| Brevet (military) |
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Information AboutBrevet (military) |
For other uses, see Brevet . In the U.S. military, brevet referred to a Warrant authorizing a Commissioned Officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being '''brevetted'''. For example, "He was brevetted Major General ." The promotion would be noted in the officer's title, for example, "Bvt. Maj. Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain ". In the 19th Century United States Army , brevet promotions were extremely common. New officers received brevet rank until authorized positions were made available. Additionally, officers could be brevetted to fill higher positions or for gallantry. Typically, a brevetted officer would be given the insignia of the brevetted rank, but not the pay or formal authority. During the American Civil War almost all senior officers received one form of brevet or another, particularly during the final months of the war. It was not unheard of for an officer to have several different ranks simultaneously, such as being a brevet Major General of volunteers, an actual Brigadier General of volunteers, a brevet Lieutenant Colonel in the Regular Army , and an actual regular army Captain . The practice of brevetting disappeared from the U.S. military at the end of the 19th century; honors were bestowed instead with a series of medals. However, the similar practice of frocking (authorized early wearing of a higher rank by a promotee, before the actual promotion takes effect) continues, particularly, though not exclusively, in the United States Navy . REFERENCES |