102:, the newly promoted officer would pass his old frock coat to the officer remaining behind and recommended for promotion. Months could go by until the captain's recommendation made it back to the Department of the Navy, was acted upon, made official, and news sent back. In the intervening time, the officer recommended for promotion would be accorded the privileges and authorities of his "new" rank, but would not receive the pay for it, since it was not yet official. Because it was not yet official, and because he was still wearing the old frock coat of the recently departed and (officially) promoted officer, the officer recommended for promotion was considered "frocked".
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Frocking occurs on rare occasions when officers are selected for promotion to a higher rank, but have yet to reach the effective date of promotion. For frocking to occur in the Air Force, an unusual set of circumstances must be present to justify wearing the higher rank before the promotion becomes
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The need to frock is a result of the fact that, for some ranks, the number of people who may serve in them is restricted by federal law. Thus, even though an individual may have been selected for promotion and, for officers, confirmed by the Senate, they must often wait for a vacancy (headroom) to
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and ships at sea could take months. News of the promotion of an officer arrived, usually via letters brought by another ship, and often with orders for the newly promoted officer to report to a new ship or station. The ship that brought the news would often take that officer away to his new post.
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actions or signing substantive legal documents), may not be performed by an officer frocked to that grade or rank. However, functions which by regulation require performance by an officer of a particular grade or rank may be performed by an officer frocked to that grade or rank, if specifically
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is restricted. Three- and four-star generals are generally frocked if headroom is not available to promote them at the time of the assumption of their new assignment. This is due both to the close relationship between these ranks and the position held, and to the fact that these are considered
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effective. For example, in 2005, two U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonels selected for promotion to colonel were brevetted (frocked) colonel about six months ahead of their effective dates of promotion because of the high-profile nature of the duties that they were performing.
115:"positions of importance and responsibility" in accordance with 10 USC § 601. For all other officers frocking is normally reserved for joint, international, or other high-visibility positions that require the higher rank for diplomatic, protocol, or command authority reasons.
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Since the departing officer created a vacancy on the first ship, the captain would often forward a recommendation for promotion for one of the remaining officers, which was to be carried back to the
Department of the Navy.
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According to current
Department of Defense policy, there is no limit to the number of two-, three-, and four-star generals (or admirals) who may be frocked at any one time. However, the number of frocked
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If an officer dies or is injured while in a frocked status, compensation will be based upon the officer's actual grade without regard to the grade or rank to which the officer was frocked.
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use the higher rank when signing officer and enlisted evaluation forms, awards and decorations, and documents dealing with protocol, such as military etiquette and precedence.
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selected for promotion wearing the insignia of the higher grade before the official date of promotion (the "date of rank"). An officer who has been selected for
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An officer may continue to wear the rank to which frocked upon a change of duty or permanent change of station (PCS) unless removed from the promotion list.
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of the United States Navy are frocked on 16 September of each year, although their official date of rank will be at different times over the next year.
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United States Code, Title 10 – Armed Forces, Subtitle A – General
Military Law, Part II – Personnel, Chapter 45 – The Uniform, Sec. 777
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A frocked officer is not entitled to the pay and allowances commensurate with the grade of rank to which frocked.
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Frocked time does not count as time-in-grade in the grade of rank to which frocked, for retirement purposes.
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Frocking customs and policies vary across military services, particularly for enlisted members. In the
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directive must be performed by an officer who actually holds a particular grade or rank (such as
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Authority to wear the grade of rank to which frocked will not be recorded in official orders.
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a general officer may request authority to frock soldiers of his command. In the
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A frocked officer does not accrue seniority for future promotion consideration.
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update ID card, official photo and biography reflecting the higher grade.
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An officer must not be under a suspension of favorable personnel actions.
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accrue all the privileges afforded by custom or regulation to this rank.
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accept general officer housing if assigned based on position, not rank.
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An officer must be on an approved and confirmed promotion list.
242:"Temporary Promotions of U.S. Army Officers: A Brief Overview"
184:wear the insignia and uniform of the higher rank.
55:may be authorized to "frock" to the next grade.
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199:obtain and use protocol ("flag") stationery.
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249:U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center
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98:Since one of the symbols of rank was a
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196:obtain ceremonial (and command) flags.
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313:Military ranks of the United States
272:Air Force General Officer Handbook
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293:U.S. Army Human Resources Command
25:A frocking ceremony on board the
308:United States military policies
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16:United States military term
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150:Functions which by law or
112:rear admirals (lower half)
318:Military slang and jargon
49:non-commissioned officer
180:A frocked officer may:
68:United States Air Force
240:Crane, Conrad (2020).
92:Department of the Navy
37:United States military
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43:is the practice of a
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72:chief petty officers
108:brigadier generals
86:dates back to the
64:United States Army
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221:Brevet (military)
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45:commissioned
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88:Age of Sail
302:Categories
282:References
100:frock coat
167:Air Force
82:The term
53:promotion
210:See also
176:Benefits
84:frocking
41:frocking
274:(2003).
78:History
35:In the
29:Peleliu
254:21 May
245:(PDF)
227:Notes
256:2021
156:UCMJ
27:USS
152:DoD
110:or
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264:^
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39:,
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