Washington, DC — The Department of the Army announced Thursday that Colonels who have been passed over for promotion to Brigadier General will now be offered the opportunity to enter a newly created Prestige system, in which the officer forfeits all rank, insignia, and parking privileges, reverts to E-1, and begins the entire process again with a special animated border around their name tape.
The border is gold.
“We felt it communicated the right message,” said a Pentagon spokesperson.
The program was developed after Army retention data showed that passed-over Colonels were separating in large numbers rather than continuing to serve, a trend leaders described as concerning and the Colonels described as “have you met the Army.”
Under the new system, a colonel who elects Prestige will be issued new dog tags, a new service number, and orders to a Basic Combat Training unit as a trainee. He will bunk with eighteen-year-olds. He will eat at the same DFAC. He will be addressed as Private.
By drill sergeants who were Specialists when he was a battalion commander.
“We anticipate some adjustment period,” the spokesperson said.
In exchange for completing the Prestige cycle, the officer will receive a special designation visible on all official records, a unique unit crest available in no other way, and the knowledge that he has done something almost nobody else in the Army has done.
He will not receive a promotion.
“The Prestige is its own reward,” the spokesperson said.
When asked whether any Colonels had voluntarily enrolled since the announcement, the spokesperson confirmed that the program has been open for seventy-two hours and that interest has been described internally as “not yet robust.”
One colonel called to inquire. He asked three questions. The third question was whether the animated border was visible on the dress uniform.
It is not visible on the dress uniform.
He declined to enroll.
At press time a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson had been informed that one of his incoming BCT trainees would be a 47-year-old Prestige Colonel with a Combat Action Badge, a master’s degree from the Army War College, and twenty-six years of service.
He has submitted a request for additional guidance.
The request is pending.
He starts Monday.
