Talk:Executive officer

The executive officer is the officer that is second-in-command, no matter what branch; the level of organization may simply go by a different name.

For instance, the battalion is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. His XO would be a Major. If it's a company, it is commanded by a Captain. His XO would be a First Lieutenant. If it's the Navy's organizational structure, replace battalion with whatever the equivalent organization is in the Navy, but it's the same idea.

Platoons have no XO; the commanding officer is usually a Second Lieutenant, and his second-in-command would be the platoon sergeant (usually a Staff Sergeant). If it is the Army, the platoon sergeant is a Sergeant First Class.

Hope that helps.  Smoke Sound off! 02:31, 22 July 2012 (EDT)