No bone spurs or medical deferments for these U.S. leaders: Presidents who went from the military to the White House

One of the cornerstones of democracy in the United States is that at the top of the military command is civilian control. However, many of those who have risen to become the President of the United States, and thus the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, served in the military themselves.

Often their service was a launchpad for their ascent to the presidency, with their heroics in battle bringing them celebrity and the attention of the American populace. So far, thirty-one US presidents have served in the Armed Forces of the United States who have gone on to become Commander-in-Chief.

The US Commanders-in-Chiefs who had battlefield experience

The first President of the United States, who is also known as the ‘Father of His Country’, was General George Washington. He led the Continental Army to victory over the British during the American Revolutionary War.

While Washington held the rank of lieutenant general, then-President Gerald Ford appointed him to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States posthumously in 1976. General John J. Pershing was the only other person to hold that rank, but Ford specified that Washington would rank higher than all officers past, present and future.

The other two US presidents with the highest ranks in the military were Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th POTUS) and Ulysses S. Grant (18th POTUS).

Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II and held the rank of five-star general.

Grant led the Union forces to victory in the Civil War as lieutenant general, but was given the title General of the Army after the conflict ended. His rank would’ve been that of a four-star general at the time, but would be considered a five-star rank today explains VA News.

The next president after Washington to have battlefield experience was Andrew Jackson, the seventh US president. He garnered fame in the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, which saw off an attempt by the British to take that port city.

Jackson held the rank of major general, the same as William H. Harrison (9th POTUS), Rutherford B. Hayes (19th POTUS) who both saw battlefield action.

They were outranked by Presidents Franklin Pierce (14th) and Benjamin Harrison (23rd) who fought in the Civil War and attained the rank of brigadier generals. Chester Arthur (21st) never saw battle in the Civil War but also attained the same rank for his effectiveness in provisioning and organizing troops.

The following are other presidents who fought on the battlefield:

While they may not have seen action on the battlefield other US presidents served in the Armed Forces in other roles like Arthur. Ronald Reagan (40th POTUS) for example enlisted after the attack on Pearl Harbor, but his defective eyesight prevented him from serving in a combat unit.

Thomas Jefferson (3rd POTUS) and James Madison (4th POTUS) were both colonial militia men but during the Revolutionary War held diplomatic and leadership roles.

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