field grade

noun

1. military rank applying to mid-level army officers, as majors, lieutenant colonels, and colonels.

Word History and Origins

Origin of field grade¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

“At the moment, we have more captains than we ever had before,” he said, “but our field grade levels are actually going down. Why don’t they stay in? Because they’re exhausted from having to act a certain way all the time and they can never be themselves.”

From Seattle Times

Later, at the big bases far from the action, surrounded by gyms and chow halls and the expeditionary office park where the flag and field grade officers did their work, it was replaced by a cologne of machinery and order.

From New York Times

It was the same in Iraq, where her dogged attention to responsibility and detail earned her a Meritorious Service Medal - awarded for outstanding performance to field grade officers like Tami Mielke.

From Washington Times

Field grade officers had their 9-millimeter pistols drawn, radios in their other hands.

From New York Times

U.N. forces last week also honored a white flag'borne by a Communist lieutenant colonel, the first North Korean officer of field grade to surrender since the fighting began.

From Time Magazine Archive