A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.[lower-alpha 1]
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel.[1]
The term general is used in two ways: as the generic title for all grades of general officer and as a specific rank. It originates in the 16th century, as a shortening of captain general, which rank was taken from Middle French capitaine général. The adjective general had been affixed to officer designations since the late medieval period to indicate relative superiority or an extended jurisdiction.
General officer ranks and history
 |
The various grades of general officer are at the top of the military rank structure. Lower-ranking officers in land-centric military forces are typically known as field officers or field-grade officers, and below them are company-grade officers.
Common systems
There are two common systems of general ranks used worldwide. In addition, there is a third system, the Arab system of ranks, which is used throughout the Middle East and North Africa but is not used elsewhere in the world.[citation needed]
Variations of one form, the old European system, were once used throughout Europe. It is used in Germany, where it comes from originally, and from where it eventually spread to the United Kingdom and thence subsequently to other Commonwealth countries and the United States. The general officer ranks are named by prefixing "general", as an adjective, with field officer ranks, although in some countries the highest general officers are titled field marshal, marshal, or captain general.[citation needed]
The other is derived from the French Revolution, where generals' ranks are named according to the unit they (theoretically) command.[citation needed]
Old European system
The system used either a brigadier general or a colonel general rank (i.e. exclude one of the italicised ranks).[citation needed]
In the 17th and 18th centuries, it became customary in Prussia and other German states to confer the rank of "full" general with the addition of the branch of service from which the general emerged and which originally also determined the character of the formations which he commanded, e.g. general of the infantry, general of the cavalry and general of the artillery. Such rank designations were also introduced in the Imperial Russian Army, firstly by the emperor Peter I.[citation needed]
The rank of field marshal was used by some countries as the highest rank, while in other countries it was used as a divisional or brigade rank. Many countries (notably pre-revolutionary France and eventually much of Latin America) actually used two brigade command ranks, which is why some countries now use two stars as their brigade general insignia. Mexico and Argentina still use two brigade command ranks.[citation needed]
In some states (particularly in the Commonwealth since the 1920s), the equivalent to brigadier general is brigadier, which is not always considered by these armies to be a general officer rank, although it is always treated as equivalent to the rank of brigadier general for comparative purposes.[citation needed]
As a lieutenant outranks a sergeant major; confusion often arises because a lieutenant is outranked by a major. Originally the serjeant major was, exclusively, the commander of the infantry, junior only to the captain-general and lieutenant general. The distinction of serjeant major general only applied after serjeant majors were introduced as a rank of field officer. Serjeant was eventually dropped from both rank titles, creating the modern rank titles. Serjeant Major (later spelled sergeant major) as a senior rank of non-commissioned officer was a later creation.[citation needed]
The equivalent of the rank of general in the navy was admiral.
French (Revolutionary) system
| Marshal or Captain general |
|---|
| Army general |
| Army corps general |
| Divisional general |
| Brigade general |
Arab system
The armies of Arab countries use traditional Arabic titles. These were formalized in their current system to replace the Turkish system that was formerly in use in the Arab world and the Turco-Egyptian ranks in Egypt.[citation needed]
| Rank | Transliteration | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value). | Mushīr | Counsellor | compare Counsellor of State, State Counsellor etc. compare etymology "mushir" with "shura" |
| Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value). | Fariq 'awal | First general | equivalent to Commonwealth "full" general |
| Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value). | Fariq | General | equivalent to lieutenant general or corps general |
| Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value). | liwāʾ | Ensign | (more loosely "flag officer" or "banner") |
| Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value). | ʿamīd | Colonel (not to be confused with aqīd, the equivalent rank to a Commonwealth colonel) |
compare etymology with "ʿamood" ("column"); etymologically, translates as "colonel" but equivalent to brigadier/brigade general |
Other variations
Other nomenclatures for general officers include the titles and ranks:
- Adjutant general
- Commandant-general
- Inspector general
- General-in-chief
- General of the Army (which is distinct from the title army general)
- General of the Air Force (USAF only)
- General of the Armies of the United States (of America), a title created for General John J. Pershing, and subsequently granted posthumously to George Washington
- Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value). ("general admiral") (German Navy)
- Air general and aviation general
- Wing general and group general
- Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value). (transl. Lieutenant colonel general, a Serb/Slovenian/Macedonian rank immediately inferior to colonel general, and roughly equivalent to Commonwealth/US major general)
- Director general (a common administrative term sometimes used as an appointment in military services)
- Director general of national defence (most senior rank in the Mexican Armed Forces)
- Controller general (general officer rank in the French National Police)
- Prefect general (the most senior rank of the Argentine Naval Prefecture)
- Master-General of the Ordnance (very senior British military position)
- Police General (most senior rank of the Philippine National Police)
- Commissioner (highest rank of the Bureau of Immigration)
- Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value). (Police General), the highest rank in the Indonesian National Police
In addition to militarily educated generals, there are also generals in medicine and engineering. The rank of the most senior chaplain, (chaplain general), is also usually considered to be a general officer rank.
Specific rank of general
In the old European system, a general, without prefix or suffix (and sometimes referred to informally as a "full general"), is usually the most senior type of general, above lieutenant general and directly below field marshal as a four-star rank (NATO OF-9).
Usually it is the most senior peacetime rank, with more senior ranks (for example, field marshal, marshal of the air force, fleet admiral) being used only in wartime or as honorary titles.
In some armies, however, the rank of captain general, general of the army, army general or colonel general occupied or occupies this position. Depending on circumstances and the army in question, these ranks may be considered to be equivalent to a "full" general or to a field marshal five-star rank (NATO OF-10).
The rank of general came about as a "captain-general", the captain of an army in general (i.e., the whole army). The rank of captain-general began appearing around the time of the organisation of professional armies in the 17th century. In most countries "captain-general" contracted to just "general".
General ranks by country
The following articles deal with the rank of general, or its equivalent, as it is or was employed in the militaries of those countries:
- General (Australia)
- General (Bangladesh)
- General (Canada)
- Shangjiang (China) – People's Republic of China (PRC) and Republic of China (ROC/Taiwan)
- General (Denmark), Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value).
- General (Estonia), Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value).
- General (Finland), Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value).
- General (Germany), Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value).
- Strategos (Greece)
- General (India)
- Daejang (North and South Korea)
- Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value).
- General (Nigeria)
- General (Pakistan)
- General (Poland), Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value).
- General (Sri Lanka)
- General (Sweden), Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value).
- General (Switzerland)
- General (United Kingdom)
- General (United States)
- General (Yugoslav People's Army)
Army generals' insignia
- 13.PNA-BG.svg
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Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 15: attempt to call field 'length' (a nil value). (Amid)
(Algerian People's National Army) - Angola-Army-OF-9.svg
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(Angolan Army) - Australian Army OF-9.svg
- Bundesheer - Rank insignia - General.png
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(Austrian Army) - Bangladesh-army-OF-9.svg
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General
(Bangladesh Army) - Army-BEL-OF-09.svg
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(Belgian Army) - 16.Bhutan Army-GEN.svg
General
(Royal Bhutan Army) - 19.RBrLF-GEN.svg
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(Royal Brunei Land Forces) - Rank insignia of Генерал of the Bulgarian Army.png
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General
(Bulgarian Army) - Blank.svg
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(Burundi Army) - Canadian Army OF-9.svg
- Colombia-Army-OF-9.svg
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(Colombian Army) - Denmark-Army-OF-9-M11.svg
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(Royal Danish Army) - Timor-Leste-Army-OF-9.svg
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(Timor-Leste Army) - Estonia-Army-OF-9.svg
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(Estonian Land Forces) - 18.EA-GEN.svg
General
(Ethiopian Ground Forces) - Kenraali M05.svg
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(Finnish Army) - 23.GLF-GEN.svg
General
(Armed Forces of Gabon) - 16.Gambian Army-GEN.svg
General
(Gambian National Army) - HD H 64 General.svg
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(German Army) - 16-Ghana Army-GEN.svg
General
(Ghana Army) - 15. Guinea-Bissau GEN.svg
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(Army of Guinea-Bissau) - Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Minister of Defence rank insignia.svg
General
(Guyana Army) - General of the Indian Army.svg
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General
(Indian Army) - 22-TNI Army-GEN.svg
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(Indonesian Army) - Rank insignia of generale of the Army of Italy (1973).svg
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(Italian Army) - 16. Kenyan Army GEN.svg
General
(Kenya Army) - Blank.svg
General
(Lesotho Army) - Army-LUX-OF-CiC.svg
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(Luxembourg Army) - 18-APM-GEN.svg
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General
(Army of North Macedonia) - 16. Malawi Army - GEN.svg
General
(Malawian Army) - Malaysia-army-OF-9.svg
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(Malaysian Army) - Mexico army OF9.svg
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(Mexican Army) - Mongolian Army-GEN-service.svg
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Gyenyeral
(Mongolian Ground Force) - Namibia-army-OF-9.svg
General
(Namibian Army) - Nl-landmacht-generaal.svg
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(Royal Netherlands Army) - Nigeria-Army-OF-9.svg
General
(Nigerian Army) - Norway-army-OF-9.svg
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(Norwegian Army) - OF-9 Pakistan Army.svg
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General
(Pakistan Army) - PA GEN Svc.svg
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(Philippine Army) - Army-POL-OF-09.svg
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(Polish Army) - Army-POR-OF-09.svg
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(Portuguese Army) - Romania-Army-OF-9.svg
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(Romanian Land Forces) - 16-Rwanda Army-GEN.svg
General
(Rwandan Defence Forces) - 18-Serbian Army-GEN.svg
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General
(Serbian Army) - Blank.svg
General
(Sierra Leone Army) - Blank.svg
General
(Singapore Army) - Army-SVK-OF-09.svg
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(Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic) - SAA-OF-9.svg
General
(South African Army) - Blank.svg
General
(South Sudan Army) - Sri Lanka-army-OF-9.svg
- Blank.svg
General
(Eswatini Army) - SWE-General.svg
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(Swedish Army) - CHE OF9 General.svg
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(Swiss Land Forces) - 17-Tanzania Army-GEN.svg
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(Tanzanian Army) - Turkey-army-OF-9a.svg
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(Turkish Land Forces) - Uganda-Army-OF-9.svg
General
(Ugandan Land Forces) - Погон генерала ЗСУ (2020).svg
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General
(Ukrainian Ground Forces) - British Army OF-9.svg
- Blank.svg
General
(Zambian Army) - Zimbabwe-Army-OF-9.svg
Air force generals' insignia
- 16.ANAF-GEN.svg
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(National Air Force of Angola) - BE-Air Force-OF9.svg
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(Belgian Air Component) - 19.RBrAF-GEN.svg
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(Royal Brunei Air Force) - Rank insignia of Генерал of the Bulgarian Air forces.png
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General
(Bulgarian Air Force) - Canada-Air force-OF-9-collected.svg
General
(Royal Canadian Air Force) - General del Aire FACH.png
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(Chilean Air Force) - Colombia-AirForce-OF-9.svg
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(Colombian Air Force) - RDAF-OF-9 Sleeve.svg
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(Royal Danish Air Force) - 17.Ecuadorian Air Force-GEN.svg
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(Ecuadorian Air Force) - Estonia-AirForce-OF-9.svg
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(Estonian Air Force) - Finland-AirForce-OF-9.svg
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(Finnish Air Force) - Georgia Air Force OF-10.png
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Generali
(Georgian Air Force) - LD B 64 General.svg
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(German Air Force) - Blank.svg
General
(Guinea Air Force) - 16. Kenyan Air Force GEN.svg
General
(Kenya Air Force) - Blank.svg
General
(Malawi Air Force) - Malaysia-Air Force-OF-9.svg
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(Royal Malaysian Air Force) - Mongolian Army-GEN-service.svg
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General
(Mongolian Air Force) - Netherlands-AirForce-OF-9.svg
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(Royal Netherlands Air Force) - Norway-air force-OF-9.svg
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(Royal Norwegian Air Force) - Blank.svg
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(Paraguayan Air Force) - Peru-AirForce-OF-9.svg
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(Peruvian Air Force) - PAF GEN Svc.svg
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(Philippine Air Force) - Rank insignia of generał of the Air Force of Poland.svg
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(Polish Air Force) - Portugal-AirForce-OF-9.svg
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(Portuguese Air Force) - Romania-AirForce-OF-9.svg
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(Romanian Air Force) - 16-Rwanda Air Force-GEN.svg
General
(Rwandan Air Force) - 18-Serbian Air Force-GEN.svg
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General
(Serbian Air Force and Air Defence) - Blank.svg
General
(Republic of Singapore Air Force) - SVK-Air Force-OF-09.svg
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(Slovak Air Force) - SAAF-OF-9.svg
General
(South African Air Force) - Blank.svg
General
(South Sudan Air Force) - SP-09 General del Aire.svg
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(Spanish Air and Space Force) - Sweden-AirForce-OF-9.svg
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(Swedish Air Force) - 17-Tanzania Air Force-GEN.svg
General
(Tanzania Air Force Command) - Turkey-air-force-OF-9a.svg
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(Turkish Air Force) - Uganda-AirForce-OF-9.svg
General
(Ugandan Air Force) - Ukraine-AirForce-OF-9 (2020).svg
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General
(Ukrainian Air Force) - US Air Force O10 shoulderboard.svg
- Blank.svg
General
(Zambian Air Force)
- Generic-Navy-O12.svg
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(Colombian Naval Infantry) - 22-TNI Navy-ADM.svg
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(Indonesian Marine Corps) - Maldives Army OF-9.svg
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General
(Maldivian Marine Corps) - Netherlands-Navy-OF-9.svg
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(Netherlands Marine Corps) - Sweden-Navy-OF-9.svg
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(Swedish Amphibious Corps) - British Royal Marines OF-9.svg
- US Marine 10 shoulderboard vertical.svg
Some countries (such as the United States) use the general officer ranks for both the army and the air force, as well as their marine corps; other states only use the general officer ranks for the army, while in the air force they use air officers as the equivalent of general officers. They use the air force rank of air chief marshal as the equivalent of the specific army rank of general. This latter group includes the British Royal Air Force and many current and former Commonwealth air forces—e.g. Royal Australian Air Force, Indian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nigerian Air Force, Pakistan Air Force, etc.
In most navies, flag officers are the equivalent of general officers, and the naval rank of admiral is equivalent to the specific army rank of general. A noteworthy historical exception was the Cromwellian naval rank "general at sea". In recent years in the American service there is a tendency to use flag officer and flag rank to refer to generals and admirals of the services collectively.
See also
Notes
- ↑ In the United States, General Officers authorized to display a flag showing their rank are also called "flag officers". Refer: "Flag officer". Merriam-Webster.[permanent dead link]. In other usages the term "flag officer" usually applies to naval ranks such as admiral, vice-admiral, or rear-admiral.
References
- ↑ "general, adj. and n.". OED Online. March 2021. Oxford University Press. https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/77489?rskey=dCKrg4&result=1 (accessed May 11, 2021)
External links
- Generals of World War II
- Schema-root.org: US Generals News feeds for US Generals in the news
- Marines.mil: General Officer Biographies Archived 2008-03-18 at the Wayback Machine Biographies of US Marine Corps General Officers
- Bios & Information on Generals of Western History Information on 10 Generals who influenced Western History
Template:Star officer ranks Template:Highest Military Ranks
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