Enlisted-to-Officer

Normally, enlisted service members or non-commissioned officers cannot attain the rank of commissioned officer through regular promotion. All commissioned officers must take the same oath in order to hold office.

(Title 5 U.S. Code 3331, an individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services) 

A battlefield commission is awarded to enlisted soldiers who are promoted to the rank of commissioned officer for outstanding leadership on the field of battle. In the medieval context, this martial achievement was often one of the main restricted pathways into the sword-bearing feudal aristocracy.

At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the colonies quite logically modeled the nucleus of the naval establishment after the British. History records show that on 13 December 1775, Congress agreed to construct thirteen frigates. Boatswains, Gunners, Carpenters, and Sailmakers were often appointed directly into the Navy after learning their trades in merchant vessels or as privateers. Contrary to popular belief, most navy Warrant Officers of the 1800's were not Sailors who had begun at the bottom of the Navy's ladder and worked their way up.  In 1859, most Warrant Officers had as little as six months service as enlisted men.  Some had none at all.

In 1862, the rank of Ensign was introduced.  By 1865,  the Navy had Vice Admirals, Rear Admirals and Commodores.  Master ranked between Ensign and Lieutenant until 1881, when the rank was changed to Lieutenant Junior Grade. 

From the end of the Civil War, until 1900, Warrant Officers were Boatswains, Gunners, Carpenters, Sailmakers and Mates. The duties of the Mate were simple:

"He will perform duties as assigned by the commanding officer."

The Mate was junior to all Officers and Warrant Officers, but senior to all enlisted men and to naval cadets, as graduates of Annapolis were then known. Commissioned Warrant grades (the Chief Warrant Officer to "rank with but after ensign") were introduced to the Navy at the turn of the nineteenth century. 

In infantry, the granting of a battlefield commission has its historical predecessor in the medieval practice of the knighting or ennoblement of a plebeian combatant on the battleground for demonstration of heroic qualities in an exceptional degree.

The Marine Corps started awarding battlefield commissions in place of the Brevet Medal, which was second only to the Medal of Honor. From 1845 through 1918, enlisted men who were commissioned for outstanding leadership on the field of battle were referred to as Brevet Officers. The Marine Corps recognized the value of combat leaders who were commissioned in this manner and created a Brevet Medal which was second only to the Medal of Honor. 

Starting in 1917, during World War I, the United States Army started awarding battlefield commissions to soldiers to replace the "Brevet Officer" system (the promotion of an enlisted man to a commissioned officer without an increase in pay). In the wars following 1918, enlisted men and warrant officers, commissioned for the same reason, were referred to as battlefield commissioned. 

From World War I to the Vietnam War, over 31,200 Soldiers, Marines, and Airmen had been awarded battlefield commissions. Such a commission is usually advancement from a position of Non-Commissioned Officer to a Commissioned Officer, generally O-1 - Second Lieutenant, or Ensign in the Navy and Coast Guard. 

World War I — From 1917 to 1918 approximately 6,000 non-commissioned officers were awarded battlefield commissions.

World War II — From 1941-1945 approximately 25,500 men were awarded battlefield commissions worldwide. Battlefield commissions were approved by the War Department.

At the conclusion of WWII, a board of officers reporting to the Commanding General of the European Theater stated: 

“The one sure method of determining whether any individual has qualities which make him a successful leader in combat is to observe that man in combat.” 

The United States Marine Corps also awarded battlefield commissions during the same period but no records were kept of the total. 

Korean War — From 1950-1953 a system parallel to that of World War II was adopted. The Department of Defense cannot provide figures on the number promoted. The Marine Corps did not award battlefield commissions during the Korean War.

Vietnam War — From 1963-1973 the Marine Corps Commandant appointed a permanent Board with the mission of selecting those enlisted men of the Marine Corps whose performance under fire while serving in Vietnam merited a commission. A list of 62 enlisted men who were commissioned includes one man who was killed before he could accept his commission.

During the Vietnam War, however, when some Army Warrant Officer pilots were offered a direct commission to 2nd or 1st Lieutenant, they were usually younger than 25 at the time of commission.

Afghanistan War — The Marine Corps gave battlefield promotions to members of its Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) due to meritorious performance and the deaths of other deployed EOD leaders.

The US Army has current regulations allowing battlefield commissions (technically "Battlefield Appointments") but it is unclear when they were last used.

Most commissioned officers generally enter the Military with a four-year college degree or greater. In certain cases, enlisted service members can advance and transition to officers during the course of their military career as well.

The Army offers the Green-to-Gold Non-Scholarship Program. This officer-path option is for Soldiers who have completed two years of college and who complete certain college degree requirements in two years. Benefits of this program include a stipend, pay for attending the Cadet Leadership Course (CLC) and other incentives.

Another option is offered by the Air Force. Called the General Military Course, it is the first section of Air Force ROTC that is offered as a two-year course to college freshmen and sophomores who meet certain minimum requirements. It’s an excellent opportunity for students to try out the ROTC program without any obligation to join ROTC or serve.

The Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard offer direct commissioning programs based on experience and performance that support mission readiness through technical proficiency and experience, a few officers serve in Limited Duty and Chief Warrant Officer (LDO/CWO) leadership roles that are not technically suitable in the career path of a traditional officer.