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Change of command

Military tradition representing transfer of authority

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
1 min read
Source updated April 3, 2026
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A change of command is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one commanding or flag officer to another. The passing of colors, standards, or ensigns from an outgoing commander to an incoming one ensures that the unit and its soldiers is never without official leadership, a continuation of trust, and also signifies an allegiance of soldiers to their unit's commander.

Great symbolism is attached to the ceremonial aspects of a change of command. An inspection and review of soldiers, gun salutes, as well as a military band will often be incorporated into the ceremony. On the International Space Station, the new and old commanders ring a bell.

For a Command Sergeant Major, the transferred item might be a saber during a Change of Responsibility, while for a Chaplain, the item might be the passing of a Clerical Stole.

An Indonesian Army Change of command ceremony from Lt. Col Tri Sugiyanto to Major Sudrajat of the 14th Medium Air Defense Artillery Battalion, Kodam III/Siliwangi, Cirebon
An Indonesian Army Change of command ceremony from Lt. Col Tri Sugiyanto to Major Sudrajat of the 14th Medium Air Defense Artillery Battalion, Kodam III/Siliwangi, Cirebon
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This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Change of command”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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