Funny commander-in-chief keeping order (5)
I believe the answer is:
comic
'funny' is the definition.
(comic can mean funny or humorous)
'commander-in-chief keeping order' is the wordplay.
'commander-in-chief' becomes 'CIC' (abbreviation).
'keeping' indicates putting letters inside (some letters kept inside).
'order' becomes 'om' (Order of Merit).
'cic' enclosing 'om' is 'COMIC'.
(Other definitions for comic that I've seen before include "Professional funny person" , "Funny man, maybe stand-up" , "Funny entertainer, often stand-up" , "Wag" , "Funny man, often stand-up" .)