Mustang (military officer)

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This article is about a commissioned military officer who was previously enlisted. For other meanings of the word, see Mustang.

A Mustang is United States Military slang for a commissioned officer who began his or her career as an enlisted person and typically earned their commission by Direct Appointment or by Battlefield Commission. Mustangs are usually older and more experienced than their peers-in-grade who earned their commissions from one of the several service academies (ie. the United States Naval Academy), Officer Candidate School or the Reserve Officer Training Corps.

A United States Navy mustang can be Limited Duty Officers, Staff Officers or Unrestricted Line Officers depending on their particular situation.

All Marine Corps Officers (mustang and non-mustang) are Line Officers. Chief Warrant Officers and Limited Duty Officers are Restricted Line Officers, though they may be eligble to succeed to command, all others are Unrestricted Line Officers.

All Coast Guard Officers are Unrestricted Line Officers.

A mustang is defined by a continuity in military service from enlisted to officer (i.e. no break in military service). However, being a slang term, there is no precise definition or set of criteria to determine which officers can properly be called a "mustang"; however generally accepted mustangs are those who earned a Good Conduct ribbon or have completed 4 years of enlisted service prior to earning their commission.