What’s the highest star general you can be?
The highest star general rank one can achieve is five-star general, also known as General of the Army, which is the highest official rank in the U.S. Army, symbolized by five stars for each of the military services. This five-star rank is extremely rare, with only nine Americans having held this rank, and no U.S. officers have held it since the death of General Bradley in 1981.
Understanding the Ranks
To understand the significance of the five-star general rank, it’s essential to know the hierarchy of ranks in the military. The ranks range from private to General of the Army, with various ranks in between, including lieutenant general, major general, and brigadier general.
FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions related to the highest star general rank:
- Who is the only 7-star general?: No person has ever been awarded or promoted to a seven-star rank, although some commentators might argue that General George Washington posthumously became a seven-star general in 1976.
- Who is the only 6-star general?: Grant joins George Washington and John J. Pershing as the only generals to achieve the rank, which has been informally referred to as being a “six-star general“.
- Is 4-star general the highest?: The rank of general (or full general, or four-star general) is the highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. Army, ranking above lieutenant general (three-star general) and below General of the Army (five-star general).
- How much do 5-star generals make?: These officers who held the rank of General of the Army remained officers of the United States Army for life, with an annual $20,000 in pay and allowances, equivalent to $332,000 in 2022.
- Who was the last 5-star general?: General of the Army Omar Bradley is the last 5-star general, having been promoted in 1950.
- What is the pension of a retired 4-star general?: A four-star general or admiral with 40 years of service will receive about $237,144 a year during retirement.
- What is the highest paid military rank?: O-10, or “five-star general“, is the highest pay grade, and once a military officer achieves a four-star rank of general or admiral, they no longer receive pay increases.
- Are there any female 4-star generals?: Only 10 women have held the rank of four-star general or admiral in U.S. history.
- What rank are you after 10 years in the Marines?: After 10 years in the Marines, one can achieve the rank of E-9, master gunnery sergeant or sergeant major.
- Can anyone outrank George Washington?: The law passed to promote Washington reads that no officer of the United States Army should outrank Lieutenant General George Washington on the Army list.
- Is Field Marshal higher than general?: Field marshal is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks, and is considered as a five-star rank (OF-10) in modern-day armed forces.
- Is Admiral higher than general?: The word “admiral” has come to be almost exclusively associated with the highest naval rank in most of the world’s navies, equivalent to the army rank of general.
- Is George Washington a 7-star general?: In 1976, George Washington was posthumously promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States, which some described as a “six-star rank“.
- What are the 13 ranks in the military?: There are 13 enlisted Army ranks: private, private second class, private first class, specialist, corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant, sergeant first class, master sergeant, first sergeant, sergeant major, command sergeant major, and sergeant major of the Army.
- What is the pay for a 4-star general?: Regardless of continued time in service, once a military officer achieves the four-star rank of general or admiral, they will no longer receive pay raises and are capped at $16,974 per month.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the five-star general rank is the highest star general rank one can achieve, symbolized by five stars for each of the military services. This rank is extremely rare, and the hierarchy of ranks in the military is essential to understanding its significance. The FAQs provided offer additional valuable information about the military ranks, pay, and promotions, giving readers a comprehensive understanding of the topic.