[xzins]

A general can retire as a colonel. It's some kind of weird formula they have in the Pentagon about rank versus retired rank.

The article says he is Colonel Staudt but that he was brigadier general of the unit. Anyone know how this works?

[MindyW]

Could be he was promoted to BGen before he retired and didn't put in enough time afterward to retire at that grade.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

A Brigadier General is a one-star general (like Commodore is a one-star admiral). It is considered a temporary rank. If a flag officer doesn't make two stars before retirement, then they revert to their last permanent rank (Colonel for the army and airforce, Captain for the Navy and Coast Guard).

As an aside, I understand that they've done away with the Brigadier General and Commodore ranks recently. Now, they skip immediately to the two star flag rank.

[Cicero]

There are complex rules on what permanent grade you can retire to. This has been the case for a long time, I believe. When I was in the military you had an acting grade and a permanent grade.

[ThomasPaine2000]

It's called a "Brevet promotion". Quite common in the Guard. Even General Custer was a Brevet General. His headstone at West Point has him as Lt Col.

[AlaskaErik]

The article says he is Colonel Staudt but that he was brigadier general of the unit. Anyone know how this works?

Colonel is his federally recognized grade and is what would be on his ID Card. BG is his state rank. More like an honorarium.

[Sola Veritas]

"A general can retire as a colonel. It's some kind of weird formula they have in the Pentagon about rank versus retired rank.

The article says he is Colonel Staudt but that he was brigadier general of the unit. Anyone know how this works?"

I think I can explain. National Guard officers received their commission from the governor of their state first. Then later they receive what is called Federal Recognition of the commission and rank as a USAR officer.

In 1982 I was recruited by the OK Army National Guard to receive a direct commission as a Second Lieutenant of the Chemical Corps (WMD specialist). I was initially commissioned by the governor of the state. Then about 6 month later the federal government granted me "federal" recognition by recognizing my rank and giving me a USAR commission.

Probably, Staudt was picked by the Governor of Texas to be a Brigadier General when he was only recognized by the feds as a colonial of the USAR. By the way, the Governor of a state's guard usually picks general officers. Whatever, I would guess that either the federal government never federally recognized Staudt's rank, or he retired before they could.

[Poohbah]

The article says he is Colonel Staudt but that he was brigadier general of the unit. Anyone know how this works?

He was breveted to Brigadier General; his permanent rank was Colonel. Same thing happened to Patton after WW1--he dropped back down to Captain from Colonel.

[Mike Fieschko]

The article says he is Colonel Staudt but that he was brigadier general of the unit. Anyone know how this works?

Wouldn't it be funny if CBS called his house, asked if he was General Staudt, and he replied, 'No, this is Colonel Staudt', and CBS figured they had the wrong guy?

[Auslander]

Back in the day, Air Force officers held one of two type of commissions, reserve or regular. If you went through AFROTC you got a reserve commission. Academy and OCS graduates got regular commissions. Reserve commissions had a brevet (serving) rank and regular (permanent) rank, in other words you could be an active duty officer holding a reserve commission with a serving rank of Major and a permanent rank of First Lieutenant. When you retire as a reserve officer you got benefits based on your permanent rank. Reserve officers often held slots in groups and wings that were way above their permanent rank. If you held a reserve commission serving as an active duty officer for you entire career, no time attached to a non-active reserve unit you got your type of commission changed from reserve to regular at the end of your service or on promotion to a permanent field grade rank.

I think this changed like in the mid to late 1980’s but I’m not sure.

[xkaydet65]

The article says he is Colonel Staudt but that he was brigadier general of the unit. Anyone know how this works>>

Just a guess that it may have to do with USAF rank vs TANG rank.He held a position in the TANG as a Bde Gen, but on retirement he is paid as a USAF Col. Of course this is conjecture, so I will await expert comment.

[fnord]

one of the vagaries of the NG system is that ranks O7 and up (generals) must be recognized by the Pentagon. Often officers can achieve a "star" rank in their state NG but not be approved by Washington (usually because of lack of CGS - Command and General Staff school).

There are many instances of 1 and 2 star NG officers who cannot wear the rank at conferences and such. I figure the same rules apply for retirement ...