is it possible for an executive officer, either on ship or an infantry unit, can overide the orders...........

Question

of a ship captain or infantry commanding officer under certain circumstances or is this only in the movies?

Answer 1

It's possible , but it must meet certain criteria , mental illness , intoxicated , cowardous and there must be witnesses , preferably a Doctor and other officers .

This is a career ending move for someone .

Answer 2

I can't see it happening to a infantry CO but I do know that at sea a Captain is God, King and the most powerful person on earth. Any person regardless of rank who has been given command of a ship is the Captain. He will receive orders to "guide" him in achieving his objective. He will have to make decisions based on his assessment of his ship, his crew, weather and sea conditions, the enemy size and power and all the other factors available to him before he gives his orders.No other person can or should give him orders because if he survives what ever happens he will be the one who answers for what happened and why it happened. Even if he has a Admiral of the Fleet aboard if the Admiral is not there as a commanding officer with orders so stating he is but supercargo and may make suggestions but he can't give orders or override the Captain.
The XO can override the Captain but he will then stand trial for mutiny and have to prove that he was right in doing what he did. So the Captain had better be provably and visibly insane.
You cannot refuse an order,you can protest an order and insist you receive the order in writing, then you must obey the order if it is given you in writing and protest before the Board at a later day.

Answer 3

The circumstances have to be EXTREMELY severe (as mudmarine rightfully stated) and yes, it is a career-ender for those relieved under such circumstances - as well as those doing the relieving. You just don't buck your food chain. Ever.

tom l is also right in stating that it never happens. I have yet to either hear or read of an account where it has happened in recent memory. In the absence of command (whether due to casualties or other disability, such as intoxication) the XO issuing orders would not be an "override" per se.

XO's usually only take charge when they receive Assumption of Command orders because the CO is on leave or otherwise not present for his regular duties. Remember, the XO is of a junior grade than the CO and it would be career suicide for the XO, even assuming that the Line of Duty investigation finds the CO responsible for negligent conduct. There are very, very few officers who would want someone with a track record of turning their own in, even on principle, under them. It just isn't done.

Movies are just that: Movies. The scriptwriters are by and large non-military, and so is everyone on the set (as opposed to the old days, when scores of Hollywood people served in the Second World War). What you see, is what you don't get.

Answer 4

In the Navy, The Executive Officer may relieve the Commanding Officer of a ship or vessel ONLY when he or she can prove that the Captain is medically or mentally unfit for duty, is deliberately hazarding his or her ship and crew or is engaged in operations or deliberations aimed at espionage or treason.

In order to relieve the Captain for medical or mental reasons, the XO must have documentation in official Navy documents such as the ships deck log, the engineering log, etc., that the Captain committed some sort of act that precipitated the XO's next course of action, ...to seek assistance of the Chief or Senior Medical Officer. The SMO MUST CERTIFY that the Captain is medically or mentally unfit for duty, at which time the next senior LINE officer (usually the XO) will assume command of the ship and put in to the nearest U.S. flagged installation. A court of inquiry will require the SMO to produce not only his or her certification of the unfit nature of the Captain, but his or her medical records to back it up. WITHOUT THIS CERTIFICATION FROM THE SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER, THE XO WILL BE GUILTY OF MUTINY AND SEDITION SHOULD HE OR SHE ATTEMPT TO TAKE COMMAND.

In the other instances, where the Captain is believed to be hazarding his or her own ship intentionally or is engaged in espionage or treasonous activity, the XO must have irrefutable proof of such misconduct and must make entries into the ships deck log to such. Once the XO has relived the CO under these circumstances, the XO is charged with putting into the nearest U.S. Flagged installation to surrender the vessel to higher authority (usually an Admiral or another Captain). Failure to do so constitutes Mutiny and Sedition and is punishable by death or other punishment as a court martial may direct.

Answer 5

It is not uncommon for an exec to change their commanding officers orders IN THE ABSENCE of the commanding officer because of obtaining new information that was not available at the time the orders were issued. Other than "in the absence" the commanding officer in almost any set of circumstances would change their own orders.
Unstable commanding officers being relieved by a junior officer just doesn't happen.

Answer 6

No, it's possible. If the commander were somehow unfit for command, or was giving unlawful orders, the xo not only could, but MUST override the commanding officer.
Made up example: The company commander for A co smokes crack, then in paranoia orders his company to murder every left handed redhead civilian in the area. His XO is actually obligated to refuse the order, and relieve the co of command.

Answer 7

They can on the ship if the captain is seen unfit to command or relieved of command, otherwise just lot of movie make believe.

Answer 8

CV59StormVet -

if your going to make up authority for your post, do some research.

-There is no "Judge Advocate General of the United States."

-The manual for Courts-Martial was promulgated by executive order of the president.

-"United States Navy Regulations, 1990" is not helpful, points to no specific provision, and even sounds made-up.

-The UCMJ doesnt address what your talking about.

-It sucks when a JAG reads your post doesnt it?

Answer 9

You promise to obey "LAWFUL" orders; if the XO feels that the order is unlawful, they can state his/her objections to the commanding officer.

Answer 10

Executive officers of a ship or those in the infantry units can independently decide on themselves if it is for the safety of their unit or for the good of their country even disobeying their superiors because they know what it happening.