Rising from the Ranks: The History of Enlisted Soldiers Becoming Officers
In military terminology, rising from the ranks (also known as being commissioned from the ranks) occurs when an enlisted soldier is promoted to the status of a commissioned officer. Historically, this transition was rare, particularly in class-conscious societies like Victorian-era Britain, where a strict social divide existed between the enlisted personnel and the officer corps.
Despite these barriers, various eras of conflict and political revolution have created pathways for talented soldiers to ascend to the highest levels of command, proving that leadership capability can emerge from any level of service.
Key Facts
- Mustang is the American military slang term for an officer who began their career as an enlisted soldier.
- Sir William Robertson is the only soldier in British Army history to rise from an enlisted rank to the highest possible rank (Field Marshal).
- The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars significantly expanded opportunities for enlisted soldiers to reach the rank of Marshal of France.
- In the UK during the World Wars, soldiers promoted from the ranks were sometimes referred to as temporary gentlemen.
Revolutionary and Napoleonic France
While Napoleon Bonaparte is often associated with the idea of meritocracy, he did not actually rise from the ranks; he was commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduating from military school. However, he famously championed the potential of his troops, stating, "Every French soldier carries the baton of a marshal of France in his knapsack."
This philosophy manifested in the careers of many soldiers who seized the opportunities provided by the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Notable figures who rose to high command under Napoleon include:
- Jean Bernadotte (who later became the King of Sweden)
- Jean-Baptiste Bessières
- Jean Lannes
- François Joseph Lefebvre
- André Masséna
- Michel Ney
- Nicolas Oudinot
- Claude-Victor Perrin
- Jean-de-Dieu Soult
The tradition of upward mobility continued in post-Napoleonic France. A prominent example is François Achille Bazaine, who served for four decades and rose from the rank of private to become a Marshal of France in 1863.
The British Army Experience
In the United Kingdom, the transition from non-commissioned officer to commissioned officer was historically less common but did occur. An 1857 report detailed the number of non-commissioned officers receiving commissions over a four-year period:
- 1853–4: 23 commissions
- 1854–5: 101 commissions
- 1855–6: 100 commissions
- 1856–7: 147 commissions
During the two World Wars, the influx of promoted soldiers led to the colloquial term "temporary gentlemen." Some individuals achieved extraordinary heights, most notably Sir William Robertson, who began as a trooper in the 16th (The Queen's) Lancers in 1877 and eventually became a Field Marshal in 1920.
Other notable British examples include John Horsford, who became a Major General in the East India Company's Bengal Army, and Sir John Elley, who reached the rank of Lieutenant General after fighting in the Napoleonic Wars.
| General | Enlisted Start | Highest Rank Attained | Date Attained | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Horsford | 1772, East India Company | Major general | June 1811 | Bengal Army |
| Sir John Elley | 1789, Royal Regiment of Horse Guards | Lieutenant general | January 1837 | Napoleonic Wars veteran |
| Sir William Robertson | 1877, Trooper, 16th Lancers | Field marshal | March 1920 | Only soldier to reach the army's highest rank from enlisted |
| Hector MacDonald | 1870, Highland Rifle Volunteers | Major general | March 1902 | - |
| Sir Fitzroy Maclean | 1939, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders | Major general | June 1947 | Rose to Brigadier during WWII |
| Enoch Powell | 1939, Royal Warwickshire Regiment | Brigadier | May 1945 | Rose to Brigadier during WWII |
The United States and the "Mustang"
In the United States military, soldiers who rise from the ranks are known by the slang term Mustang. This path has been taken by several high-profile figures throughout American history, often through a battlefield commission (a commission granted on the field of battle for exceptional merit).
Notable American mustangs include:
- Nathan Bedford Forrest: Started as a private in the Confederate States Army and rose to lieutenant general.
- William McKinley: The future U.S. President enlisted as a private in the Union Army in 1861; he received a battlefield commission and reached the rank of brevet major.
- Galusha Pennypacker: A Civil War quartermaster sergeant in 1861 who was promoted to major general by 1865.
- Winfield Scott: Enlisted in 1807 as a militia cavalry corporal and eventually became a brevet lieutenant general.
- Chuck Yeager: Enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a private in 1941 and eventually rose to brigadier general.
Representation in Fiction
The concept of the soldier rising through the ranks is a popular trope in military fiction, symbolizing meritocracy and grit. A prime example is the character Richard Sharpe. Similarly, in Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers, the protagonist Juan "Johnny" Rico enlists as a private in the Mobile Infantry before receiving a direct appointment to lieutenant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a "Mustang" in military terms?
A "Mustang" is American military slang for an officer who was previously an enlisted soldier.
Did Napoleon Bonaparte rise from the ranks?
No. Despite his nickname "the little corporal," Napoleon was commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduating from military school.
Who is the highest-ranking soldier to rise from the ranks in the British Army?
Sir William Robertson is the only soldier in the history of the British Army to rise from an enlisted rank to the highest rank of Field Marshal.
What is a battlefield commission?
A battlefield commission is a promotion to an officer rank granted to an enlisted soldier during active combat, typically as a reward for exceptional bravery or leadership.
What were "temporary gentlemen"?
This was a term used in the United Kingdom to describe British soldiers who were promoted from the enlisted ranks to commissioned officers during the two World Wars.