Lieux: Formation des forces de défense et de sécurité sur les droit de l'enfant au Niger |url=http://www.ibcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/%C3%89tat-des-lieux-Niger.pdf |access-date=28 September 2020 |page=34 |language=fr |date=December 2012}}

File:Senegal-Army-OF-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Senegalese Army)

File:Spain-Army-OF-3.svg|{{lang|es|Comandante}}
(Spanish Army){{cite web |title=Army Ranks & Insignia |url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/en/personal/divisas-empleos.html |website=ejercito.defensa.gob.es |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Spain) |access-date=30 May 2021}}

File:Togo-Army-OF-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
(Togolese Army){{cite web |title=Journal officiel de la république togolaise |date=12 February 2008 |volume=5 |url=http://jo.gouv.tg/sites/default/files/annee/2008/jo%202008-5.pdf |access-date=16 June 2021 |language=fr}}

File:Grade Terre tunisienne O4.png|{{lang|fr|Commandant}}
{{small|({{langx|ar|رائد|Ra'id}})}}
(Tunisian Army){{cite web |title=Décret n° 72-380 du 6 décembre 1972, portant Statut particulier des militaires |url=https://legislation-securite.tn/law/40982 |website=legislation-securite.tn |publisher=Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance |access-date=22 December 2021 |language=fr |date=6 December 1972}}

{{reflist|2}}

Category:Military ranks

Category:Military ranks of Ireland

Category:Military ranks of France

Category:Police ranks