Brevet rank

[major bill]

There are examples of Union officers have four ranks at once in the Civil War. For example brevet Major General of Volunteers, actual rank Brigadier General of Volunteers, brevet Brigadier General in the US Army, and with an actual US Army rank of Captain. This can cause confusion when trying to identifying a photograph of an officer who served in the Civil War.

This practice of brevet rank was stated in 1776 when the US Army Articles of War established brevet rank. The Confederacy Army allowed brevet rank but did not use it. At the end of the Civil War most senior Union officer received brevet rank. Brevet rank in the Civil War came from the President and had to be confirmed by the Senate.

The use of brevet rank fell out of favor by the end of the Nineteenth Century and ended in the US Army in 1922. The National Guard still uses brevet rank to some extent, often more of an honorary thing. For example some states give the state police chief the rank of brevet Colonel.

Frocking is still used in the US Army but is not the same thing as brevet rank. Frocking does not involve additional pay or count for seniority.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

There are examples of Union officers have four ranks at once in the Civil War. For example brevet Major General of Volunteers, actual rank Brigadier General of Volunteers, brevet Brigadier General in the US Army, and with an actual US Army rank of Captain. This can cause confusion when trying to identifying a photograph of an officer who served in the Civil War.

This practice of brevet rank was stated in 1776 when the US Army Articles of War established brevet rank. The Confederacy Army allowed brevet rank but did not use it. At the end of the Civil War most senior Union officer received brevet rank. Brevet rank in the Civil War came from the President and had to be confirmed by the Senate.

The use of brevet rank fell out of favor by the end of the Nineteenth Century and ended in the US Army in 1922. The National Guard still uses brevet rank to some extent, often more of an honorary thing. For example some states give the state police chief the rank of brevet Colonel.

Frocking is still used in the US Army but is not the same thing as brevet rank. Frocking does not involve additional pay or count for seniority.

I have found this issue confusing in the past. What exactly does a 'brevet' rank entitle one to? Why can't they just make you that rank...why do you have to be 'brevetted'? You can tell I'm way behind on this, but I'm sure you or someone else has more knowledge around this most basic question and can help answer it for me @major bill .

 

[major bill]

Originally the officer did not get paid any additional money for the brevet rank. The US Army prior to the Civil War allowed only a certain number of officers at any rank. Some West Point Cadets for example would become brevet Second Lieutenants until a slot opened up for them. Brevet rank did not count for seniority and at that time all officers were promoted by date of rank. In some frontier forts a lieutenant might be fort commander and making them a brevet Captain seemed appropriate. Later brevet ranks did get the higher pay. The main use of brevet rank was to allow officers to wear rank appropriate to the job they were doing. Before the wide spread use of medals, brevet rank was often given for bravery in combat.

 

[mofederal]

Brevet rank did entitle people to be referred to by their Brevet rank after the war, during the war they wore the rank and did the job of the rank. Only the real regular army rank was what they would be at the end of the war. I believe people could write the brevet rank on letters. It was a complicated system, which mostly confuses people today. I believe it was probably confusing then.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

Well, that certainly helps to clear some of that confusion up. Thanks.

 

[infomanpa]

I'm glad it's no longer used. To me, it's just confusing and a questionable practice.

 

[GELongstreet]

The other way to use war-time ranks is to make distinct organisations for them, which could even be coupled with brevets again like e.g. the U.S. Volunteers during the ACW and the Spanish-American War. For WW I the National Army was created and the Army of the United States for WW II. Pershing commanded while being organized into the former and received his regular promotion afterwards; for the later the same is true for the four Generals of the Army (all but Bradley who was promoted after the war).

 

[zburkett]

I had a friend who's permanent rank was Master Sargent. During WWII he was brevetted to Captain and during Korea Major. Then he went back to his permanent rank. It was a good system. In time of crisis we had the officers an expanded army needed and after the war we didn't loose the good Sergeants. The other choice is to give them the position without the rank. That gets really awkward. I did have another friend who became a Company Commander as a Corporal. Of course he was the ranking member of the company to make the beach at Tarawa.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

I had a friend who's permanent rank was Master Sargent. During WWII he was brevetted to Captain and during Korea Major. Then he went back to his permanent rank. It was a good system. In time of crisis we had the officers an expanded army needed and after the war we didn't loose the good Sergeants. The other choice is to give them the position without the rank. That gets really awkward. I did have another friend who became a Company Commander as a Corporal. Of course he was the ranking member of the company to make the beach at Tarawa.

Don't they ever resent being returned to a lower rank? I guess if you're in the army you'd understand.

 

[zburkett]

You retired at the highest rank honorably held. In my friends case he retired as a Master Sargent with a Majors retirement. From what I've seen senior Sergeants are often given more respect than officers so it works out OK.