General Discussion

justiceischeap

(14,040 posts)

8. As I understand it, many soldiers get what are called battlefield promotions

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 08:04 AM

Jun 2014

and they too have had no training and get to keep their ranks.

A battlefield promotion is awarded to enlisted soldiers who are promoted to a higher enlisted rank during combat or combat conditions. The US Army discontinued this practice after the Vietnam War with the centralized promotion system, but in 2009 decided to again allow such promotions.[1] "Battlefield promotions are predicated on extraordinary performance of duties while serving in combat or under combat conditions." It can be used to promote an individual soldier one grade, to at most staff sergeant, and has a variety of constraints.[2] This promotion does not involve a promotion board and does not require the soldier meet time in service or time in grade requirements.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlefield_promotion#Types_of_Battlefield_Promotion

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Why call him Sergeant Bergdahl? [View all] Jeneral2885 Jun 2014 OP

Why not? jehop61 Jun 2014 #1

Wouldn't that be something that commanding officers need to decide? Skidmore Jun 2014 #2

Such promotions are standard. longship Jun 2014 #3

"Only" received his promotions in absentia? Lefta Dissenter Jun 2014 #4

Military policy and tradition is that POWs get promoted on schedule hack89 Jun 2014 #5

Exactly. Jeneral is clearly no General. n/t FourScore Jun 2014 #34

Why does it matter? pipoman Jun 2014 #6

great question Enrique Jun 2014 #23

In absentia? rbrnmw Jun 2014 #7

As I understand it, many soldiers get what are called battlefield promotions justiceischeap Jun 2014 #8

it's not a battlefield promotion Jeneral2885 Jun 2014 #26

If you actually read the Wiki article you would see that being held hostage justiceischeap Jun 2014 #36

Sergeant is the rank that he would have presumably reached if Lurks Often Jun 2014 #9

WLC (PLDC) is no longer a prerequisite to get giftedgirl77 Jun 2014 #10

Thanks, I've been out a while n/t Lurks Often Jun 2014 #11

Lol... I could tell by the PLDC... giftedgirl77 Jun 2014 #13

5 years to a Sergeant? Jeneral2885 Jun 2014 #28

He probably would have picked up rank on re enlistment pipoman Jun 2014 #38

Mostly you seem to be trying to make something out of nothing Lurks Often Jun 2014 #43

Even Bowe does not want to be referred to as Sergeant. nt kelliekat44 Jun 2014 #12

"In absentia"? Nice try. hatrack Jun 2014 #14

That's actually correct Travelman Jun 2014 #17

Yes, let's strip him of his rank... Oilwellian Jun 2014 #15

It was an automatic promotion Travelman Jun 2014 #16

Because that is his current rank. Ikonoklast Jun 2014 #18

Why call you "General"? Sgt Bergdahl was not promoted "in absentia" but while a PRISONER OF WAR Hekate Jun 2014 #19

What is his current rank? NCTraveler Jun 2014 #20

No, YOU are now "in absentia." BERGDAHL was a POW. WinkyDink Jun 2014 #21

I believe the guy will be "med-boarded" out based on his psychological state Victor_c3 Jun 2014 #22

That's his rank. Iggo Jun 2014 #24

He's a private Jeneral2885 Jun 2014 #27

You're wrong. Iggo Jun 2014 #29

It's always entertaining watching someone pipoman Jun 2014 #39

what qualifies you to make that judgment? frylock Jun 2014 #44

Clueless nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #25

Standards.. doxydad Jun 2014 #30

Because that's his rank. He's a Sergeant. MineralMan Jun 2014 #31

How about because sarisataka Jun 2014 #32

Why is this important to you? nt Zorra Jun 2014 #33

just because he was stuck in a cage and tortured bigtree Jun 2014 #35

Post removed Post removed Jun 2014 #37

Any promotions should be rescinded immediately until certified... Orsino Jun 2014 #40

Sergeant seems to be one Spirochete Jun 2014 #41

This isn't the first time I have hoped you would find a home in Discussionist. He's a Sergeant. Squinch Jun 2014 #42