authorized strength

Question

Can you please explain what does "authorized strength" of an army means, as in "battalion's motorised transport was brought up to authorized strength". Does that have anything to do with the combat readiness?
Aslo, an emergency commission officer, is it a reserve officer?

Thanks!

Lucrezia

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Hi Lucrezia,

I'm trying to remember. As I recall, there are three different staffing levels. There's the budgeted strength, which is what they are allowed to have based on the realistic number of people currently serving; authorized strength, which is what they can have to fulfill their mission... and one more that's escaping me.

In your sentence, it means that the unit previously did not have as many people as it was "allowed" to have - perhaps because people qualified to do those jobs were assigned elsewhere. It got in the people necessary to make it fully staffed (and presumably ready to completely fulfill their mission).

I'm not sure about your other phrase. It sounds more like a non-commissioned officer promoted into the officer ranks because they needed someone in that position (called a billet) immediately, OR someone from the civilian ranks needed for the same reason, like a doctor who is immediately commissioned as captain.

Clive · Answer

Hi guys,

an emergency commission officer

There's also such a thing as a '(battle)field commission'. My understanding is that this involves promoting someone to be an officer without going through the normal selection process. eg all the officers in a unit are killed, a sergeant takes command and fights successfully, and a superior officer appoints him as an officer.

Audie Murphy, the most decorated US soldier of WWII, was given a battlefield commission as a Second Lieutenant because of his courage.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, guys! Your help is really precious to me.

Lucrezia

authorized strength

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions