A battlefield commission is awarded to enlisted soldiers who are promoted to the rank of commissioned officer for outstanding leadership on the field of battle.
The granting of a battlefield commission has its historical ancestor in the medieval practice of the knighting or ennoblement of a plebeian combatant on the battleground for demonstration of heroic qualities in an exceptional degree. In the medieval context, this martial achievement was often one of the main restricted pathways into the sword-bearing feudal aristocracy.
United States
Normally, enlisted men or non-commissioned officers cannot attain the rank of commissioned officer through regular promotion. Starting in 1917, during World War I, the United States Army started awarding battlefield commissions to soldiers to replace the "Brevet Officer" system (the promotion of an enlisted man to a commissioned officer without an increase in pay). The Marine Corps started awarding battlefield commissions in place of the Brevet Medal, which was second only to the Medal of Honor. From World War I to the Vietnam conflict, over 31,200 soldiers, Marines, and airmen have been awarded battlefield commissions.
The most significant difference between battlefield commissions and other commissions is that with the latter one must attend the officer candidate school/officer training school, reserve officer training corps or service academy of their respective service. Battlefield commission eliminates this step.
See also
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