# Marine Captains on ship **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214 "2003-09-23T01:02:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tremethick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/848f3c/32.png) [@tremethick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremethick)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/1 "2003-09-23T01:02:45Z")
😕 What are Marine Corps Captains called when aboard a Naval Vessle? I heard once that they were called Major as not to confuse them with Navy Captains. Is this true? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/2 "2003-09-23T02:02:57Z")
If this one isn’t answered by tomorrow, I will ask some classmates. There are several Navy guys, and I’m sure one of them can answer it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/3 "2003-09-23T02:19:54Z")
They are addressed as captains, never as major. Confusing them with a Navy captain isn’t much of an issue, as that specimen is rare indeed aboard ship. Our ship only had one; I’ve seen, even on aircraft carriers, less than a dozen at a time aboard a ship. There’s a whole level of protocol for Navy captains (O6) and higher that doesn’t apply to a lowly Marine captain (O3, or equivalent to a Navy lieutenant). Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![Redsland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@Redsland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redsland)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/4 "2003-09-23T02:22:59Z")
You’re going to ask some _Navy_ guys what Marines are called? You’re in for an entertaining day. 🙂 (Note: I’m suggesting you’ll hear colorful phrases from Navy people. I, myself, am not saying anything one way or the other.) ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/5 "2003-09-23T12:07:10Z")
The Navy captains are usually called “Skipper” anyway. Everyone knows who he is. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/6 "2003-09-23T13:12:46Z")
**Redsland** , you’ll get no name calling from me. I love Marines. I see them every day and have great conversations with them. Why, just the other day a young lance corporal was telling me how one of his favorite movies was _Apollo 13_. I agreed with him that it was very exciting and moving. He couldn’t figure out, though, how he missed movies 1 through 12. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/7 "2003-09-23T13:42:13Z")
AFAIK they are indeed addressed as Captain So-and-So. The CO of the vessel may be referenced in casual speech as just plain “Captain” with no further naming, but that’s rank-independent. In any case one of the top duties of any servicemember is to thoroughly familiarize himself with the chain-of-command that applies to him. The only opportunities for confusion would arise if having short-tour or visiting officers of Captain (either service) rank, whom the complement may not know, is a common ocurrence. At the most, it would be a question of having the complement never use the phrase “THE Captain” to refer to anyone but the ship’s CO. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/8 "2003-09-23T13:43:19Z")
The Navy Captains who are familiarly referred to as “Skipper” are only those who are in command. “Skipper” also is used to refer to those of other ranks who are in command. A Captain of whatever Service has the courtesy title of Captain even aboard a Naval vessel. Feel free to go to www.bupers.navy.mil and click on “instructions.” Once there, look up the Correspondence Manual to read the appendix which provides a listing of courtesy titles. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/9 "2003-09-23T15:04:24Z")
Marine Captains aboard ship are called by their rank, “Captain”. If they are in a command position, the can also be called “Skipper” at times (a practice I personally don’t love). It is in the spoken context that the person and/or rank (O-3 vs. O-6) is clear. **Monty** , it would be nice for you to provide a link to the actual page within that monster of a bupers website to support your statements, you are very likely much more adept at navigating it and understanding the lingo that most everyone else out here. There is no link saying “Correspondence Manual” after you click “Instructions”, and no search function on that page. I am interested in this, since I see “courtesy title” as a bit odd when it is the actual US Military Rank in the other active services. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/10 "2003-09-23T15:43:15Z")
UncleBill: Although I’m a PN1 (Ret), I thoroughly despise that disgusting crud known as the BUPERS webpage. (Know why they changed the name to BUPERS from NAVPERS? So it would rhyme with BLOOPERS!) I’m fairly certain they’ve managed to hit all ten of the top ten internet sins and a few they created all by themselves to boot. But you’re one of the cooler posters here, so I’ll navigate it and post the links to the (don’t blame me!) _()&)&(_&_&)_&& PDF file they decided to use there instead of something useful. Anyway, the thing to do is to click on the link on the left margin that says “instructions” and then follow the trail to [http://www.bupers.navy.mil/cdrom/cdrom.html](http://www.bupers.navy.mil/cdrom/cdrom.html). The next step is to click on OPNAV/SECNAV Instructions & click OK on the popup warning. That’ll take you to [http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/](http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/) (same rant about pdf, different-but related-people). From there, click on the big Cub Scout…er, Navy Blue & Gold button that says “Navy Directives INDEX.” Click on “Table 47” and that’ll take you to [http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/Directives/table47.html](http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/Directives/table47.html). From there, you need to scroll down to SECNAV 5216.5D where you’ll have the option of abusing your computer by clicking on the silly circle provided as a link that’ll take you to [http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/Directives/5216\_5d.pdf](http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/Directives/5216_5d.pdf). On the positive side for BUPERS: they did manage to get intelligent with the MILPERSMAN just a few years ago and renumber its sections in line with the Standard Subject Identification Code so people could actually find information in it. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/11 "2003-09-23T17:30:05Z")
And then THAT is a 144 page poorly scanned monster. Jeez! I may check it out tonight. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/12 "2003-09-23T20:17:46Z")
The question has been answered, but I _did_ ask some guys today. Basically the answers I got were, “What do you mean? Why would they be called something else. I’ve never heard of anything like that. What are you talking about…” :rolleyes: They really rub it in. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/13 "2003-09-23T20:56:32Z")
**Redsland** : It’s unwise to bait a Marine 0-3. There are few things more aggressive than a Marine LCPL, a Marine Sgt. Major, or a Marine Captain, unless you count rottweilers and pit bulls. The first is too inexperienced to know when to quit, the second is too mean to _ever_ quit, and the third would just as soon shoot you and get it over with. You can always tell a Marine…but you can’t tell him much. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/14 "2003-09-23T21:07:24Z")
Jeez, if y’all weren’t on the same side we’d have fought WWIII, WWIV, WWV, and WWVI anyplace Naval personnel and Marines were together. Now, is there anything like a Navy-Marines football game… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/15 "2003-09-23T21:47:50Z")
In “Starship Troopers” Heinlein mentioned the bit about Marine Captains being called Major. I asked my Dad, and he said he heard it _once_ (and that is from Dec 1941 until he mustered out in 1946, and also many years in the National Gd), when there was a real possibility of confusion. What _is_ true is that if you are in charge of a craft-.you are called “Captain”. As my dad, despite the fact he was only an E5 in WWII was briefly in command of a small army vessel used to run messages, supplies & such, and all the Navy guys called him “Captain” (or "capt’n) or “skipper”. Most often “skipper”, sure. He remembered some Navy Lt (Army Cap’t) giving a Navy Ensign hell because the Ensign didn’t ask Dad “permission to come aboard, Sir?”, even tho the Ensign well outranked an Army Sgt. My Dad worked in HQ for the entire N. Pacific front, thus he ran into Marines & Navy more than a line soldier would of. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/16 "2003-09-24T00:59:19Z")
More recently than Heinlein, David Weber’s _On Basilisk Station_ repeats this bit of information. It seems to be standard operating procedure in most Space Navies… ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/17 "2003-09-24T05:28:09Z")
Just since nobody’s brought it up yet, the Navy has strange officer ranks: Navy = Marines/Army/Air Force Ensign = Second Lieutenant Lieutenant Junior Grade = First Lieutenant Lieutenant = Captain Lt. Commander = Major Commander = Lt. Colonel Captain = Colonel Various degrees of Admirals = Various Generals (I never bothered to memorize all the Admiral ranks) Equivalent ranks have the same insignia; e.g. a Navy Captain and a Marine Colonel wear eagles on their collar, a Navy Lt. and a Marine Captain both have a pair of gold bars, etc. I would think, if it ever came up in a situation where it wasn’t clear from context, the Navy guys would simply say something along the lines of “Our beloved Naval Captain” or “That damned jarhead captain” to differentiate\*. 😃 [sub]\* --Note: No offense intended, I’m just poking fun at the rivalry from an Army-biased standpoint. :p[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/18 "2003-09-24T15:53:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gunslinger \* > **Just since nobody’s brought it up yet, the Navy has strange officer ranks…** Actually, all of the _other_ services have strange officer ranks. 😃 (Except for the Coast Guard; don’t forget them!) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gunslinger \* > **…a Navy Lt. and a Marine Captain both have a pair of gold bars, etc.** [silver](http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/almanac/almanac/people/insignias/officers.html) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gunslinger \* > **Various degrees of Admirals = Various Generals (I never bothered to memorize all the Admiral ranks)** See above [link](http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/almanac/almanac/people/insignias/officers.html). ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/19 "2003-09-24T17:47:53Z")
The bars and other “junior” officer rank pins used by the Marines are different than those used by the Army, Navy, or Air Force. The bars are slightly smaller for the Marines. Makes buying them on other non-USMC bases a PITA. This was the case ten years ago, and I do not believe it has changed. The defenselink.mil cite is incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214/20 "2003-09-24T17:51:42Z")
I should clarify I am talking about the insignia for the utility uniform. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-captains-on-ship/203214.md?page=2)