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From ARRSEpedia

Captain (abbr Capt) is the military rank above Lieutenant and below Major.

Normally second in command of a company (UK), commands a company (US) or a Battalion level staff officer. Insignia is three 'Pips' (UK ranks) or two thick vertical bars connected by two short, thin bars (US ranks, aka 'railroad tracks').

This is the make or break rank for Regular Officers in the British Army . . . subsequently there tend to be two types:

1. The very good, destined for real command who make their OC (Major) look good whilst looking after the career's of the men and letting the Troop Staffy/Company CSgt run the day to day stuff.
2. The waiting-for-the-letter, stating services no longer required. Tend to be bitter/full of self-importance and shout a lot for no apparent reason. Mercifully likely to be filtered out quite quickly . . . . . but there are ALWAYS exceptions! (No names, no pack drill! or indeed an Interview Without Coffee)

and

• the naval officer in command of a military ship

• a policeman in charge of a precinct

• pronounced 'Kap-it-an' by Ze Germans

• master: an officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship

• the leader of a group of people; "a captain of industry"

• the pilot in charge of an airship

• a dining room attendant who is in charge of the waiters and the seating of customers

• be the captain of a sports team

• not so secret agent for Spectrum ... unless you are of black extraction and therefore only get to be a Lieutenant.

Factoid: Captain is an album by Scottish band Idlewild. Recorded 1st-7th October 1997 at River Studios, London. It was produced by Paul Tipler under the label, Deceptive Records.