32 C.F.R. Subpart G—Commanders In Chief and Other Commanders
Title 32 - National Defense
(a) The commander of a principal organization of the operating forces of the Navy, as determined by the Chief of Naval Operations, or the officer who has succeeded to such command as provided elsewhere in these regulations, shall have the title “Commander.” The name of the organization under the command of such an officer shall be added to form his or her official title, e.g., “Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.” Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, may also be referred to as a “Geographic Fleet Commander.” (b) The commander of each other organization of units of the operating forces of the Navy or marine corps, or organization of units of shore activities, shall have the title “Commander,” “Commandant,” “Commanding General” or other appropriate title. The name of the organization under the command of such an officer shall be added to form his or her official title. [64 FR 56062, Oct. 15, 1999, as amended at 68 FR 2697, Jan. 21, 2003] (a) Commanders shall be responsible for the satisfactory accomplishment of the mission and duties assigned to their commands. Their authority shall be commensurate with their responsibilities. Normally, commanders shall exercise authority through their immediate subordinate commanders, but they may communicate directly with any of their subordinates. (b) Commanders shall ensure that subordinate commands are fully aware of the importance of strong, dynamic leadership and its relationship to the overall efficiency and readiness of naval forces. Commanders shall exercise positive leadership and actively develop the highest qualities of leadership in persons with positions of authority and responsibility throughout their commands. (c) Subject to orders of higher authority, and subject to the provisions of §700.106 of these regulations, commanders shall issue such regulations and instructions as may be necessary for the proper administration of their commands. (d) Commanders shall hold the same relationship to their flagships, or to shore activities of the command in which their headquarters may be located, in regard to internal administration and discipline, as to any other ship or shore activity of their commands. (a) Upon assuming command, commanders shall so advise appropriate superiors, and the units of their commands. (b) When appropriate, commanders shall also advise the following officers and officials located within the area encompassed by the command concerning their assumption of command. (1) Senior commanders of other United States armed services; (2) Officials of other federal agencies; and (3) Officials of foreign governments. Commanders shall take all practicable steps to maintain their commands in a state of readiness to perform their missions. In conformity with the orders and policies of higher authority, they shall: (a) Organize the forces and resources under their command and assign duties to their principal subordinate commanders; (b) Prepare plans for the employment of their forces to meet existing and foreseeable situations; (c) Collaborate with the commanders of other United States armed services and with appropriate officials of other federal agencies and foreign governments located within the area encompassed by their commands; (d) Maintain effective intelligence and keep themselves informed of the political and military aspects of the national and international situation; (e) Make, or cause to be made, necessary inspections to ensure the readiness, effectiveness and efficiency of the components of their commands; and (f) Develop, in accordance with directives issued by higher authority, training strategies and plans for their commands. At all times, commanders shall observe, and require their commands to observe, the principles of international law. Where necessary to fulfill this responsibility, a departure from other provisions of Navy Regulations is authorized. Commanders shall keep their immediate superiors appropriately informed of: (a) The organization of their commands, the prospective and actual movements of the units of their commands, and the location of their headquarters; (b) Plans for employment of their forces; (c) The condition of their commands and of any required action pertaining thereto which is beyond their capacity or authority; (d) Intelligence information which may be of value; (e) Any battle, engagement or other significant action involving units of their commands; (f) Any important service or duty performed by persons or units of their commands; and (g) Unexecuted orders and matters of interest upon being relieved of command.
Title 32: National Defense
PART 700—UNITED STATES NAVY REGULATIONS AND OFFICIAL RECORDS
Subpart G—Commanders In Chief and Other Commanders
Titles and Duties of Commanders
§ 700.701 Titles of commanders.
§ 700.702 Responsibility and authority of commanders.
§ 700.703 To announce assumption of command.
§ 700.704 Readiness.
§ 700.705 Observance of international law.
§ 700.706 Keeping immediate superiors informed.
Staffs of Commanders
§ 700.710 Organization of a staff.
(a) The term “staff” means those officers and other designated persons assigned to a commander to assist him or her in the administration and operation of his or her command.
(b) The officer detailed as chief of staff and aide to a fleet admiral or admiral normally shall be a vice admiral or a rear admiral. The officer detailed as chief of staff and aide to a vice admiral or rear admiral shall normally be a rear admiral or a captain. The detailing of a vice commander or a deputy to a commander shall be reserved for selected commanders. An officer detailed as chief staff officer to another officer shall normally not be of the same grade as that officer.
(c) The staff shall be organized into such divisions as may be prescribed by the commander concerned or by higher authority. These divisions shall conform in nature and designation, as practicable and as appropriate, to those of the staffs of superiors.
(d) The staff of a flag or general officer may include one or more personal aides.
§ 700.711 Authority and responsibilities of officers of a staff.
(a) The chief of staff and aide or chief staff officer, under the commander, shall be responsible for supervising and coordinating the work of the staff and shall be kept informed of all matters pertaining to that work. All persons attached to the staff, except a vice commander or deputy responsible directly to the commander shall be subordinate to the chief of staff and aide or chief staff officer while he or she is executing the duties of that office.
(b) The officers of a staff shall be responsible for the performance of those duties assigned to them by the commander and shall advise the commander on all matters pertaining thereto. In the performance of their staff duties they shall have no command authority of their own. In carrying out such duties, they shall act for, and in the name of, the commander.
Administration and Discipline
§ 700.720 Administration and discipline: Staff embarked.
In matters of general discipline, the staff of a commander embarked and all enlisted persons serving with the staff shall be subject to the internal regulations and routine of the ship. They shall be assigned regular stations for battle and emergencies. Enlisted persons serving with the staff shall be assigned to the ship for administration and discipline, except in the case of a staff embarked for passage only, and provided in that case that an organization exists and is authorized to act for such purposes.
§ 700.721 Administration and discipline: Staff based ashore.
When a staff is based ashore, the enlisted persons serving with the staff shall, when practicable, be assigned to an appropriated activity for purposes of administration and discipline. The staff officers may be similarly assigned. Members of a staff assigned for any purpose to a command or activity shall conform in matters of general discipline to the internal regulations and routine of that command or activity.
§ 700.722 Administration and discipline: Staff unassigned to an administrative command.
(a) When it is not practicable to assign enlisted persons serving with the staff of a commander to an established activity for administration and discipline, the commander may designate an officer of the staff to act as the commanding officer of such persons and shall notify the Judge Advocate General and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, or the Chief of Naval Personnel, as appropriate, of such action.
(b) If the designating commander desires the commanding officer of staff enlisted personnel to possess authority to convene courts-martial, the commander should request the Judge Advocate General to obtain such authorization from the Secretary of the Navy.
§ 700.723 Administration and discipline: Separate and detached command.
Any flag or general officer in command, any officer authorized to convene general courts-martial, or the senior officer present may designate organizations which are separate or detached commands. Such officer shall state in writing that it is a separate or detached command and shall inform the Judge Advocate General of the action taken. If authority to convene courts-martial is desired for the commanding officer or officer in charge of such separate or detached command, the officer designating the organization as separate or detached shall request the Judge Advocate general to obtain authorization from the Secretary of the Navy.
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