"spot promotion" vs "field promotion"

Mark Israel

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Apr 19, 2001, 9:48:34 AM4/19/01

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What's the difference between a "spot promotion" and
a "field promotion"? Why do so few dictionaries have
the terms?

Brian J Goggin

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Apr 19, 2001, 10:48:42 AM4/19/01

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On 19 Apr 2001 13:48:34 GMT, MarkI...@english-usage.com (Mark
Israel) wrote:

Marketing or military?

bjg

Jitze Couperus

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Apr 19, 2001, 11:37:55 PM4/19/01

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On 19 Apr 2001 13:48:34 GMT, MarkI...@english-usage.com (Mark
Israel) wrote:

A "field" promotion is something that may happen under
the exigencies of battle - e.g. where some officer is rendered
hors de combat and somebody of lower rank is (maybe
temporarily) promoted to assume the role of that officer.

Or perhaps for diplomatic or regulatory reasons. Sometimes
it is necessary that somebody of at least Brigadier rank
represent the Regiment at the annual meeting of The
Honorable Company of Dweil Flonkers.

However I'm not sure what a "spot" promotion might
be - unless it is related to focused advertising (i.e. aimed
at some demographic grouping)

Jitze

Mark Abraham Israel

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Apr 20, 2001, 2:05:35 PM4/20/01

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In article <3adfacbd....@sd.znet.com>, couperu...@znet.com (Jitze Couperus) writes:

> However I'm not sure what a "spot" promotion might
> be - unless it is related to focused advertising

"Spot promotion" seems to be used in all three
branches of the US military. Below are the first few
citations from Google; there are plenty more. I
couldn't find any non-US examples, but "field promotion"
is used in the US as well.

I started wondering about this when I was in a
production of Mozart's opera _The Magic Flute_.
I was originally supposed to be just a chorus member,
but the professional singer who was supposed to play
Sarastro got sick, so I had to be Sarastro. A colleague
said, "Congratulations on your spot promotion!"

http://www.af.mil/news/biographies/mcilmoyle_ge.html
In August 1964 General McIlmoyle voluntarily relinquished his spot promotion
to major and was assigned as a plans officer in the Space Section [...].

http://www.13thbombsquadron.org/tigers4.html
Korean service was also the route to faster rank. Personnel who qualified for
promotion by time in grade to the next rank received a "spot" promotion. You
wore the rank and got the pay only so long as you remained in Korea, and in
a job which called for that rank.

http://www.hnn.navy.mil/archives/990903/VP-4.htm
Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Anthony Lamar Johnson of VP-4 was spot
promoted under the Command Advancement Program (CAP) to First Class by Cmdr.
Mac Bollman, VP-4 commanding officer.

http://49apilotsassn.nwfl.net/becker.htm
He left Korea on 10 September, 1951 with 82 combat missions and a spot promotion
to Captain.

http://www.pinoycentral.com/img/bubb.nsf/byid/8A778DD26DB852CB48256A05002CD361?OpenDocument
The purpose of this formal military inspections is to give spot promotion to the
Soldiers for the gallant move he did in savings both cousins from dilenma

http://www.af.mil/news/biographies/spangrud_t.html
His crew was upgraded to select status in 1964 and he held a spot promotion to major.

http://www.tamucc.edu/~whatley/pols2306/study01.htm
__________ was recognized during Texas's war for independence by receiving a spot
promotion from private to colonel.