Buy — Military Rank

To move up, an officer had to buy the next rank from an officer who was retiring or selling out.

The practice of purchasing military commissions and ranks—historically known as the —was a prominent method of officer selection in European armies from the 17th to the 19th century, most notably in the British Army. buy military rank

The system originated in the 1600s as a way for the Crown to raise regiments without directly funding them. Wealthy individuals would pay to raise a regiment and, in return, were granted the right to sell the subordinate commissions. Key Rules of the Purchase System: To move up, an officer had to buy