1st Lt.

[JohnKachenmeister]

  A "Captain" is an O-6, which presented numerous opportunities for me to engage in waste, fraud, and abuse when I was an Army O-3, merely by checking into quarters on Navy bases in civilian clothes.

"I'm Captain Kachenmeister, and I reserved quarters earlier by phone."

"Yes, sir, your room is available in the Distinguished Visitor quarters.  The driver will get your bags."

What was the outcome when they realized the mistake?

"Oh... you're an ARMY officer!?"

"Yes.  By the way... nice quarters.  I'll be checking out in the morning, since I have to catch an early flight."

[RiverAux]

On REAL small ships (small CG cutters), the 1st Lt is actually an enlisted person. 

[JohnKachenmeister]

On REALLY REALLY small ships, (Yard and District craft) the CAPTAIN is an enlisted person.

[addo1]

One thing I want to be sure on is do you mean First Lieutenant = Lieutnenant J.G., or Captain = Lieutenant? 

 Sorry it took me so long...  It is Captain =  Lieutenant that I am talking about.  

[SDF_Specialist]

One thing I want to be sure on is do you mean First Lieutenant = Lieutnenant J.G., or Captain = Lieutenant? 

 Sorry it took me so long...  It is Captain =  Lieutenant that I am talking about.  

Yes, you can retain that rank in CAP. Just have the proper paperwork showing that you held that rank.

[addo1]

  Thanks, that answers my questions!!   

[Falshrmjgr]

Much off topic, but why doesn't the Marines follow the same rank titles as the Navy since they are under the department of the Navy? I mean this from an officer standpoint.

Simply put, because the Marine Corps is a Ground Based organization, and that there are traditional expectations of grade for a commander at a certain level, that is, Company's are commanded by Captains (and in the Navy's case, a Ship's Company), and Regiments are commanded by Colonels.

Also remember that a Marine Captain (Or any other Captain, O3) while serving on a Navy ship are given a "coutesy promotion" to Major, as a Ship has only ONE Captain...

[Skyray]

Also remember that a Marine Captain (Or any other Captain, O3) while serving on a Navy ship are given a "courtesy promotion" to Major, as a Ship has only ONE Captain...

I have frequently heard the Skipper of the Ship's Marines called or referred to as Captain of Marines, but I have never heard one called Major.

[JohnKachenmeister]

Also remember that a Marine Captain (Or any other Captain, O3) while serving on a Navy ship are given a "courtesy promotion" to Major, as a Ship has only ONE Captain...

I have frequently heard the Skipper of the Ship's Marines called or referred to as Captain of Marines, but I have never heard one called Major.

One captain?

Then why is the petty officer in charge of each gun crew called the "Mount Captain?"

[topsecret]

Also remember that a Marine Captain (Or any other Captain, O3) while serving on a Navy ship are given a "coutesy promotion" to Major, as a Ship has only ONE Captain...

I've seen this practice mentioned in science fiction novels (i.e., David Weber, Diane Duane, Chris Claremont), and was curious enough to ask my then-stepfather (23-year USN chief petty officer) about it.  He said he had never heard of such a thing.  I can find no U.S. Navy reference to it, either.  There is also no "courtesy promotion" for a Navy (O-6) captain on board a Navy vessel which he does not command. 

The officers and crew are smart enough to know who the boss is without "courtesy promotions."

v/r
Bill

[Falshrmjgr]

Well, since I'm only a Navy Brat, I will defer to those with more knowledge, but I am curious if this *was* a tradition at one point that fell into disuse?  It seems a very Britannic tradition and one that would probably fall into disuse in American services.  I suspect I did perhaps pick up this bit of mental lint reading fiction (*sigh*, mea culpa.)

Conversely, a good hypothesis on its disuse was during WWII, with the advent of the Aircraft Carrier.  Previously a Ship's company of Marines would probably had at most 1 or 2 Marine Captains, but I think that once you had an entire Squadron of Marine Aviators aboard, it would have gotten absurd pretty quickly.  (And probably pretty irritating to actual Marine majors.....)

I did however find a single reference to the tradition here: http://www.friesian.com/rank.htm  As to whether the research there is 100%, it is an interesting read.

[jeders]

I did however find a single reference to the tradition here: http://www.friesian.com/rank.htm  As to whether the research there is 100%, it is an interesting read.

Well, it's on the internet, it must be true.

[RogueLeader]

I did however find a single reference to the tradition here: http://www.friesian.com/rank.htm  As to whether the research there is 100%, it is an interesting read.

Well, it's on the internet, it must be true.

Just ask Al Gore, he invented it after all. . .

[SarDragon]

Much off topic, but why doesn't the Marines follow the same rank titles as the Navy since they are under the department of the Navy? I mean this from an officer standpoint.

Simply put, because the Marine Corps is a Ground Based organization, and that there are traditional expectations of grade for a commander at a certain level, that is, Company's are commanded by Captains (and in the Navy's case, a Ship's Company), and Regiments are commanded by Colonels.

Also remember that a Marine Captain (Or any other Captain, O3) while serving on a Navy ship are given a "coutesy promotion" to Major, as a Ship has only ONE Captain...

Huh? Not on my boat!

The ship's captain is a position, not a rank. That position can be held by any officer rank, and has even been given to senior enlisted folks. The customary form of address is "Skipper", regardless of rank.  Marine Captains are still Captains.

I checked out the website, and found no substantiating references, so will discount it.

[Al Sayre]

Much off topic, but why doesn't the Marines follow the same rank titles as the Navy since they are under the department of the Navy? I mean this from an officer standpoint.

Simply put, because the Marine Corps is a Ground Based organization, and that there are traditional expectations of grade for a commander at a certain level, that is, Company's are commanded by Captains (and in the Navy's case, a Ship's Company), and Regiments are commanded by Colonels.

Also remember that a Marine Captain (Or any other Captain, O3) while serving on a Navy ship are given a "coutesy promotion" to Major, as a Ship has only ONE Captain...

Huh? Not on my boat!

The ship's captain is a position, not a rank. That position can be held by any officer rank, and has even been given to senior enlisted folks. The customary form of address is "Skipper", regardless of rank.  Marine Captains are still Captains.

I checked out the website, and found no substantiating references, so will discount it.

I concur with Dave.  While I have heard Navy Captains referred to as "Commodore" (usually the Group Commander) I have never heard a Marine or Army Captain called Major just for courtesy's sake.

[SarDragon]

[backquotes redacted] I concur with Dave.  While I have heard Navy Captains referred to as "Commodore" (usually the Group Commander) I have never heard a Marine or Army Captain called Major just for courtesy's sake.

Commodore has, for the most part, been a position and not a rank. This position is usually as commander of a battle group, squadron of ships, or similar level in the command echelon. More here.

[ZigZag911]

I first saw this 'custom' recorded when I read "Starship Troopers" (Robert Heinlein) as a kid.....could this have been Royal Navy practice once upon a time??

[SarDragon]

I first saw this 'custom' recorded when I read "Starship Troopers" (Robert Heinlein) as a kid.....could this have been Royal Navy practice once upon a time??

Check out the Wikipedia article I linked to, and branch out from there.

[mikeylikey]

Also remember that a Marine Captain (Or any other Captain, O3) while serving on a Navy ship are given a "courtesy promotion" to Major, as a Ship has only ONE Captain...

I have frequently heard the Skipper of the Ship's Marines called or referred to as Captain of Marines, but I have never heard one called Major.

No never.  Frocking went out a long time ago.  In fact, frocking officers were restricted to Naval and Army Officers.  Marines were not considered "important enough", nor enough of them around to "promote then demote".

[Cecil DP]

They also left out the Navy CW-5 which is similar to the Army and USMC insignia except it has a blue stripe down the middle and the sleeve stripe is a gold stripe with a blue stripe running  through it.