Assistant Commandant is a title often given to the second-in-command of a military, uniformed service, armed police battalion, training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations, and in some countries it may be a military or police rank.
In India, assistant commandant as a rank was envisaged by General J. N. Chaudhuri, who was part of the committee studying the need for a dedicated Border Guarding force raised on military lines to guard the perilous India-Pakistan border given the UN conventions deriding and preventing military formations or build-up on the borders between the two un-friendly neighbors. General J. N. Chaudhuri recommended to raise the officer cadre of the Border Security Force on lines of the military hierarchy and hence assistant commandant, which otherwise is an appointment in most countries, came up as the junior-most rank in the hierarchy of Gazetted officers of the Border Security Force.
The rank of Assistant Commandant is used in both the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and various State Armed Police Forces in India. In the hierarchy of an armed police battalion, an Assistant Commandant typically serves as the third-in-command, subordinate to the Commandant and Deputy Commandant.
For its exclusivity and unique hierarchical association with Indian Paramilitary Forces of India, assistant commandant, for comparative understanding, is equivalent to the ranks of assistant commissioner of police (ACP), deputy superintendent of police (DSP), and captain in the Indian Army. This rank is the highest entry level rank in the Central Armed Police Forces of India. It is also use in various State Armed Police Forces.
Assistant commandants in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are selected through a competitive exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) annually.
Assistant commandants are mandated to command companies and Direct Action Teams (DATs) in various CAPFs and law enforcement agencies, They are also sent on deputations to various organizations such as RAW, NSG, SPG, NIA, IB, CBI, NDRF, NCB, State Armed Police Forces (SAPFs) (DRG, Jharkhand Jaguars, Bihar military police, IRB, UP/MP STFs, etc.).
CAPFs ranks Police ranks Army ranks Navy ranks Air Force ranks Coast Guard ranks Intelligence Bureau Ranks Director general (Apex Scale) Director general of State Police Force Lieutenant general(Commander's Scale) Vice admiral(Commander's Scale) Air marshal(Commander's Scale) Director general Special Director Additional director general (ADG) Additional director general (ADG) Lieutenant general (HAG) Vice admiral (HAG) Air marshal (HAG) Additional director general Additional Director Inspector general (IG) Inspector general (IG) Major general Rear admiral Air vice marshal Inspector general Joint Director Deputy inspector general (DIG) Deputy inspector general (DIG) Brigadier Commodore Air commodore Deputy inspector general Deputy Director Commandant Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Colonel Captain Group captain Commandant Additional Deputy Director/Joint Deputy Director Second-in-Command Superintendent of Police (SP) / Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Lieutenant colonel Commander Wing commander Commandant (Junior Grade) Assistant Director Deputy commandant Additional Superintendent of Police Major Lieutenant commander Squadron leader Deputy commandant Deputy Central Intelligence Officer Assistant commandant Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) / Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant Assistant commandant Assistant Central Intelligence Officer - I Assistant commandant (Officer Trainee) Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Flying officer Assistant commandant Assistant Central Intelligence officer -II
Pay scale of assistant commandants in CAPFs RankPay ScalePay BandDirector-GeneralINR 2,25,000Apex FixedAdditional Director GeneralINR 1,82,200 to INR 2,24,100HAGInspector GeneralINR 1,44,000 to INR 2,18,000Pay Band 4Deputy Inspector GeneralINR 1,31,000 - INR 2,15,900Pay Band 4CommandantINR 1,31,000 - INR 2,15,986.Pay Band 4Second-in-CommandINR 78,800 - INR 2,09,200Pay Band 3Deputy CommandantINR 67,700 - INR 2,08,870Pay Band 3Assistant CommandantINR 56,100 - 1,77,500Pay Band 3
Subordinate officers (SOs) Sub-inspectors are recruited through competitive examination conducted by Staff Selection Commission and they are referred to as DASOs (directly appointed subordinate officers). DESOs (departmental entry subordinate officers) are those officers who have been promoted through departmental exams conducted internally for inspectors, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, head constables, constables etc.
Promotional avenues for Gazetted officers After joining service as assistant commandant the following promotional avenues are available to cadre officers:- RankQualifying service for promotionDy. Commandant.5 years as Asstt. Commandnat.Second-In-Command5 years as Dy.Commandant (with total 10 years Group ‘A’ service).Commandant5 years as Second-In-Command (with 15 years Group ‘A’ service)DIG3 years as Commandant (with 20 years Group ‘A’ service)IG3 years as DIG (24 years Group ‘A’ service)ADG30 years of Group 'A' service.
United States
In the United States, assistant commandant is an appointment, not a rank. A common use of the term is for the position of assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. Appointments to this position are held by officers with the rank of general. Officers who hold this appointment are the second highest ranking officers in the United States Marine Corps after the commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.
References
http://www.successcds.net/UPSCExam/upsc-central-forces-assistant-commandants-exam.html