What role does a commanding officer have in a British-style pretrial military investigation?

In the British-style military legal system, the commanding officer plays a central role in the pretrial investigatory process, which functions similarly to committal proceedings in civil law.1

The commanding officer is responsible for conducting a quasi-judicial investigation into the alleged offense. This process involves:

• Evidence Collection: Ensuring that all evidence related to the charge is reduced to writing.1
• Evaluation: Carefully considering the gathered evidence to determine if it is sufficient to warrant further action.1
• Decision Making: Deciding whether the evidence justifies remanding the accused for trial by court-martial.1

This system places the initial investigative and gatekeeping authority directly in the hands of the commander, distinguishing it from systems where these duties are handled by military magistrates or independent legal advocates.1