# Second-in-command

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{{Short description|Second-highest authority within a certain organisation}}
{{for|the film|Second in Command}}{{One source|date=April 2024}}
'''Second-in-command''' ('''2i/c''' or '''2IC''') is a title denoting that the holder of the title is the second-highest authority within a certain organisation.

==Usage==
In the [British Army](/source/British_Army) or [Royal Marines](/source/Royal_Marines), the second-in-command is the deputy commander of a unit, from [battalion](/source/battalion) or [regiment](/source/regiment) downwards. This terminology is also used in many other [Commonwealth](/source/Commonwealth_of_Nations) armies and other nations. The equivalent appointment in the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) is the [executive officer](/source/executive_officer).<ref>{{Citation |title=MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD \ SUBJECT: Executive Officer Standard Operating Procedures |date=2015-11-05 |url=https://juniorofficer.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/XO-Smartbook-PDF.pdf |access-date=2023-03-15 |publisher=DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY CHARLIE COMPANY, AVIATION SUPPORT BATTALION COMBAT AVIATION BRIGADE, INFANTRY DIVISION UNIT, APO AP |archive-date=2023-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316181030/https://juniorofficer.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/XO-Smartbook-PDF.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The second-in-command of a battalion or regiment is usually a [major](/source/Major_(rank)). The second-in-command of a [company](/source/Company_(military_unit)), [squadron](/source/Squadron_(army)), or [artillery battery](/source/artillery_battery) (in which they are called the battery captain) is usually a [captain](/source/Captain_(land_and_air)) (although [infantry](/source/infantry) company second-in-commands were usually [lieutenant](/source/lieutenant)s until after the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War)), the second-in-command of a [platoon](/source/platoon) or [troop](/source/troop) is the platoon or troop [sergeant](/source/sergeant), and the second-in-command of a [section](/source/Section_(military_unit)) is usually a [lance corporal](/source/lance_corporal).

In the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) and Commonwealth navies, the second-in-command of a vessel, regardless of rank, is known as the [first lieutenant](/source/First_lieutenant) or executive officer.

== Other uses ==
In common usage, the term refers to a [deputy](/source/subordinate). Its basic meaning is "someone who relieves a commander".

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Military ranks

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Second-in-command](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-in-command) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-in-command?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.