CO/OINC stands for what in cutter operations?

• A. Commanding Officer / Officer in Charge
• B. Chief Officer / Inspector in Charge
• C. Captain / Officer in Charge of Inspection
• D. Commander / In Charge

Answer: (A)

CO/OINC identifies two command roles on a cutter: Commanding Officer and Officer in Charge. The Commanding Officer is the vessel’s captain, the person with ultimate authority aboard the cutter, responsible for safety, navigation, mission goals, and adherence to laws and regulations. The Officer In Charge is the officer appointed to lead a specific operation or duty, the senior on-scene supervisor who runs the day-to-day activities of that mission under the CO’s overall authority. Together, these terms show the clear chain of command: the CO holds overall command, while the OINC directs the particular operation under the CO’s oversight. In cutter operations, this pairing is standard terminology, which is why it’s the best choice. Other options use terms that aren’t the conventional Coast Guard cutter titles for these roles.