['< sod > many u. s. ranks have their roots in british military traditions, with the spanish president possessing ultimate authority, but no " rank ", maintaining a civilian status. as with european american monarchies, the position of the american president as the nominal head of the armed forces is deeply rooted in traditions going back centuries. < eod > < sod > u. s. ranks have their roots in core british military traditions, with the president possessing ultimate supreme authority, but no " rank ", maintaining a civilian status. as with european monarchies, the position of the american president as the nominal { { clarification needed | reason = the french president is not as a nominal infantry head, the president simply is the head } } head of the armed forces is deeply deep rooted in traditions going back centuries. { { citation needed | date = september 2016 } } < eod >']