Field Marshal (Philippines)
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- Please see Field Marshal for other nations which use this rank
A field marshal of the Philippines is a rank created in 1937 through the Second World War as a position held by Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur was granted the rank as military advisor to the Philippine government, in which he was hired to form an army in response to the growing danger of Japan and the rising chance of war in the Pacific.
When MacArthur retired from the United States Army, he was a major-general, having previously served as a full general while Chief of Staff of the United States Army. MacArthur was then hired as a civilian military advisor to President Manuel L. Quezon and appointed a field marshal in the Philippine Army which then did not exist. MacArthur’s wife found the situation amusing and often remarked that MacArthur had gone from holding the highest rank in the United States Army to holding the highest rank in a non-existent army.
MacArthur never wore any special insignia as field marshal of the Philippines, with the exception of a modification to his army officer’s cap. In addition to the standard visor gold trim, associated with being a US general, Macarthur added additional trim worn on the front portion of the cap, above the visor. MacArthur referred to this modified officer cover as his "Philippine field marshal cap" and wore the headgear for the duration of World War II and into the Korean War. It should be noted that MacArthur’s modified army headgear was against regulations and he never officially obtained permission to wear this as a part of his uniform.
After 1946, the position and rank of field marshal disappeared from the Philippine military and today the rank is considered obsolete with the highest obtainable position that of general. In theory, the rank could again be conferred on a future officer but this would only be as the result of the Philippines entering into a major war or as a result of the islands being invaded.
