Commander (Canada)

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In the Canadian Forces, the rank of Commander (French: Capitaine de frégate or capf) is a Naval rank equal to a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Army or Air Force. A Commander is senior to a Lieutenant-Commander or an Army or Air Force Major, and junior to a Captain(N) or Colonel.

Typical appointments for a Commander include:

Commanding officer of a school or training establishment, such as the Canadian Forces Fleet School;
Commanding officer of a frigate, destroyer or Naval Reserve Division;
Executive Officer of a replenishment vessel;
Deputy Commander of a Canadian Forces Base;
Senior staff officer or Chief of Staff on a formation staff, or a Director-level position on an administrative staff.

The rank insignia for a Commander is three ½" stripes, worn on the cuffs of the Service Dress jacket, and on slip-ons on other uniforms. On the visor of the service cap is one row of gold oak leaves along the edge. Commanders wear the officers' pattern cap badge, which is an anchor on a black oval, surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. Specialist officers in such branches as administration, medical, etc. wear their branch cap badge.

A Commander is addressed initially by rank and surname, thereafter by superiors and peers as "Commander" and by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am".

Note: Before Unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, rank structure and insignia followed the British pattern.