Changes

An officer is a person who holds a particular office, or position of responsibility within a given organization.

An officer is a person who holds a particular office, or [[position]] of responsibility within a given organization.

==Organizations==

==Organizations==

==Government==

==Government==

In government, the term 'officer' is used for a variety of positions.  Technically any elected or appointed position in a local, state, or national government can be considered an officer.  This is in contrast to civil service positions which are merit-based and not usually considered to be officers, such as GS-level employees of the Federal Government or workers in a state Department of Motor Vehicles.  Police and Fire officers are appointed by state and local governments, usually after completing some form of training academy.

In [[government]], the term 'officer' is used for a variety of positions.  Technically any elected or appointed position in a local, state, or national government can be considered an officer.  This is in contrast to civil service positions which are merit-based and not usually considered to be officers, such as GS-level employees of the Federal Government or workers in a state Department of Motor Vehicles.  Police and Fire officers are appointed by state and local governments, usually after completing some form of training academy.

==Military==

==Military==

In a military system, there are three designations of officer, all denoting positions of responsibility.

In a [[military]] system, there are three designations of officer, all denoting positions of responsibility.

*Commissioned Officer - a commissioned officer is appointed to his or her position by the leadership of his or her nation.  In the U.S., officers are appointed by the President of the United States.  In the United Kingdom, officers are appointed by the authority of the Queen (King).  Commissioned officers are the leaders of a military and are trained in areas of leadership, management, as well as their particular military occupation.  Commissioned Officers in the U.S. usually earn their commissions by attending one of the service academies, attending ROTC at a non-military university, or persons who already have a college degree may attend Officer Candidate School and earn a Direct Commission.  Technically, the President of the United States has the authority to appoint any person he or she chooses to any officer position in the U.S. military.  The same is true of the British Monarch for the British military.  Commissioned officers must be rendered a salute by junior ranking officers, warrant officer, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted personnel, as well as being addressed as "Sir" or "Ma'am".  An interesting distinction is that officers of the U.S. military swear their oaths of office to the U.S. Constitution whereas officers in the British military swear their oaths of office directly to the reigning monarch.  American officers never swear allegiance to a particular head of state.  The President of the United States, while constitutionally designated as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, is by tradition and statute considered to be a civilian and not a commissioned officer.   

*Commissioned Officer - a commissioned officer is appointed to his or her position by the leadership of his or her nation.  In the U.S., officers are appointed by the President of the United States.  In the United Kingdom, officers are appointed by the authority of the Queen (King).  Commissioned officers are the leaders of a military and are trained in areas of leadership, management, as well as their particular military occupation.  Commissioned Officers in the U.S. usually earn their commissions by attending one of the service academies, attending ROTC at a non-military university, or persons who already have a college degree may attend Officer Candidate School and earn a Direct Commission.  Technically, the President of the United States has the authority to appoint any person he or she chooses to any officer position in the U.S. military.  The same is true of the British Monarch for the British military.  Commissioned officers must be rendered a salute by junior ranking officers, warrant officer, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted personnel, as well as being addressed as "Sir" or "Ma'am".  An interesting distinction is that officers of the U.S. military swear their oaths of office to the U.S. Constitution whereas officers in the British military swear their oaths of office directly to the reigning monarch.  American officers never swear allegiance to a particular head of state.  The President of the United States, while constitutionally designated as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, is by tradition and statute considered to be a civilian and not a commissioned officer.