Can a civilian employee contracted Through the military be considered a commander/ chain of command?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 12:25:02 -0400

Is there a regulation stating it? If so please state it.

Response by TSgt David Holman made Sep 21 at 2018 12:31 PM

TSgt David Holman — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 12:31:14 -0400

GS employees can, however, unless it is specifically written into the contract, I don't believe contractors can.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2018 12:32 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 12:32:02 -0400

Appreciate that Tsgt

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 21 at 2018 1:52 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 13:52:12 -0400

A contractor cannot be given general military authority, let alone UCMJ. Thank you for your service.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2018 3:07 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 15:07:27 -0400

No, AR 600-20 clearly states only military officers can exercise command of military units. The only civilian in the chain of commmad is the President.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 21 at 2018 3:42 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 15:42:34 -0400

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/417640.A_Bright_Shining_Lie

Get this...it:s about the life of John Paul Vann during Vietnam, who, as former Army, and at the time a civilian, actually commanded troops in the field...I know, a very weird story, hjowecer, apparently also true...whether it was the only such instance, I have zero clue, however, in his case, it did evidently happen, I'd gathered....

A Bright Shining Lie

This passionate, epic account of the Vietnam War centres on Lt Col John Paul Vann, whose story illuminates America's failures & disillusi...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2018 4:02 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 16:02:23 -0400

Yes. Literally my entire chain of command was GS civilians a few years ago in the MRAP program office.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 21 at 2018 4:56 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 16:56:02 -0400

Army Regulation 600-20

1–5. Command
a. Privilege to command. Command is exercised by virtue of office and the special assignment of members of the United States Armed Forces holding military grade who are eligible to exercise command. A commander is, therefore, a commissioned or WO who, by virtue of grade and assignment, exercises primary command authority over a military organization or prescribed territorial area that under pertinent official directives is recognized as a "command." The privilege to command is not limited solely by branch of Service except as indicated in chapter 2. A civilian, other than the President as Commander-in-Chief (or National Command Authority), may not exercise command.

SPC Private RallyPoint Member is this person a Contractor or a Government Service (GS) Civilian? A GS employee can supervise military personnel and directs assigned military personnel within that authority. Command authority and UCMJ are unique to commissioned officer Commanders. There is the "Senior Manager" civilian serving in place of the Senior Commander on an installation, but I'm pretty sure this is not what you are asking about. See para 2-6 of AR600-20 if this interests you.

Response by PO1 Roger Clites made Sep 21 at 2018 6:36 PM

PO1 Roger Clites — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:36:07 -0400

In the 1980's at Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center the Maintenance Material Control Officer in Force Warfare Aircraft Test Directorate was a civilian. Put him right in charge over sailors and civilians performing maintenance on squadron aircraft

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 22 at 2018 1:08 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 01:08:17 -0400

There's two types of CoC, line and administrative. If you are a MIL, then your Eval, UCMJ, Dream Sheet, and most everything else goes up a MIL CoC. However, you can be in an organization where you administratively report to a Non-MIL for day to day work matters and supervision. Lots of MIL Contracting Officers report to a senior CS with an unlimited warrant. There are plenty of Civil Servants which have Flag status (SES). So if you are a MIL who happens to piss off the SES in charge of say foreign arms sales of the MK-48 torpedo, you will suffer for it. BTW Ambassadors have a 4-Star equivalency, so don't pull their quills either.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 22 at 2018 11:35 AM

SGT David T. — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 11:35:13 -0400

Contractor employees can NEVER be in charge of government personnel. GS (or equivalent) can have supervisory authority but not command authority.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2018 2:19 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 14:19:56 -0400

Yes. Look up senior executive services / civil service reform act. Some federal employees hold the civilian equivalent of a general officer. There is also the GS scale, I believe that goes up to gs 15 which is a colonel equivalent.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 12:57 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 12:57:37 -0500

Short answer is no.