Assistant commandant explained

Assistant Commandant is a title often given to the second-in-command of a military, uniformed service, training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations, and in some countries it may be a military or police rank.

India

Assistant Commandant as a rank was envisaged by General J. N. Chaudhuri, who was part of the committee studying the need for a dedicated Border Guarding force raised on military lines to guard the perilous India-Pakistan border given the UN conventions deriding and preventing military formations or build-up on the borders between the two un-friendly neighbors. General J. N. Chaudhuri recommended to raise the officer cadre of the Border Security Force on lines of the military hierarchy and hence Assistant Commandant, which otherwise is an appointment in most countries, came up as the junior most rank in the hierarchy of Gazetted officers of the Border Security Force.

For its exclusivity and unique hierarchical association with Indian Paramilitary Forces of India, Assistant Commandant, for comparative understanding, is equivalent to the ranks of assistant commissioner of police (ACP), deputy superintendent of police (DSP), and Captain in the Indian Army. This rank is the highest entry level rank in the Central Armed Police Forces of India.

Assistant commandants in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are selected through a competitive exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) annually.

Assistant Commandants are mandated to command companies and Direct Action Teams (DATs) in various CAPFs and law enforcement agencies, They are also sent on deputations to various organizations such as RAW, NSG, SPG, NIA, IB, CBI, NDRF, NCB, State Armed Police Force (DRG, Jharkhand Jaguars, Bihar military police, IRB, UP/MP STFs, etc.). Their role and performance therefore assumes an enormous significance because of the multitudinous role they play at various leadership and staff roles.

CAPFs ranksPolice ranksArmy ranksNavy ranksAir Force ranksCoast Guard ranksIntelligence Bureau Ranks
Director general (Apex Scale)Director general of State Police ForceLieutenant general
(Commander's Scale)
Vice admiral
(Commander's Scale)
Air marshal
(Commander's Scale)
Director generalSpecial Director
Additional director general (ADG)Additional director general (ADG)Lieutenant general (HAG)Vice admiral (HAG)Air marshal (HAG)Additional Director
Inspector general (IG)Inspector general (IG)Major generalRear admiralAir vice marshalInspector generalJoint Director
Deputy inspector general (DIG)Deputy inspector general (DIG)BrigadierCommodoreAir commodoreDeputy inspector general
Deputy Director
CommandantSenior Superintendent of Police (SSP)ColonelCaptainGroup captainCommandantAdditional Deputy Director/Joint Deputy Director
Second-in-CommandSuperintendent of Police (SP) / Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)Lieutenant colonelCommanderWing commanderCommandant (Junior Grade)Assistant Director
Deputy commandantAdditional Superintendent of PoliceMajorLieutenant commanderSquadron leaderDeputy commandantDeputy Central Intelligence Officer
Assistant commandantDeputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) / Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)CaptainLieutenantFlight lieutenantAssistant commandantAssistant Central Intelligence Officer - I
Assistant commandant (Officer Trainee)Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)LieutenantSub-lieutenantFlying officerAssistant commandant
Assistant Central Intelligence officer -II

Pay scale of assistant commandants in CAPFs

RankPay ScalePay Band
Director-GeneralINR 2,25,000Apex Fixed
Additional Director GeneralINR 1,82,200 to INR 2,24,100HAG
Inspector GeneralINR 1,44,000 to INR 2,18,000Pay Band 4
Deputy Inspector GeneralINR 1,31,000 - INR 2,15,900Pay Band 4
CommandantINR 1,31,000 - INR 2,15,986.Pay Band 4
Second-in-CommandINR 78,800 - INR 2,09,200Pay Band 3
Deputy CommandantINR 67,700 - INR 2,08,870Pay Band 3
Assistant CommandantINR 56,100 - 1,77,500Pay Band 3

Subordinate officers (SOs)

Sub-Inspectors are recruited through competitive examination conducted by Staff Selection Commission and they are referred to as DASOs (directly appointed subordinate officers). DESOs (departmental entry subordinate officers) are those officers who have been promoted through departmental exams conducted internally for inspectors, sub inspectors, assistant sub inspectors, head constables, constables etc.

Promotional avenues for Gazetted officers

After joining service as assistant commandant the following promotional avenues are available to cadre officers:-

RankQualifying service for promotion
Dy. Commandant.5 years as Asstt. Commandnat.
Second-In-Command5 years as Dy.Commandant (with total 10 years Group ‘A’ service).
Commandant5 years as Second-In-Command (with 15 years Group ‘A’ service)
DIG3 years as Commandant (with 20 years Group ‘A’ service)
IG3 years as DIG (24 years Group ‘A’ service)
ADG30 years of Group 'A' service.

United States

In the United States, assistant commandant is an appointment, not a rank. A common use of the term is for the position of assistant commandant of the Marine Corps .Appointments to this position are held by officers with the rank of General. Officers who hold this appointment are the second highest ranking officers in the United States Marine Corps after the Commandant of the Marine Corps[1]

Notes and References

  1. Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.