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 Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."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) 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 The 16th century begins with the Julian year 1501 ( MDI) and ends with either the Julian or the Gregorian year 1600 ( MDC) (depending on the reckoning used; the Gregorian calendar introduced a lapse of 10 days in October 1582). The 16th cent ...

, 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 Middle Ages, late medieval period to indicate relative superiority or an extended jurisdiction. Today, the title of ''general'' is known in some countries as a four-star rank. However, different countries use different systems of stars or other insignia for senior ranks. It has a Ranks and insignia of NATO, NATO rank scale code of OF-9 and is the highest rank currently in use in a number of armies, air forces, and marine organizations.

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. 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 of Nations, 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. The other is derived from the French Revolution, where generals' ranks are named according to the unit they (theoretically) command.

Old European system

The system used either a ''brigadier general'' or a ''colonel general'' rank (i.e. exclude one of the italicised ranks). In the 17th and 18th centuries, it became customary in the Kingdom of Prussia, Prussia and other German states to confer the rank of "full" general with the addition of the Military branch, 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 the Great, Peter I. 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. In some states (particularly in the Commonwealth of Nations, 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. 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. The equivalent of the rank of general in the navy was admiral.

French (Revolutionary) system

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.

Other variations

Other nomenclatures for general officers include the titles and ranks: * Adjutant general * Commandant-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, 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 * ("general admiral") (German Navy) * Air general and aviation general * Wing general and group 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 (Philippines), Bureau of Immigration) * (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) * (China) – People's Republic of China (PRC) and Republic of China (ROC/Taiwan) * General (Denmark), * General (Estonia), * General (Finland), * General (Germany), * (Greece) * General (India) * (North and South Korea) * * General (Pakistan) * General (Poland), * General (Sri Lanka) * General (Sweden), * General (Switzerland) * General (United Kingdom) * General (United States) * General (Yugoslav People's Army)

Army generals’ insignia

File:13.PNA-BG.svg,
()
(Algerian People's National Army) File:Angola-Army-OF-9.svg,
(Angolan Army) File:Australian Army OF-9.svg, General (Australia), General
(Australian Army) File:Bundesheer - Rank insignia - General.png,
(Austrian Land Forces, Austrian Army) File:Bangladesh-army-OF-9.svg,
General
(Bangladesh Army) File:Army-BEL-OF-09.svg,
(Belgian Army) File:16.Bhutan Army-GEN.svg, General
(Royal Bhutan Army) File:19.RBrLF-GEN.svg,
(Royal Brunei Land Forces) File:Rank insignia of Генерал of the Bulgarian Army.png,

(Bulgarian Army) File:Blank.svg,

(Burundi Army) File:Canadian Army OF-9.svg, General (Canada), General
(Canadian Army) File:Colombia-Army-OF-9.svg,
(Colombian Army) File:Denmark-Army-OF-9-M11.svg,
(Royal Danish Army) File:Timor-Leste-Army-OF-9.svg,
(Timor Leste Defence Force, Timor-Leste Army) File:Estonia-Army-OF-9.svg,
(Estonian Land Forces) File:18.EA-GEN.svg, General
(Ethiopian National Defense Force, Ethiopian Ground Forces) File:Kenraali M05.svg,
(Finnish Army) File:23.GLF-GEN.svg, General
(Armed Forces of Gabon) File:16.Gambian Army-GEN.svg, General
(Gambia Armed Forces, Gambian National Army) File:HD H 64 General.svg,
(German Army) File:16-Ghana Army-GEN.svg, General
(Ghana Army) File:15. Guinea-Bissau GEN.svg,
(Military of Guinea-Bissau, Army of Guinea-Bissau) File:Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Minister of Defence rank insignia.svg, General
(Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Army) File:General of the Indian Army.svg,
General (India), General
(Indian Army) File:22-TNI Army-GEN.svg,
(Indonesian Army) File:Rank insignia of generale of the Army of Italy (1973).svg,
(Italian Army) File:16. Kenyan Army GEN.svg, General
(Kenya Army) File:Blank.svg, General
(Lesotho Army) File:Army-LUX-OF-CiC.svg,
(Luxembourg Army) File:18-APM-GEN.svg,

(Army of North Macedonia) File:16. Malawi Army - GEN.svg, General
(Malawian Defence Force, Malawian Army) File:Malaysia-army-OF-9.svg,
(Malaysian Army) File:Mexico army OF9.svg,
(Mexican Army) File:Mongolian Army-GEN-service.svg,

(Mongolian Ground Force) File:Namibia-army-OF-9.svg, General
(Namibian Army) File:Nl-landmacht-generaal.svg,
(Royal Netherlands Army) File:Nigeria-Army-OF-9.svg, General
(Nigerian Army) File:Norway-army-OF-9.svg,
(Norwegian Army) File:OF-9 Pakistan Army.svg,
General (Pakistan), General
(Pakistan Army) File:PA GEN Svc.svg,
(Philippine Army) File:Army-POL-OF-09.svg,
(Polish Army) File:Army-POR-OF-09.svg,
(Portuguese Army) File:Romania-Army-OF-9.svg,
(Romanian Land Forces) File:16-Rwanda Army-GEN.svg, General
(Rwandan Defence Forces) File:18-Serbian Army-GEN.svg,

(Serbian Army) File:Blank.svg, General
(Sierra Leone Army) File:Blank.svg, General
(Singapore Army) File:Army-SVK-OF-09.svg,
(Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic) File:SAA-OF-9.svg, General
(South African Army) File:Blank.svg, General
(South Sudan Army) File:Sri Lanka-army-OF-9.svg, General (Sri Lanka), General
(Sri Lanka Army) File:Blank.svg, General
(Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, Eswatini Army) File:SWE-General.svg,
(Swedish Army) File:CHE OF9 General.svg,
(Military of Switzerland, Swiss Land Forces) File:17-Tanzania Army-GEN.svg,
(Tanzanian Army) File:Turkey-army-OF-9a.svg,
(Turkish Land Forces) File:Uganda-Army-OF-9.svg, General
(Uganda People's Defence Force, Ugandan Land Forces) File:Погон генерала ЗСУ (2020).svg,

(Ukrainian Ground Forces) File:British Army OF-9.svg, General (United Kingdom), General
(British Army) File:US Army O10 (Army greens).svg, General (United States), General
(United States Army, US Army) File:Blank.svg, General
(Zambian Army) File:Zimbabwe-Army-OF-9.svg, General (Zimbabwe), General
(Zimbabwe National Army)

Air force generals' insignia

16.ANAF-GEN.svg,
(National Air Force of Angola) BE-Air Force-OF9.svg,
(Belgian Air Component) 19.RBrAF-GEN.svg,
(Royal Brunei Air Force) Rank insignia of Генерал of the Bulgarian Air forces.png,

(Bulgarian Air Force) Canada-Air force-OF-9-collected.svg, General
(Royal Canadian Air Force) General del Aire FACH.png,
(Chilean Air Force) Colombia-AirForce-OF-9.svg,
(Colombian Air Force) File:RDAF-OF-9 Sleeve.svg,
(Royal Danish Air Force) 17.Ecuadorian Air Force-GEN.svg,
(Ecuadorian Air Force) Estonia-AirForce-OF-9.svg,
(Estonian Air Force) Finland-AirForce-OF-9.svg,
(Finnish Air Force) Georgia Air Force OF-10.png,

(Georgian Air Force) LD B 64 General.svg,
(German Air Force) blank.svg, General
(Guinea Air Force) 16. Kenyan Air Force GEN.svg, General
(Kenya Air Force) blank.svg, General
(Malawian Defence Force, Malawi Air Force) Malaysia-Air Force-OF-9.svg,
(Royal Malaysian Air Force) Mongolian Army-GEN-service.svg,

(Mongolian Air Force) Netherlands-AirForce-OF-9.svg,
(Royal Netherlands Air Force) Norway-air force-OF-9.svg,
(Royal Norwegian Air Force) blank.svg,
(Paraguayan Air Force) Peru-AirForce-OF-9.svg,
(Peruvian Air Force) PAF GEN Svc.svg,
(Philippine Air Force) Rank insignia of generał of the Air Force of Poland.svg,
(Polish Air Force) Portugal-AirForce-OF-9.svg,
(Portuguese Air Force) Romania-AirForce-OF-9.svg,
(Romanian Air Force) 16-Rwanda Air Force-GEN.svg, General
(Rwandan Air Force) 18-Serbian Air Force-GEN.svg,

(Serbian Air Force and Air Defence) blank.svg, General
(Republic of Singapore Air Force) SVK-Air Force-OF-09.svg,
(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,
(Spanish Air and Space Force) Sweden-AirForce-OF-9.svg,
(Swedish Air Force) 17-Tanzania Air Force-GEN.svg, General
(Tanzania Air Force Command) Turkey-air-force-OF-9a.svg,
(Turkish Air Force) Uganda-AirForce-OF-9.svg, General
(Ugandan Air Force) blank.svg,

(Ukrainian Air Force) US Air Force O10 shoulderboard.svg, General (United States), General
(United States Air Force, US Air Force) blank.svg, General
(Zambian Air Force)

Naval infantry generals' insignia

Generic-Navy-O12.svg,
(Colombian Naval Infantry) 22-TNI Navy-ADM.svg,
(Indonesian Marine Corps) Maldives Army OF-9.svg,
General
(MNDF Marine Corps, Maldivian Marine Corps) Netherlands-Navy-OF-9.svg,
(Netherlands Marine Corps) Sweden-Navy-OF-9.svg,
(Swedish Amphibious Corps) British Royal Marines OF-9.svg, General (United Kingdom), General
(Royal Marines, UK Royal Marines) US Marine 10 shoulderboard vertical.svg, General (United States), General
(United States Marine Corps, US Marine Corps)

Air force and naval equivalents

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 navy, 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 Oliver Cromwell, 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.

Notes

References

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
Biographies of US Marine Corps General Officers
Bios & Information on Generals of Western History
Information on 10 Generals who influenced Western History {{DEFAULTSORT:General Officer Generals, Military ranks