A general officer is an
officer
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...
of
high rank in the
armies
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
, and in some nations'
air force
An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...
s,
space force
A space force is a military branch of a nation's armed forces that conducts military operations in outer space and space warfare. The world's first space force was the Russian Space Forces, established in 1992 as an independent military service. ...
s, and
marines
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 ...
or
naval infantry.
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, as a shortening of ''
captain general
Captain general (and its literal equivalent in several languages) is a high military rank of general officer grade, and a gubernatorial title.
History
The term "Captain General" started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of Comma ...
'', which rank was taken from
Middle French
Middle French (french: moyen français) is a historical division of the French language that covers the period from the 14th to the 16th century. It is a period of transition during which:
* the French language became clearly distinguished from ...
''capitaine général''.
The adjective ''general'' had been affixed to officer designations since the
late medieval period
The Late Middle Ages or Late Medieval Period was the period of European history lasting from AD 1300 to 1500. The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period (and in much of Europe, the Renai ...
to indicate relative superiority or an extended jurisdiction.
Today, the title of ''general'' is known in some countries as a
four-star rank
A four-star rank is the rank of any four-star officer described by the NATO OF-9 code. Four-star officers are often the most senior commanders in the armed services, having ranks such as (full) admiral, (full) general, colonel general, army ge ...
. However, different countries use different systems of stars or other insignia for senior ranks. It has a
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 officer
A senior officer is an officer of a more senior grade in military or other uniformed services. In military organisations, the term may refer to any officer above junior officer rank, but usually specifically refers to the middle-ranking group of ...
s 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 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
Captain general (and its literal equivalent in several languages) is a high military rank of general officer grade, and a gubernatorial title.
History
The term "Captain General" started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of Comma ...
.
The other is derived from the
French Revolution
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in coup of 18 Brumaire, November 1799. Many of its ...
, 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
Prussia
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an ...
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 General of the Cavalry (german: General der Kavallerie) was a General officer rank in the cavalry in various states of which the modern states of German and Austria are successors or in other armies which used the German model. Artillery officers ...
and
general of the artillery General of the Artillery is/was a general officer of artillery, and may be:
*General of the Artillery (Germany) and Austria-Hungary
* General of the Artillery (Imperial Russia)
* General of the Artillery (Poland)
*Feldzeugmeister (OF-8) of the Austr ...
. Such rank designations were also introduced in the
Imperial Russian Army, firstly by the emperor
Peter I Peter I may refer to:
Religious hierarchs
* Saint Peter (c. 1 AD – c. 64–88 AD), a.k.a. Simon Peter, Simeon, or Simon, apostle of Jesus
* Pope Peter I of Alexandria (died 311), revered as a saint
* Peter I of Armenia (died 1058), Catholico ...
.
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 since the 1920s), the equivalent to brigadier general is
brigadier
Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. I ...
, 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
A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It in ...
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
The Turco-Egyptian ranks were the military ranks used by the Kingdom of Egypt from 1922 until they were changed in 1958 after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 and the abolition of the monarchy. The names are Turco-Egyptian (i.e. derived from Ottoma ...
in Egypt.
Other variations
Other nomenclatures for general officers include the titles and ranks:
*
Adjutant general
An adjutant general is a military chief administrative officer.
France
In Revolutionary France, the was a senior staff officer, effectively an assistant to a general officer. It was a special position for lieutenant-colonels and colonels in staf ...
*
Commandant-general
Commandant-general is a military rank in several countries and is generally equivalent to that of major-general.
Argentina
Commandant general is the highest rank in the Argentine National Gendarmerie, and is held by the national director of the g ...
*
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
A four-star rank is the rank of any four-star officer described by the NATO OF-9 code. Four-star officers are often the most senior commanders in the armed services, having ranks such as (full) admiral, (full) general, colonel general, army ge ...
(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
Captain general (and its literal equivalent in several languages) is a high military rank of general officer grade, and a gubernatorial title.
History
The term "Captain General" started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of Comma ...
, 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
An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...
, 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.
See also
*General officers in the United States
*List of comparative military ranks
*List of Roman generals
*General officer commanding
*''Général''
*''Generalissimo''
*''Shōgun''
Notes
References
External links
Generals of World War IISchema-root.org: US GeneralsNews 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 HistoryInformation on 10 Generals who influenced Western History
{{DEFAULTSORT:General Officer
Generals,
Military ranks
