Brevet (Fr., 'a writ' or 'warrant'), in the British army, is a promotion of officers by selection to a higher rank irrespective of there being any vacancies in its established numbers. A general promotion by brevet used formerly to be made once in about six years; but more recently it was limited to very special occasions, as a coronation, the birth of an heir to the throne, the termination of some great war, &c., and given only to officers who had some particular claim to promotion. A brevet was determined on by the cabinet, and carried out by the commander-in-chief. It had formed part of the British military system ever since the time of James II.; but it was unsatisfactory, because the flow of promotion caused by it was arbitrary, uncertain, and much liable to abuse. There were brevets in 1837, 1838, 1841, 1846, 1851, and 1854, some of all ranks, from lieutenant-general to captain, receiving promotion. On one of these occasions, 200 colonels were at once made major-generals. The increase of pay following their promotions was in 1837 £11,000; in 1838, £7000; in 1841, £15,000; and in 1846, £21,000, &c.; but it must not be forgotten that death and sales had in the intervals cleared off perhaps an equal number of officers at the higher rates of pay. In 1854 the new major-generals alone involved an additional charge of £18,000 a year. In that year general brevets were abolished—a fixed establishment of general officers being substituted; but individual brevets were still given to field-officers after five years' service in each rank, and to all officers, except subalterns, for distinguished service in the field. This promotion carried with it the higher rate of pay, but was neither purchasable nor saleable. It has never been given to officers below the rank of captain, and now (1888) is only conferred for distinguished service. The holder retains his place and rank in his regiment if it is alone, but if acting with other troops he will take command of the whole force, provided that he is senior by brevet, or, as it is called, 'army' rank, to the other officers. This rule has been known to cause a change of command in the middle of an operation, which, on active service, is very undesirable. The official title of an officer holding brevet rank is captain and brevet-major, or major and brevet-lieutenant-colonel, or lieutenant-colonel and brevet-colonel, as the case may be; but an officer may have as many as three brevets, and be a captain and brevet-colonel. All colonels are placed on a seniority list for promotion to major-general, so that it is possible by means of brevets to greatly accelerate the promotion of a deserving officer to that rank.
There is no brevet promotion in the navy.
In the United States, brevet rank does not entitle the holder to the higher rate of pay, nor to corresponding rank, except under special circumstances defined by law.