354:
1631:
402:
1780:
449:
384:
574:
1232:
1554:
1473:
420:
1389:
70:
1309:
1149:
75:
65:
1137:
1109:
1074:
97:
1123:
656:
1095:
1116:
1088:
1067:
1130:
1081:
1786:
1102:
80:
52:
1704:
588:
Four-star grades go hand-in-hand with the positions of office to which they are linked, so the rank is temporary; the active rank of general can only be held for so long- though upon retirement, if satisfactory service requirements are met, the general or admiral is normally allowed to hold that rank
628:
Appointment of general/flag officers (3-star or above) is a temporary promotion lasting only for the duration of the job assignment. Upon retirement general/flag officers revert to their permanent two-star rank of Major
General or Rear Admiral unless they are nominated by the President to retire at
471:
in the Navy and Coast Guard) that may be on active duty at any given time. The total number of active duty general officers is capped at 231 for the Army, 62 for the Marine Corps, 198 for the Air Force, and 162 for the Navy. No more than about 25% of a service's active duty general or flag officers
629:
a higher rank (which has become the normal practice in recent years.) Extensions of the standard tour length can be approved, within statutory limits but these are rare, as they block other officers from being promoted. Some statutory limits can be waived in times of national emergency or war.
642:
can defer a general's retirement until the officer's 66th birthday and the
President can defer it until the officer's 68th birthday. To retire at four-star grade, an officer must accumulate at least three years of satisfactory active duty service in that grade, as certified by the Secretary of
617:
before the appointee can take office and assume the rank. General ranks may also be given by act of
Congress but this is extremely rare. The standard tour for most general/flag officers is a two-year term with the possibility of being renominated for an additional term(s).
637:
Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement. A general must retire after 40 years of service unless they are reappointed to serve longer. Otherwise all general officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday. However, the
472:
may have more than two stars, and statute sets the total number of four-star officers allowed in each service. This is set at seven Army generals, two Marine generals, eight Air Force generals, two Space Force generals, six Navy admirals, and two Coast Guard admirals.
589:
in retirement, rather than reverting to a lower position, as was formerly the usual case. Their active rank expires with the expiration of their term of office, which is usually set by statute. Generals are nominated for the appointment by the
344:
Formally, the term "General" is always used when referring to a four-star general. However, a number of different terms may refer to them informally, since lower-ranking generals may also be referred to as simply "General".
475:
Several of these slots are reserved by statute. For example, the two highest-ranking members of each service (the service chief and deputy service chief) are designated as generals. For the Army the
1826:
1836:
1635:
1831:
707:
717:
697:
336:
Since the ranks of
General of the Army and General of the Air Force are reserved for wartime use only, the rank of general is the highest general officer rank in peacetime.
712:
496:
199:
1821:
742:
613:. For some positions, statute allows the President to waive those requirements for a nominee deemed to serve national interests. The nominee must be confirmed by the
722:
747:
702:
492:
480:
890:
484:
555:
950:
523:
189:
737:
606:
488:
476:
433:
318:
247:
919:
561:
officers serving in four-star slots added by the
President to one service which are offset by removing an equivalent number from other services.
847:
835:
838:
Officers serving in certain intelligence positions: military status; exclusion from distribution and strength limitations; pay and allowances
686:
593:
from any eligible officers holding the rank of brigadier general or above who meet the requirements for the position, with the advice of the
582:
519:
28:
1733:
1660:
1587:
1342:
1217:
602:
598:
437:
302:
212:
56:
Four-star insignia of the rank of general. Style and method of wear may vary between different uniforms and different service branches.
1535:
1511:
1451:
1427:
1290:
1270:
1207:
1187:
732:
639:
622:
594:
534:
508:
310:
298:
230:
1522:
1438:
1280:
1197:
928:
1708:
353:
943:
590:
504:
1529:
1445:
1377:
1285:
1202:
1758:
1753:
1748:
1685:
1680:
1675:
1612:
1607:
1602:
1367:
1362:
1357:
1841:
1743:
1670:
1597:
1501:
1417:
1352:
1260:
1177:
565:
Finally, all statutory limits may be waived at the
President's discretion during time of war or national emergency.
401:
1236:
548:
448:
408:
362:
275:
184:
118:
1738:
1723:
1665:
1650:
1592:
1577:
1558:
1477:
1347:
1332:
936:
893:
Retirement for years of service: regular officers in grades above brigadier general and rear admiral (lower half)
541:
500:
455:
128:
1779:
573:
383:
1461:
306:
217:
32:
1791:
These ranks are reserved for wartime use only, and are still listed as ranks within their respective services
1690:
1617:
1516:
1432:
1393:
1372:
1275:
1192:
390:
358:
314:
287:
243:
123:
960:
419:
1506:
1422:
1265:
1222:
1182:
1038:
1031:
1024:
1017:
869:
Positions of importance and responsibility: generals and lieutenant generals; admirals and vice admirals
610:
527:
69:
800:
Chief of the
National Guard Bureau: appointment; adviser on National Guard matters; grade; succession.
614:
271:
322:
251:
788:. Distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer and flag officer grades.
74:
1794:
1313:
1153:
429:
366:
279:
113:
1728:
1713:
1655:
1640:
1582:
1567:
1491:
1486:
1407:
1402:
1337:
1322:
1250:
1245:
1167:
1162:
964:
514:
There are several exceptions to these limits allowing more than allotted within the statute:
1774:
1496:
1412:
1255:
1172:
727:
64:
267:
164:
1044:
621:
Note: Chairman of the JCS, Vice
Chairman of the JCS and Service chiefs, to include the
309:. The Marine Corps and Space Force do not have an established grade above general. The
291:
174:
655:
465:
The United States Code explicitly limits the total number of general officers (termed
1815:
1718:
1645:
1572:
1563:
1482:
1398:
1327:
1158:
1051:
578:
467:
797:
910:
Age 64: regular commissioned officers in general and flag officer grades; exception
907:
425:
27:
This article is about the four-star rank. For the broader U.S. military usage, see
878:
866:
785:
766:
79:
1773:
No official insignia and not currently listed by the Army as an obtainable rank.
823:
810:
10 U.S. Code § 526. Authorized strength: general and flag officers on active duty
809:
1785:
1318:
1241:
1136:
1129:
51:
1122:
1115:
1108:
1101:
1094:
1087:
1080:
1073:
1066:
826:
Senior joint officer positions: recommendations to the
Secretary of Defense
17:
290:
instead. The official and formal insignia of "general" is defined by its
572:
352:
769:. Authorized strength: general and flag officers on active duty.
283:
181:
932:
881:
Commanders of combatant commands: assignment; powers and duties
650:
554:
officers serving in certain intelligence positions i.e. the
862:
860:
858:
856:
511:
is a general under active duty in the Army or Air Force.
666:
507:
are generals. In addition, for the
National Guard, the
708:
List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals
718:
List of United States Space Force four-star generals
698:
List of active duty United States four-star officers
625:
are usually renominated for a second two-year term.
313:
of general is O-10. It is equivalent to the rank of
236:
226:
205:
195:
180:
170:
160:
137:
106:
90:
43:
713:List of United States Air Force four-star generals
537:counts only against their service's four-star cap;
333:in the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
301:and below the special wartime five-star ranks of
1827:Military ranks of the United States Marine Corps
1771:No universal insignia for officer candidate rank
743:United States Marine Corps officer rank insignia
922:Commissioned officers: general rule; exceptions
850:Authority to suspend sections 523, 525, and 526
1837:Officer ranks of the United States Space Force
781:
779:
777:
775:
723:List of United States military leaders by rank
274:rank (or echelon) that may be attained in the
944:
748:United States Air Force officer rank insignia
703:List of United States Army four-star generals
297:The rank of general ranks above a three-star
270:-grade officer; it is the highest achievable
8:
1832:Officer ranks of the United States Air Force
903:
901:
899:
369:participate in a Change of Command ceremony.
556:Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
499:are generals; and for the Space Force, the
1799:Grade has never been created or authorized
951:
937:
929:
819:
817:
491:are both generals; for the Air Force, the
153:(Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force)
1822:Military ranks of the United States Army
974:
738:United States Army officer rank insignia
483:are generals; for the Marine Corps, the
759:
436:has a maroon background; the flag of a
40:
687:General officers in the United States
583:Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
29:General officers in the United States
7:
286:, which have the equivalent rank of
733:Title 10 of the United States Code
623:Chief of the National Guard Bureau
535:Chief of the National Guard Bureau
509:Chief of the National Guard Bureau
440:(general) has a purple background.
25:
959:United States uniformed services
262:In the United States military, a
1797:for use but has not been created
1784:
1778:
1702:
1629:
1552:
1471:
1387:
1307:
1230:
1147:
1135:
1128:
1121:
1114:
1107:
1100:
1093:
1086:
1079:
1072:
1065:
654:
447:
418:
400:
382:
294:(commonly silver and in a row).
95:
78:
73:
68:
63:
50:
38:Military rank in US armed forces
432:. The flag of a general of the
978:Pay grade / branch of service
505:Vice Chief of Space Operations
1:
1793:Grade is authorized by the
569:Appointment and tour length
317:in the other United States
1858:
1770:
684:
607:Secretary of the Air Force
549:United States Forces Korea
409:United States Marine Corps
363:United States Marine Corps
357:Four-star generals of the
276:United States Armed Forces
26:
972:
609:), and if applicable the
542:Unified Combatant Command
501:Chief of Space Operations
456:United States Space Force
61:
49:
307:General of the Air Force
278:, with exception of the
218:General of the Air Force
33:General (disambiguation)
434:Army Medical Department
391:United States Air Force
359:United States Air Force
325:. It is abbreviated as
663:This section is empty.
585:
533:an officer serving as
518:An officer serving as
430:the United States Army
370:
31:. For other uses, see
611:Joint Chiefs of Staff
603:Secretary of the Navy
599:Secretary of the Army
597:, service secretary (
576:
528:Joint Chiefs of Staff
356:
961:commissioned officer
640:Secretary of Defense
615:United States Senate
595:Secretary of Defense
489:Assistant Commandant
376:U.S. generals' flags
272:commissioned officer
647:History and origins
540:the commander of a
497:Vice Chief of Staff
481:Vice Chief of Staff
303:General of the Army
266:is the most senior
213:General of the Army
1842:Four-star officers
586:
371:
367:United States Army
319:uniformed services
299:lieutenant general
248:uniformed services
231:Lieutenant general
1809:
1808:
1804:
1803:
1777:'s GAS insignia:
965:officer candidate
683:
682:
547:the commander of
260:
259:
16:(Redirected from
1849:
1788:
1782:
1775:John J. Pershing
1707:
1706:
1705:
1634:
1633:
1632:
1557:
1556:
1555:
1532:
1525:
1476:
1475:
1474:
1448:
1441:
1392:
1391:
1390:
1312:
1311:
1310:
1235:
1234:
1233:
1152:
1151:
1150:
1139:
1132:
1125:
1118:
1111:
1104:
1097:
1090:
1083:
1076:
1069:
1041:
1034:
1027:
1020:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
975:
953:
946:
939:
930:
923:
917:
911:
905:
894:
888:
882:
876:
870:
864:
851:
845:
839:
833:
827:
821:
812:
807:
801:
795:
789:
783:
770:
764:
728:Staff (military)
678:
675:
665:You can help by
658:
651:
579:Richard B. Myers
451:
428:of a general in
422:
404:
386:
349:Statutory limits
329:in the Army and
237:Equivalent ranks
206:Next higher rank
101:
99:
98:
83:
82:
77:
72:
67:
54:
41:
21:
1857:
1856:
1852:
1851:
1850:
1848:
1847:
1846:
1812:
1811:
1810:
1805:
1800:
1798:
1792:
1790:
1772:
1703:
1701:
1630:
1628:
1553:
1551:
1528:
1521:
1472:
1470:
1444:
1437:
1388:
1386:
1308:
1306:
1231:
1229:
1148:
1146:
1053:
1046:
1037:
1030:
1023:
1016:
1011:
1006:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
982:
968:
957:
927:
926:
918:
914:
906:
897:
889:
885:
877:
873:
865:
854:
846:
842:
834:
830:
822:
815:
808:
804:
796:
792:
784:
773:
765:
761:
756:
694:
689:
679:
673:
670:
649:
635:
581:is sworn in as
571:
463:
462:
461:
460:
459:
452:
443:
442:
441:
423:
414:
413:
412:
405:
396:
395:
394:
387:
378:
377:
351:
342:
256:
227:Next lower rank
222:
165:General officer
156:
133:
96:
94:
86:
85:Shoulder boards
62:
57:
45:
39:
36:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1855:
1853:
1845:
1844:
1839:
1834:
1829:
1824:
1814:
1813:
1807:
1806:
1802:
1801:
1768:
1767:
1765:
1763:
1761:
1756:
1751:
1746:
1741:
1736:
1731:
1726:
1721:
1716:
1711:
1698:
1697:
1695:
1693:
1688:
1683:
1678:
1673:
1668:
1663:
1658:
1653:
1648:
1643:
1638:
1625:
1624:
1622:
1620:
1615:
1610:
1605:
1600:
1595:
1590:
1585:
1580:
1575:
1570:
1561:
1548:
1547:
1545:
1543:
1538:
1533:
1526:
1519:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1494:
1489:
1480:
1467:
1466:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1442:
1435:
1430:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1396:
1383:
1382:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1316:
1303:
1302:
1300:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1239:
1226:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1156:
1143:
1142:
1140:
1133:
1126:
1119:
1112:
1105:
1098:
1091:
1084:
1077:
1070:
1063:
1061:
1057:
1056:
1049:
1042:
1035:
1028:
1021:
1014:
1009:
1004:
999:
994:
989:
984:
979:
973:
970:
969:
958:
956:
955:
948:
941:
933:
925:
924:
912:
895:
883:
871:
852:
840:
828:
813:
802:
790:
771:
758:
757:
755:
752:
751:
750:
745:
740:
735:
730:
725:
720:
715:
710:
705:
700:
693:
690:
685:Main article:
681:
680:
661:
659:
648:
645:
634:
631:
570:
567:
563:
562:
559:
552:
545:
538:
531:
493:Chief of Staff
477:Chief of Staff
453:
446:
445:
444:
424:
417:
416:
415:
406:
399:
398:
397:
388:
381:
380:
379:
375:
374:
373:
372:
350:
347:
341:
338:
258:
257:
255:
254:
240:
238:
234:
233:
228:
224:
223:
221:
220:
215:
209:
207:
203:
202:
197:
193:
192:
187:
178:
177:
172:
168:
167:
162:
158:
157:
155:
154:
148:
141:
139:
135:
134:
132:
131:
126:
121:
116:
110:
108:
107:Service branch
104:
103:
92:
88:
87:
84:
59:
58:
55:
47:
46:
37:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1854:
1843:
1840:
1838:
1835:
1833:
1830:
1828:
1825:
1823:
1820:
1819:
1817:
1796:
1787:
1781:
1776:
1769:
1766:
1764:
1762:
1760:
1757:
1755:
1752:
1750:
1747:
1745:
1742:
1740:
1737:
1735:
1732:
1730:
1727:
1725:
1722:
1720:
1717:
1715:
1712:
1710:
1700:
1699:
1696:
1694:
1692:
1689:
1687:
1684:
1682:
1679:
1677:
1674:
1672:
1669:
1667:
1664:
1662:
1659:
1657:
1654:
1652:
1649:
1647:
1644:
1642:
1639:
1637:
1627:
1626:
1623:
1621:
1619:
1616:
1614:
1611:
1609:
1606:
1604:
1601:
1599:
1596:
1594:
1591:
1589:
1586:
1584:
1581:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1571:
1569:
1565:
1562:
1560:
1550:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1542:
1539:
1537:
1534:
1531:
1527:
1524:
1520:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1493:
1490:
1488:
1484:
1481:
1479:
1469:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1447:
1443:
1440:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1400:
1397:
1395:
1385:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1305:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1243:
1240:
1238:
1228:
1227:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1145:
1144:
1141:
1138:
1134:
1131:
1127:
1124:
1120:
1117:
1113:
1110:
1106:
1103:
1099:
1096:
1092:
1089:
1085:
1082:
1078:
1075:
1071:
1068:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1058:
1055:
1050:
1048:
1043:
1040:
1036:
1033:
1029:
1026:
1022:
1019:
1015:
1010:
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
980:
977:
976:
971:
966:
962:
954:
949:
947:
942:
940:
935:
934:
931:
921:
916:
913:
909:
904:
902:
900:
896:
892:
887:
884:
880:
875:
872:
868:
863:
861:
859:
857:
853:
849:
844:
841:
837:
832:
829:
825:
820:
818:
814:
811:
806:
803:
799:
794:
791:
787:
782:
780:
778:
776:
772:
768:
763:
760:
753:
749:
746:
744:
741:
739:
736:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
719:
716:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
695:
691:
688:
677:
668:
664:
660:
657:
653:
652:
646:
644:
641:
632:
630:
626:
624:
619:
616:
612:
608:
604:
600:
596:
592:
584:
580:
575:
568:
566:
560:
557:
553:
550:
546:
543:
539:
536:
532:
529:
525:
524:Vice Chairman
521:
517:
516:
515:
512:
510:
506:
502:
498:
494:
490:
486:
482:
478:
473:
470:
469:
468:flag officers
457:
450:
439:
435:
431:
427:
421:
410:
403:
392:
385:
368:
364:
360:
355:
348:
346:
339:
337:
334:
332:
328:
324:
320:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
295:
293:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
265:
253:
249:
246:in the other
245:
242:
241:
239:
235:
232:
229:
225:
219:
216:
214:
211:
210:
208:
204:
201:
198:
194:
191:
188:
186:
183:
179:
176:
173:
169:
166:
163:
159:
152:
149:
146:
143:
142:
140:
136:
130:
127:
125:
122:
120:
117:
115:
112:
111:
109:
105:
102:United States
93:
89:
81:
76:
71:
66:
60:
53:
48:
42:
34:
30:
19:
1789:(epaulettes)
1540:
1456:
1295:
1237:Marine Corps
1212:
915:
886:
874:
843:
831:
805:
798:10 USC 10502
793:
762:
674:January 2023
671:
667:adding to it
662:
636:
627:
620:
587:
564:
513:
474:
466:
464:
343:
335:
330:
326:
296:
263:
261:
150:
144:
138:Abbreviation
119:Marine Corps
1559:Coast Guard
1478:Space Force
920:10 USC 1370
908:10 USC 1253
323:naval ranks
284:Coast Guard
252:naval ranks
129:Space Force
1816:Categories
1709:NOAA Corps
983:candidate
891:10 USC 636
867:10 USC 601
848:10 USC 527
836:10 USC 528
824:10 USC 604
786:10 USC 525
767:10 USC 526
754:References
633:Retirement
503:, and the
485:Commandant
454:Flag of a
407:Flag of a
389:Flag of a
321:which use
292:four stars
250:which use
161:Rank group
18:US General
1795:U.S. Code
1783:(collar)
1636:PHS Corps
1394:Air Force
1060:Insignia
643:Defense.
591:President
426:Rank flag
311:pay grade
196:Pay grade
185:rank code
175:Four-star
124:Air Force
1523:Brig Gen
1439:Brig Gen
1052:Special
692:See also
577:General
520:Chairman
487:and the
479:and the
438:chaplain
1530:Maj Gen
1446:Maj Gen
1045:Wartime
981:Officer
526:of the
458:general
411:general
393:general
340:Address
315:admiral
288:admiral
268:general
264:general
244:Admiral
91:Country
44:General
1536:Lt Gen
1512:Lt Col
1497:1st Lt
1492:2nd Lt
1452:Lt Gen
1428:Lt Col
1413:1st Lt
1408:2nd Lt
1286:MajGen
879:10 164
365:, and
147:(Army)
100:
1291:LtGen
1271:LtCol
1256:1stLt
1251:2ndLt
1054:grade
1047:grade
967:ranks
605:, or
1759:VADM
1754:RADM
1749:RDML
1744:CAPT
1734:LCDR
1724:LTJG
1686:VADM
1681:RADM
1676:RDML
1671:CAPT
1661:LCDR
1651:LTJG
1613:VADM
1608:RADM
1603:RDML
1598:CAPT
1588:LCDR
1578:LTJG
1502:Capt
1418:Capt
1378:FADM
1368:VADM
1363:RADM
1358:RDML
1353:CAPT
1343:LCDR
1333:LTJG
1319:MIDN
1314:Navy
1281:BGen
1261:Capt
1246:Cand
1242:Midn
1154:Army
1039:O-10
963:and
495:and
282:and
280:Navy
200:O-10
190:OF-9
182:NATO
171:Rank
114:Army
1739:CDR
1719:ENS
1691:ADM
1666:CDR
1646:ENS
1618:ADM
1593:CDR
1573:ENS
1564:CDT
1541:Gen
1517:Col
1507:Maj
1483:Cdt
1462:GAF
1457:Gen
1433:Col
1423:Maj
1399:Cdt
1373:ADM
1348:CDR
1328:ENS
1296:Gen
1276:Col
1266:Maj
1223:GAS
1213:GEN
1208:LTG
1193:COL
1188:LTC
1183:MAJ
1178:CPT
1173:1LT
1168:2LT
1159:CDT
1032:O-9
1025:O-8
1018:O-7
1012:O-6
1007:O-5
1002:O-4
997:O-3
992:O-2
987:O-1
669:.
522:or
331:Gen
327:GEN
305:or
151:Gen
145:GEN
1818::
1729:LT
1714:OC
1656:LT
1641:OC
1583:LT
1568:OC
1566:/
1487:OT
1485:/
1403:OT
1401:/
1338:LT
1323:OC
1321:/
1244:/
1218:GA
1203:MG
1198:BG
1163:OC
1161:/
898:^
855:^
816:^
774:^
601:,
361:,
952:e
945:t
938:v
676:)
672:(
558:;
551:;
544:;
530:;
35:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
