Which rank do I use on a military sticker?

Question

Robert Hill enlisted as a private, was promoted to sergeant within a month, served about 10 months in that capacity and was reduced to ranks for his remaining 5 months. Should I list his rank in the sticker as sergeant (how he served most of his term) or as private (how he mustered out of his service)?

Also, generally speaking, are military prefixes typically used primarily for career personnel or for anyone who served?

Answer 1

From Help:Name Fields, "If a person has multiple prefixes or titles use the highest, last or preferred one, e.g. Capt. over Lt.", so I would use his highest rank of Sgt.

As for the usage of the prefix, there is no single answer. In the United States, there are standards for use of rank by those who retired from military service or are inactive reserves, and different standards for veterans (who did not retire). This will also vary by country.

On WikiTree, there are some members who will only identify the rank in the Prefix field if the profile is that of a career military personnel, or if they died while serving.

Comments

I haven't been able to find an authoritative answer about the rank (which I know exists somewhere), but at least in the U.S. military. I think if the reduction in rank was due to a court-martial for misconduct, and/or the discharge was of a type other than honorable, the military service would not recognize the higher rank for any benefit determinations.  So I'm not sure we should interpret the WikiTree name field wording about multiple titles to apply here.  If you know the circumstances, I think they should be explained in the Bio.

I also think the U.S. convention is that you would only show a rank as a prefix for a career military person when the person identified himself that way -- e.g., as COL John Smith, Ret.  I know several retirees who prefer not to be identified that way.

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That wording indicates that last one can be used. That seems most appropriate when it clearly says he was demoted and left the service as that rank.

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I agree that the highest is the best rank to show but I would suggest that it's the highest that he is entitled to.  In the case of a demotion, he's no longer entitled to the higher rank.  A contrary example; In the case of a BGen that was appointed Honourary Colonel of a unit, either rank could be used because it's not a demotion and he's still entitled to the higher rank. Therefore, look at the reason for the demotion.

Answer 2

I never use military or other ranks in the prefix field. If I use stickers for special occasions like killed in action, I would add the then actual rank.

Ranks and degrees I would always put into the bio. There you can write something about his promotion or demotion.