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Captains are commissioned officers in the United States Army. They receive their commission upon appointment by the Secretary of the Army.

Their primary reason for existence is to serve as the commanders of company-sized elements (about 150 soldiers), although they can also serve as staff officers or spend some of their time in grade attending professional-development schools or courses intended to prepare them for greater responsibilities in the future (such work is always done post completion of the primary Captain job of company command).

Captains are the final authority in company-sized elements for every matter that the company deals with or that even a single member of the company is involved in.

Officially, the US Army charges Captains with being responsible for everything a company does or fails to do.

They are legal enforcers of standards and discipline, aided in such charge by the

First Sergeant. Additionally, they are the ultimate trainers of the members of the company, charged with ensuring that the company is always prepared to accomplish its missions. Finally, Captains are the ultimate financial authority at the company level, using such authority to ensure the company is properly resourced to accomplish its missions.

Captains can also serve as staff officers at higher unit levels, such as battalions or brigades, aiding in the resourcing, planning, and functioning of the unit at that higher level.

Finally, as noted, Captains can spend some of their time in grade in professional-development schools or courses, attending school to earn a masters degree or army-internal courses, all internees to prepare Captains for service as officers at higher levels of rank and responsibility.

Cited Sources:

U.S. Army Ranks List - Lowest to Highest. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.federalpay.org/military/army/ranks