I have a question for service or ex service members.

Often when a service member is reduced in rank it seems (to me) like he/she is only busted one grade., for example from a Sergent to a Corporal.

Is it possible to be demoted multiple ranks?

And on a similar note, is it possible to be to be promoted several ranks, like from a 1LT to a Major?

Depends on the service, and severity of the crime. As for double promotions, I wouldn't know.

In the Danish armed forces you can´t be demoted.

It´s not possible to be promoted to a higher rank unless you have completed and passed the relevant course, which is the condition for obtaining a higher rank. Also it´s not possible to be promoted from First Lieutenant to Major without having been Captain first.

In the Swedish you can be demoted. I have heared about some officers which have been demoted from a Capt to 1 LT. They can be fired as well.

In peace time to be promoted without taking the courses is impossible, after reached the rank of lieutenant colonel, other criteras must be filled to obtain higher ranks. Similar as to be a professor in the academic world, some steps must be taken.

take care

Ghostrider

in the army you can be busted from an E4 (specialist/corporal) to an E1 (private), the NCO chain is a bit different.

As AFSteliga said it depends on the severity of the offense - in the US Army it is absolutly possible to be reduce in rank more than one grade.

Many years ago, I had a Platoon Sergeant who was busted for rape.
He wen't from E-7 to E-3, and that was just for starters....

Forgot to add this for the Canadian Forces, because we've got a rank which really isn't a rank (Master Corporal/Master Seaman), but officially an appointment of the rank of Cpl/Leading Seaman, and although it's treated as a de facto rank, it isn't counted in the chain when it comes to demotions.

For example, if a Sgt is busted, they are demoted to Cpl. And if a MCpl is busted, they are demoted to Pte.

In the Marines I have seen Staff Sergeants (E-6) get busted to Corporals (E-4) for big crimes. But the worst is when a officer goes to the brig and is dishonorably discharged, your rate from that point forward is E-1 on any paper work I have ever seen.

As for promotions, the only person I ever saw skip a rank was a Corporal that picked up Corporal with never pinning Lance Corporal on first. But this is usually what they call a combat promotion here. And he was deployed at the time.

Shelf, maybe that they were late in the paper work and that the promotions reached him at the same time for some reason...

One time, I had two increases in salary at the same time... It was a real mess paperwork wise...
And I'm sure that it's not simpler in the army.