Who is directly below the Battalion Commander in the battalion chain of command?

• A. Battalion Commander.
• B. Command Sergeant Major.
• C. Executive Officer.
• D. Company Commander.

Answer: (C)

The immediate person under the Battalion Commander is the Executive Officer, who acts as the deputy commander and coordinates the staff and operations to carry out the Commander’s decisions. The Executive Officer handles day-to-day management and keeps the plan moving, and often acts as acting commander when the Battalion Commander is away. The Command Sergeant Major is the senior enlisted adviser, important for guidance and enlisted matters, but not the official second-in-command in the formal chain. Company Commanders are subordinate leaders within the battalion, reporting up through the chain via the staff, not directly under the Battalion Commander in the chain of command.