to be thrust suddenly into a position of greater responsibility due to some corporate machination, scandal, resignation, or the like that unexpectedly removes an incumbent from his or her position, leaving the one promoted to quickly fill the void; such events can blow up carefully laid succession plans and frustrate others who had hoped to assume the role under more typical circumstances; those who receive such promotions may be chosen for proximity or expediency more than merit; from the idea that leaders with authority over soldiers in battle would need to be quickly replaced were they to become casualties, so as to avoid leaving a platoon rudderless