Which statement about Commanding Officer (CO) is true?

• A. The CO serves as the XO's direct supervisor but has no final responsibility for actions.
• B. The CO delegates all authority to the CMC.
• C. The CO is ultimately responsible for those under his or her command and their actions.
• D. The CO's authority ends at the division level.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that a commanding officer bears ultimate accountability for everything that happens within the unit and for the actions of every person under their command. While a CO can delegate day-to-day tasks, decisions, and supervision to others (like an executive officer or division officers), they still carry the final responsibility for mission readiness, safety, discipline, and conduct. This means the CO must ensure proper training, adherence to orders and laws, and ethical behavior across the command, and they are answerable for failures or misconduct regardless of how much is delegated.

That’s why the statement stating the CO is ultimately responsible for those under their command and their actions is the correct one. It isn’t correct to say the CO has no final responsibility; nor that all authority is delegated to the command master chief; nor that the CO’s authority ends at the division level. The CO’s authority and duty extend over the entire command.