Is there such a thing as a battlefield commissioned officer these days?

MSgt Neil Greenfield — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 21:34:22 -0400

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2020 9:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 21:46:49 -0400

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2020 9:54 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 21:54:20 -0400

Haven’t heard of one happening since Vietnam but I could be wrong.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jun 12 at 2020 10:23 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 22:23:06 -0400

Battlefield commissions or even reduced commissioning requirements only happen during bad times. I imagine even in Vietnam it was rare and during my time commissioned, nurses commissioning only with associates has gone away. Now some branches have pathways from E8 to CW2 and even O-3 but they are not battlefield. I know a Coastie that just went from E8 to CW2 which is commissioned.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 12 at 2020 11:39 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 23:39:38 -0400

I am going to make the strong assumption that it depends on the rate of attrition of LTs in war time.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 13 at 2020 8:18 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 08:18:02 -0400

No. The closest remaining equivalent is battlefield promotion for enlisted, but even then they already have to be boarded and promotable, so it's largely a ceremonial act for someone who was just waiting to make points anyway.

Battlefield commissions were an act of of desperation to replenish officer losses at a time that we couldn't keep vacancies filled. It's a good thing we don't have them. It means our officers aren't dying like flies.

Response by Cpl Bernard Bates made Jun 13 at 2020 1:11 PM

Cpl Bernard Bates — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 13:11:39 -0400

It depends on how great the need is for leaders. Its usually next man up when the need is great. In WWII, Korea and Vietnam it happened more than you might think . When the buildup for vietnam started we had many green troops and not enough veterans. I had been in the Marine Corp 4yrs attained the rank of Cpl. I joined the Army as a PFC. and 13 months later I was a SP/5. I had went to the leadership academy in the army and CBR school. I went to Vietnam in 65 with the 205th ord (ammo) Plt. because their was no Ammo Companys in the Army ready to go. The 205th left on 2 wks notice. I had about 3 months left in country when I was offered a commission as a 2nd Lt. I turned it down because I would have had to spend another Year in Vietnam. I had only been Married 8months and I didn't want my wife to leave me because I picked Vietnam over her. If I had not been married I would have stayed. We had our Ammo Dump blown up once. and spend a few nights Kissing the ground because of Bullets and flares over head. Semper Fi.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2020 3:49 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 03:49:25 -0400

There are direct commissions in the USAR (I am one) but it is a process like any other commission path. Then there is frocking for only field grade promotions but one has to be both already selected for promotion AND sitting in such a billet. Then by time you got through the Frock process you’d pin anyway.