Being busted Down

mmarsh

Active member
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.
 
Busted

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.
 
I got a suspended reduction in a NJP from LCpl to PFC. Gosh I cant EVEN say what for, it went to the tune of disrespect to a commissioned officer. Oooops !!

Marine Policy (google) Promotion Manual USMC


Reduction. The CMC may reduce enlisted Marines to any grade, when necessary to reduce the total number of Marines in a particular grade for the purpose of shaping the force. Additionally, the CMC may reduce enlisted Marines for incompetence of unacceptable performance of duty per procedures described in this Chapter.

Enlisted Marines of any grade above Pvt may bed reduced as punishment pursuant to the sentence of the nonjudicial punishment or court-martial.
 
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.

Ummm... No. The three corporals there with them died in an IED blast and he was the next up to take charge. They wont put lance corporals in charge of a vehicle becuase they say it is irrisponsible so they promoted him... Its called a combat promotion for a reason.
 
Weird. Isnt it dangerous?

Because if you promote people because their superiors were killed, it means that you dont promote following skills... Or that they have the skills but dont get the promotion until a slot gets free...
Which one is the most common?
 
I know that it is possible in the British Army. I have heard mutliple stories of people having been busted from sergeant to private and other promoted from the first possible officer to a Captain. It is possible but very rare and as stated already mostly only occurs during war time. You'd have to be exceptional to have a multiple promotion during peace time.
 
An officer in the CF was busted down from Colonel to 2nd LT a short time ago. Also a Sergent I know got busted down to a corporal instead of the 1 rank to Master corporal.

Double promotion is not possible in the CF, But you can have consecutive promotions in a matter of days so it's kind of like a double promotion.

Note: doctors and dentists in the CF are given the rank of Captain when they first join instead of 2nd LT. But this doesn't count as a merited promotion.
 
Last edited:
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.
This is for peace time, how is it on the field (cursory combat promotion) or generally in war?

Rattler
 
This is for peace time, how is it on the field (cursory combat promotion) or generally in war?

Rattler

In the field or at war, you still can´t be demoted. This originates from the fact that Danish soldiers are employed on a specific contract. NCO's are employees of civil servant-like conditions and officers are full civil servants. This gives you certain rights including the one that you can´t be demoted.
Officers with the function of company commander and up may assign you a rank in war conditions but it´s not a promotion, it´s a temporary rank, which applies only as long as you are in the unit and holding that function. It´s to my knowledge never been used.
 
In the field or at war, you still can´t be demoted. This originates from the fact that Danish soldiers are employed on a specific contract. NCO's are employees of civil servant-like conditions and officers are full civil servants. This gives you certain rights including the one that you can´t be demoted.
Officers with the function of company commander and up may assign you a rank in war conditions but it´s not a promotion, it´s a temporary rank, which applies only as long as you are in the unit and holding that function. It´s to my knowledge never been used.

To me that sounds rather risky. You never know what people may do with the psychological thought that they have all the power. The threat of demotion is normally one that keeps men in line. But if you can't be demoted the only threat is to be fired by you'd still retain your rank which, to many people, is still their 'pride and joy' and can still earn them respect out of the army. Though that's just my personal opinion.
 
To me that sounds rather risky. You never know what people may do with the psychological thought that they have all the power. The threat of demotion is normally one that keeps men in line. But if you can't be demoted the only threat is to be fired by you'd still retain your rank which, to many people, is still their 'pride and joy' and can still earn them respect out of the army. Though that's just my personal opinion.

Now, Denmark is not a banana republic and Danish officers and NCO´s are very loyal to the state. Moreover, there are laws and regulations in the military that are far more restrictive than in the civilian world. If the threat of demotion is the one that keeps men in line, then you have a huge discipline problem in your armed forces.

If a Danish officer/NCO gets fired because he violated the military or civilian law he usually also loses his military rank.
 
Last edited:
An officer in the CF was busted down from Colonel to 2nd LT a short time ago. Also a Sergent I know got busted down to a corporal instead of the 1 rank to Master corporal.

Double promotion is not possible in the CF, But you can have consecutive promotions in a matter of days so it's kind of like a double promotion.

Note: doctors and dentists in the CF are given the rank of Captain when they first join instead of 2nd LT. But this doesn't count as a merited promotion.

If the Colonel you're referring to happens to be a certain Air Force officer, he wasn't busted to 2Lt. His entire commission was revoked, given a dishonourable discharge, stripped of all medals, awards and titles, and given life in prison.

And your Sgt being busted to Cpl reflects what I mentioned earlier about MCpl not actually being a rank.
 
Back
Top