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Brevet
In military terminology, a brevet (/brəˈvɛt/ or /ˈbrɛvɪt/ ⓘ) is a warrant which gives commissioned officers a higher military rank as a reward without necessarily conferring the authority and privileges granted by that rank. The promotion would be noted in the officer's title (for example, "Bvt. Maj. Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain" or "Bvt. Col. Arthur MacArthur"). It is not to be confused with a Brevet d'état-major in Francophone European military circles, where it is an award, nor should it be confused with temporary commissions.
In France, brevet is a word with a very broad meaning, which includes every document giving a capacity to a person. For instance, the various military speciality courses, such as military parachutism, are ended by the award of a brevet.
The more important brevet in the French military is that of the École de guerre (lit. "school of war"), the French Staff College. Between 1870 and 1940, an officier breveté was a graduate of the École supérieure de guerre. Nowadays, while many officers still attend the école de guerre, they do not use the term officier breveté.
The French military does not use brevets to give officers a higher standing, employing temporary commissions instead. As an example, Charles de Gaulle was promoted "provisional brigadier general" (général de brigade à titre provisoire) in 1940 when he was commander of an armoured division.
In the Prussian and German army and navy, it was possible to bestow a Charakter rank on officers that was in many respects similar to a brevet rank. For example, an Oberst could receive the Charakter als Generalmajor. Very often, German officers would be promoted to the next higher Charakter rank on the day of their retirement.
It was not uncommon during the 19th century to distinguish between empleo ("employed"), the permanent rank and graduación ("grade") the honorary, brevet rank. In the 1884 rank regulations (which with minor modifications were in force during the Spanish–American War), stars marked the rank whilst the actual post was reflected in gold lace on the cuffs.
As in practice both situations coincided, the system was dropped in 1908 leaving only the starred system of denoting rank. Nevertheless, during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–39 the system was revived on the Nationalist side due to the lack of trained officers because of the enlargement of the army. The breveted officers (known as habilitados or estampillados) wore their actual rank on the cuffs but their brevetted one in a rectangular black patch on the left breast of their coats or shirts.
In the United Kingdom the brevet commission was only by courtesy. Officially, both titles were used, as: "Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Cornwallis". Originally the term designated a promotion given on such occasions as a coronation, or the termination of a great war, and had its origin during the reign of King James II (1685–1688); but it was abused so frequently and used to such an extent by the general award of brevet commissions that from 1854, during the Crimean War of 1853–1856 and subsequently, its bestowal was limited by the government strictly to cases of very distinguished service in the field and on the principle of seniority. The British Army confined brevet commissions to ranks from captain to lieutenant-colonel.
Hub AI
Brevet AI simulator
(@Brevet_simulator)
Brevet
In military terminology, a brevet (/brəˈvɛt/ or /ˈbrɛvɪt/ ⓘ) is a warrant which gives commissioned officers a higher military rank as a reward without necessarily conferring the authority and privileges granted by that rank. The promotion would be noted in the officer's title (for example, "Bvt. Maj. Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain" or "Bvt. Col. Arthur MacArthur"). It is not to be confused with a Brevet d'état-major in Francophone European military circles, where it is an award, nor should it be confused with temporary commissions.
In France, brevet is a word with a very broad meaning, which includes every document giving a capacity to a person. For instance, the various military speciality courses, such as military parachutism, are ended by the award of a brevet.
The more important brevet in the French military is that of the École de guerre (lit. "school of war"), the French Staff College. Between 1870 and 1940, an officier breveté was a graduate of the École supérieure de guerre. Nowadays, while many officers still attend the école de guerre, they do not use the term officier breveté.
The French military does not use brevets to give officers a higher standing, employing temporary commissions instead. As an example, Charles de Gaulle was promoted "provisional brigadier general" (général de brigade à titre provisoire) in 1940 when he was commander of an armoured division.
In the Prussian and German army and navy, it was possible to bestow a Charakter rank on officers that was in many respects similar to a brevet rank. For example, an Oberst could receive the Charakter als Generalmajor. Very often, German officers would be promoted to the next higher Charakter rank on the day of their retirement.
It was not uncommon during the 19th century to distinguish between empleo ("employed"), the permanent rank and graduación ("grade") the honorary, brevet rank. In the 1884 rank regulations (which with minor modifications were in force during the Spanish–American War), stars marked the rank whilst the actual post was reflected in gold lace on the cuffs.
As in practice both situations coincided, the system was dropped in 1908 leaving only the starred system of denoting rank. Nevertheless, during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–39 the system was revived on the Nationalist side due to the lack of trained officers because of the enlargement of the army. The breveted officers (known as habilitados or estampillados) wore their actual rank on the cuffs but their brevetted one in a rectangular black patch on the left breast of their coats or shirts.
In the United Kingdom the brevet commission was only by courtesy. Officially, both titles were used, as: "Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Cornwallis". Originally the term designated a promotion given on such occasions as a coronation, or the termination of a great war, and had its origin during the reign of King James II (1685–1688); but it was abused so frequently and used to such an extent by the general award of brevet commissions that from 1854, during the Crimean War of 1853–1856 and subsequently, its bestowal was limited by the government strictly to cases of very distinguished service in the field and on the principle of seniority. The British Army confined brevet commissions to ranks from captain to lieutenant-colonel.