How are Squadron Commanders Selected?

[LSW]

I remember when I was a new cadet watching a captain get promoted to colonel. I was most confused by that until later when someone explained it to me.  Although I understand it now, it still sits weird with me.

Can I assume that in both your case and Storm Chaser's that is was due to a position? From Captain to Colonel due to becoming a wing commander or something?

But in the case of Storm Chaser's example, and please correct me if I am wrong. from my OBC training I understood that everything over Lt. Col. is temporary based on position and once you no longer hold the position it reverts back to Lt. Col.?

[MacGruff]

Can I assume that in both your case and Storm Chaser's that is was due to a position? From Captain to Colonel due to becoming a wing commander or something?

But in the case of Storm Chaser's example, and please correct me if I am wrong. from my OBC training I understood that everything over Lt. Col. is temporary based on position and once you no longer hold the position it reverts back to Lt. Col.?

I think your understanding is correct as Wing Commanders are Colonels (full birds). A couple of years ago the rules changed from having a one year qualification period where you held a "temporary" appointment as a Colonel. Now it's a Colonel from the get-go. The grade does NOT revert back to Lt. Col. It stays a Colonel from that point onwards.

[Papabird]

I think your understanding is correct as Wing Commanders are Colonels (full birds). A couple of years ago the rules changed from having a one year qualification period where you held a "temporary" appointment as a Colonel. Now it's a Colonel from the get-go. The grade does NOT revert back to Lt. Col. It stays a Colonel from that point onwards.

Lt Col also now has a 1 year probationary period.  After one year of holding the grade of Lt Colonel, the current Region commander is notified in eServices and makes a determination to make it permanent at that point.

I just had this explained to me a couple of times.....for some reason.... 

[JeffDG]

Can I assume that in both your case and Storm Chaser's that is was due to a position? From Captain to Colonel due to becoming a wing commander or something?

But in the case of Storm Chaser's example, and please correct me if I am wrong. from my OBC training I understood that everything over Lt. Col. is temporary based on position and once you no longer hold the position it reverts back to Lt. Col.?

I think your understanding is correct as Wing Commanders are Colonels (full birds). A couple of years ago the rules changed from having a one year qualification period where you held a "temporary" appointment as a Colonel. Now it's a Colonel from the get-go. The grade does NOT revert back to Lt. Col. It stays a Colonel from that point onwards.

Colonel for Wing Commanders is a temporary grade.  It is typically made permanent following a successful term of office.

The change to which you refer was that Wing Commanders used to be appointed to a 1 year probationary, followed by a 3 year full term in office.  That was changed about a year ago to do away with the probationary period.

[FW]

Can I assume that in both your case and Storm Chaser's that is was due to a position? From Captain to Colonel due to becoming a wing commander or something?

But in the case of Storm Chaser's example, and please correct me if I am wrong. from my OBC training I understood that everything over Lt. Col. is temporary based on position and once you no longer hold the position it reverts back to Lt. Col.?

I think your understanding is correct as Wing Commanders are Colonels (full birds). A couple of years ago the rules changed from having a one year qualification period where you held a "temporary" appointment as a Colonel. Now it's a Colonel from the get-go. The grade does NOT revert back to Lt. Col. It stays a Colonel from that point onwards.

Last time I checked: For the grade of Col., it is a temp grade until the "successful completion" of term of office.  For the grade of Brig General and Major General, the grade is made permanent after 1 year of service. 

[MSG Mac]

I think your understanding is correct as Wing Commanders are Colonels (full birds). A couple of years ago the rules changed from having a one year qualification period where you held a "temporary" appointment as a Colonel. Now it's a Colonel from the get-go. The grade does NOT revert back to Lt. Col. It stays a Colonel from that point onwards.

Lt Col also now has a 1 year probationary period.  After one year of holding the grade of Lt Colonel, the current Region commander is notified in eServices and makes a determination to make it permanent at that point.

I just had this explained to me a couple of times.....for some reason.... 

LT Col always had the 1 year probationary period, but until a few years ago there was no way of routinely tracking the LtCols. Now the RC gets a monthly printout of the the probationers and (with Input from the Wing Commanders), and can checkbox individuals as needed.

[Eclipse]

Wing & Region Legislative CC's are temporary promotions to Lt Col, with the member reverting to their previous grade when they are replaced.

Region CV are also temporary to Col pending completion of assignment and approval by NHQ.

Maj Gen becomes permanent upon "successful completion" of assignment as National CC.

BGen becomes permanent after 1 year as NHQ-CV (and recommendation, etc), if the grade isn't confirmed, they
must step down as NHQ-CV.

Individuals selected as NHQ-CC, who were not already NHQ-CV (and thus a 1-star), are promoted temporarily for 1-year
to BGen, after which the promotion to Maj Gen is automatic, but still subject to the "successful assignment" to be permanent

As to the Lt Col - it's 1-year "probationary"(term not used in 35-5), at which time the Region CC can approved permanent,
extend the probation for another year, or demote to the previous grade held.

[LSW]

Some how I figured I was not quite reading that correctly, but it is not really uncommon for battlefield promotions to be dropped, Custer was a Gen. in the Civil War but only a Col. when he died. I just always felt once you have a grade you should keep it. Glad to hear they can keep them.

Of course if you skipped rank as mentioned here, I could also see dropping said Captain from Col. to a Maj. when his command stint is done. Interesting subject.

[N6RVT]

I saw a member back in the 90's go from 2d Lt to Lt Col as a Wing Commander and full Col a year later. He wasn't the most competent Wing Commander to say the least.

I remember when I was a new cadet watching a captain get promoted to colonel. I was most confused by that until later when someone explained it to me.  Although I understand it now, it still sits weird with me.

The previous California Wing Commander was never a lieutenant colonel so that still happens

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[kwe1009]

Skipping ranks isn't just a CAP thing.  It happens in the Air Force but is super rare.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/08/27/air-force-colonel-to-get-double-promotion-take-top-chaplain-post.html

[Luis R. Ramos]

Kwe-

Thanks for posting that link. However I got an error message "Sorry that story is no longer available."

From Stars and Stripes Japan: http://japan.stripes.com/news/af-colonel-get-double-promotion-2-star-general-top-chaplain-post

[grunt82abn]

Worked for me

[skymaster]

Skipping ranks isn't just a CAP thing.  It happens in the Air Force but is super rare.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/08/27/air-force-colonel-to-get-double-promotion-take-top-chaplain-post.html

It also occasionally happens in the Air National Guard.

http://flightlines.airforcetimes.com/2011/10/03/from-captain-to-two-star-general-in-a-day/