field commander
Troops' tactical boss
A field commander is a military officer who leads troops in active operations, as opposed to one directing strategy from headquarters.
The term emphasizes on-the-ground authority and decision-making during combat or tactical situations: The field commander ordered a retreat when reinforcements failed to arrive.
It extends to leaders of paramilitary groups, rebel forces, or any organization with dispersed operational units.
- generalWidespread, not specialized
- battalionMid-sized military unit
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
- ordersInstructions to obey
- tacticalStrategically planned
frontline · strategy · battlefield · combat zone · operations · military · leader · battle plan · captain · military rank · offensive · combat · rank · deployment · soldiers · headquarters · war room · infantry
- leadership ranksgeneral, admiral, colonel, major, lieutenant
- firefightersfirefighter, firefighters, fireman, fire captain, hotshots
- military officerscolonel, general, officers, major, admirals
- parade performersdrum major, majorette, baton twirler, color guard, flag bearer
- expedition leadersexpedition leader, guide, trail guide, wilderness guide, safari guide
- drill leadersdrill sergeant, drill instructor, DI, boot camp instructor
field commanderarmchair general
staff officer · headquarters staff · desk officer · administrative officer · paper pusher
field commanderenlisted soldier
Non-officer in armed forces
foot soldier · private · grunt · rank and file · subordinate
field commandercivilian
Non-military person
noncombatant · war correspondent · military chaplain · medic
field, commander, fields, fielded, fielding, fielder, command, commands, commanded