§ 700.817 - Authority of an officer who succeeds to command.

(a) An officer who succeeds to command due to incapacity, death, departure on leave, detachment without relief, or absence due to orders from competent authority of the officer detailed to command has the same authority and responsibility as the officer whom he succeeds.

(b) An officer who succeeds to command during the temporary absence of the commanding officer shall make no changes in the existing organization, and shall endeavor to have the routine and other affairs of the command carried on in the usual manner.

(c) When an officer temporarily succeeding to command signs official correspondence, the word “Acting” shall appear below his signature.