Posted on Aug 27, 2015
Have you ever gotten a double-promotion? This chaplain is about to. Congrats, sir!
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Col Costin is about to be promoted from Colonel to 2-star General & placed as the chief of chaplains at AFHQ in the Pentagon. Have you ever heard of another promotion like this? I'm sure it has occurred, but this is the only one I can think of currently.
Congrats, sir!
Congrats, sir!
CG-NAP13: Chaplains
Promotions
Airmen
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 23
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For general the billet they hold is what determines how many star they receive. So his next assignment must be at a 2 star command... However this is very unusual.
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SGT Bryon Sergent
Well here is my question. Will he get demoted to one star if he moves to another command if the billeting is different?
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SGT Bryon Sergent When Generals are getting ready to retire they are "administratively" demoted to lower ranks pending their actual retirement so that their replacement can be promoted. It's juggling stars. It's a goofy DC practice.
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COL Vincent Stoneking
SGT Bryon Sergent - That answer is no, but with an explanation. O8 is the last permanent rank, O9 and O10 is a nomination based on position. By regulation if a 3 star moves to a 2 star billet, he will have to remove 1 of his stars. It pretty much never happens, as they will generally (no pun intended, but still....) chose to retire instead of moving "down."
I am unclear, but think a 3 star moving to a 1 star billet would not be possible. They would revert to 2 star, but would still not have the right rank for the position. I suppose they could ask for a voluntary reduction, but I just don't see that happening.
I am unclear, but think a 3 star moving to a 1 star billet would not be possible. They would revert to 2 star, but would still not have the right rank for the position. I suppose they could ask for a voluntary reduction, but I just don't see that happening.
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LCDR (Join to see)
SSgt (Join to see) SSgt (Join to see) SGT Bryon Sergent Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
The Chaplain Corps is small enough that is likely there is a gap in end-strength of billets. For a small community for example, there would be 1 1-star billet 1 2-star billet, and 1 3-star billet. In this situation if anyone other than the 1-star were going to fill the 2-star's spot, they would get more than one promotion.
This could happen due to retirements (common among old people... I mean flag officers) or any number of circumstances related to someone not wanting or being the right fit for a specific position.
There are also times when it is a positional promotion only and unless confirmed or moved to another billet afterwards, they could be demoted back to the "correct" rank.
The Chaplain Corps is small enough that is likely there is a gap in end-strength of billets. For a small community for example, there would be 1 1-star billet 1 2-star billet, and 1 3-star billet. In this situation if anyone other than the 1-star were going to fill the 2-star's spot, they would get more than one promotion.
This could happen due to retirements (common among old people... I mean flag officers) or any number of circumstances related to someone not wanting or being the right fit for a specific position.
There are also times when it is a positional promotion only and unless confirmed or moved to another billet afterwards, they could be demoted back to the "correct" rank.
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A1C Spencer is being stepped to SSgt for his actions against the terrorist on the European train.
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It seems promotions like these are driven by the billet rather than the normal process. The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force is a 3 star billet so when Lt Gen Burne (current TJAG) took the job he skipped Major General to take the billet.
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To SSgt (Join to see)'s point, the stars a General officer dons is a reflection of his/her billet. If there is a vacancy to be rapidly filled, they may very well be rapidly promoted. But, I can't recall a "double promotion." It's unusual but, not unheard of.
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Gen (Ret.) Colin Powell was quickly promoted from BG to MG; shorty after he was assigned to the Pentagon for the second time in 1983, during the Reagan Administration.
GEN Colin (Ret.) Powell:
Promotions Rank Date
General April 4, 1989
Lieutenant general March 26, 1986
Major general August 1, 1983
Brigadier general June 1, 1979
Colonel February 1, 1976
Lieutenant colonel July 9, 1970
Major May 24, 1966
Captain June 2, 1962
First lieutenant December 30, 1959
Second lieutenant June 9, 1958
Chaplains, AMEDD, and JAG Officers all have their own promotion systems in the Army. Everyone else has to compete in the All-Other Branches Boards.
There are numerous examples in Army history of CPTs, MAJs, and LTC's being "field promoted" or brevetted to General Officer Ranks. General Armstrong Custer being among these, they usually returned to their normal ranks after the conflict was over & the appointment ended.
GEN Colin (Ret.) Powell:
Promotions Rank Date
General April 4, 1989
Lieutenant general March 26, 1986
Major general August 1, 1983
Brigadier general June 1, 1979
Colonel February 1, 1976
Lieutenant colonel July 9, 1970
Major May 24, 1966
Captain June 2, 1962
First lieutenant December 30, 1959
Second lieutenant June 9, 1958
Chaplains, AMEDD, and JAG Officers all have their own promotion systems in the Army. Everyone else has to compete in the All-Other Branches Boards.
There are numerous examples in Army history of CPTs, MAJs, and LTC's being "field promoted" or brevetted to General Officer Ranks. General Armstrong Custer being among these, they usually returned to their normal ranks after the conflict was over & the appointment ended.
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Ch Costin is an amazing guy. For years people have said "one say he'll be Chief of Chaplains." And now, here he is.
The Chief of Chaplains in all 3 services (the Navy serves both USN and USMC) us a 2-star billet. There's only one 2-star, and one 1-star Deputy.
In this case the Chief, Ch Stendahl ended his term and retired, and his deputy, Ch Page had also reached mandatory retirement age.
I know both Ch Costin and the new Deputy, Ch Schaick. Both have been working at the MAJCOM level and I doubt they'll have trouble taking charge of the Chaplain Corps.
The Army just did the same thing with their new Chief of Chaplains earlier this year.
The Chief of Chaplains in all 3 services (the Navy serves both USN and USMC) us a 2-star billet. There's only one 2-star, and one 1-star Deputy.
In this case the Chief, Ch Stendahl ended his term and retired, and his deputy, Ch Page had also reached mandatory retirement age.
I know both Ch Costin and the new Deputy, Ch Schaick. Both have been working at the MAJCOM level and I doubt they'll have trouble taking charge of the Chaplain Corps.
The Army just did the same thing with their new Chief of Chaplains earlier this year.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Thank you, Capt (Join to see). This is what people were thinking happened, and now the confirmation from one in the know!
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Gen.. Rick Lynch left 3rd ID as a 2 star I swear he was a 4star within a month or two.
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