Battlefield promotion

A battlefield promotion (or field promotion) is an advancement in military rank that occurs while deployed in combat. A standard field promotion is advancement from current rank to the next higher rank; a 'jump-step' promotion is advancement from current rank to a rank above the next highest.

Rifleman Gigar Das was given a field promotion to Lance Corporal in 2014 after serving eight years in the Army. Das had been deployed on three tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Das was promoted after General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff witnessed him giving a training session in marksmanship principles. General Sir Peter Wall was astonished that Das was still only a Rifleman. General Sir Peter Wall immediately promoted Das after consulting his company commander, Major Sam Cates. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense confirmed the last field promotion was believed to have during the Korean War in 1953.

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. "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. This promotion does not involve a promotion board and does not require the soldier meet time in service or time in grade requirements. Soldiers given a field promotion from corporal to sergeant must complete the Basic Leader Course or BLC. A sergeant field promoted to staff sergeant must complete the Advanced Leader Course (ALC) and both have 270 days after redeployment to a home station. Extensions can be applied for but failure to complete the required courses will result in an administrative reduction in rank.

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