The
word 'officer'
originally signified an official, or one who performed
an assigned duty, and was in fact used to describe an
agent or subordinate of an official in the fifteenth
century. At that time there were no standing armies in
Europe. Such armies as existed were dependent upon
mercenaries. It was only in the sixteenth century that
armies comprising professional soldiers in the King's
pay were created, and the word 'officer' acquired a
military significance; denoting a person holding a
military or naval command as a representative of the
State.
The
word now encompasses all personnel belonging to the
officer cadre, a status which entitles them to command
men and singles them out as the most trusted
representatives of the State. It is, however,
traditional that only sea going officers from the Executive
Branch are privileged to command ships and head the
Service. This tradition has since been codified in the
Regulations for the Indian Navy.
