Dapon is an army officer in charge of a Da (mda', literally 'arrow' or 'archer') or cohort of 500 soldiers. In the Tibetan military system, a Dapon ranks immediately below the Makchi (dmag spyi, 'commander-in-chief'), the highest officer of the military force, and is senior to a Rupon (ru dpon, 'commander of ru'). The Tibetan army rank of Dapon is loosely equivalent to 'brigadier general' or 'colonel.'