Recruitment in the British Army from families with a military tradition. (This contrasted with the Navy, whose officers were more often from a middle-class background.) The second son of King George III, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, did much to improve the standard of officer recruitment from his position as Commander in Chief of the Army (from 1795 to 1809, then from 1811 to 1827). The sale of commissions, finally abolished in the Cardwell reforms in 1868–1874, and the further Childers Reforms. In spite of its abolition, the status of an officer being from a privileged background and that of another rank being
Ranks in the French Army the rank of "commandant" in the French army. Etymologically the "adjudant" is the "adjoint" ("joint (assistant)") of an officer, and the sergeant "serves" (Latin: serviens = English: servant). "Aspirants" are cadet officers still in training. "Sous-lieutenants" are junior officers and are often aided by "adjudants" or "adjudants-chefs", who are experienced NCOs/warrant officers. Full "lieutenants" are experienced junior officers, served by sergeants when commanding their unit. A four chevron "sergent-chef-major" rank existed until 1947. It was a ceremonial rank usually given to the most senior or experienced NCO in a unit, similar to a colour sergeant in the British Army. It