The
commanding officer (
CO), or if it is an
officer in the ranks of general,
commanding general (
CG), is the officer in
command of a
military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he or she sees fit, within the bounds of
military law. In this respect, commanding officers have significant responsibilities (for example, the use of force, finances, equipment, the
Geneva Conventions), duties (to higher authority, mission effectiveness,
duty of care to personnel), and powers (for example, discipline and
punishment of personnel within certain limits of military law).