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General officer#All general officer ranks

{{Short description|Military rank}}

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{{More citations needed|date=May 2021}}

{{Military ranks|state=expanded}}

A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.{{efn|Within NATO rank structure, all branches (navy included) are referred to as general officers. In the United States, General Officers authorized to display a flag showing their rank are also called "flag officers". Refer: {{cite dictionary |title = Flag officer|dictionary= Merriam-Webster |url = http://www.merriam-webster.com/netdict/flag+officer |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120910042746/http://www.merriam-webster.com/netdict/flag+officer |url-status = dead |archive-date = September 10, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=Redalert2fan |fix-attempted=yes }}. In other usages the term "flag officer" usually applies to naval ranks such as admiral, vice-admiral, or rear-admiral.}}

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 adjective general had been affixed to officer designations since the late medieval period to indicate relative superiority or an extended jurisdiction.

French Revolutionary system

{{For|more information|Général}}

style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"

| Marshal or Captain general

Army general
Corps general
Divisional general
Brigade general

Arab system

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! Rank

! Transliteration

! Translation

! Notes

style="text-align:center;"

| {{lang|ar|مشير}}

| {{transliteration|ar|Mushīr}}

| Counsellor

| align="left"| compare Counsellor of State, State Counsellor etc.
compare etymology "mushir" with "shura"

style="text-align:center;"

| {{lang|ar|فريق أول}}

| {{transliteration|ar|Fariq 'awal}}

| First general

| align="left"| equivalent to Commonwealth "full" general

style="text-align:center;"

| {{lang|ar|فريق}}

| {{transliteration|ar|Fariq}}

| General

| align="left"| equivalent to lieutenant general or corps general

style="text-align:center;"

| {{lang|ar|لواء}}

| {{transliteration|ar|liwāʾ}}

| Ensign

| align="left"| (more loosely "flag officer" or "banner")

style="text-align:center;"

| {{lang|ar|عميد}}

| {{transliteration|ar|ʿamīd}}

| Colonel
(not to be confused with {{lang|ar-Latn|aqīd}}, the
equivalent rank to a Commonwealth colonel)

| align="left"| compare etymology with "{{lang|ar-Latn|ʿamood}}" ("column");
etymologically, translates as "colonel" but
equivalent to brigadier/brigade general

Other variations

Other nomenclatures for general officers include the titles and ranks:

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, 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:

==Army generals' insignia==

File:13.PNA-BG.svg|{{lang|fr|Général}}
{{small|({{langx|ar|عميد|Amid}})}}
(Algerian People's National Army){{cite web |title=Ranks |url=https://www.mdn.dz/site_principal/sommaire/presentation/armoiries_fr.php |website=mdn.dz |publisher=Ministry of National Defence (Algeria) |language=fr |access-date=30 May 2021}}

File:Angola-Army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|pt|General}}
(Angolan Army)

File:Australian Army OF-9.svg|General
(Australian Army)

File:Bundesheer - Rank insignia - General.png|{{lang|de|General}}
(Austrian Army)

File:Bangladesh-army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|bn|জেনারেল}}
General
(Bangladesh Army)

File:Belgium-Army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|nl|Generaal}}
(Belgian Land Component)

File:16.Bhutan Army-GEN.svg|General
(Royal Bhutan Army)

File:19.RBrLF-GEN.svg|{{lang|ms|Jeneral}}
(Royal Brunei Land Force)

File:Rank insignia of Генерал of the Bulgarian Army.png|{{lang|bg|Генерал}}
{{lang|bg-Latn|General}}
(Bulgarian Army)

File:Canadian Army OF-9.svg|General
(Canadian Army)

File:Colombia-Army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|es|General}}
(Colombian Army)

File:Denmark-Army-OF-9-M69-service.svg|{{lang|da|General}}
(Royal Danish Army)

File:Timor-Leste-Army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|pt|General}}
(Timor-Leste Army)

File:Estonia-Army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|et|Kindral}}
(Estonian Land Forces)

File:Ethiopia-Army-OF-9 (2022).svg|{{lang|am|ጄነራል}}
{{lang|am-Latn|Jēnerali}}
(Ethiopian Ground Forces)

File:Kenraali M05.svg|{{lang|fi|Kenraali}}
(Finnish Army)

File:16.Gambian Army-GEN.svg|General
(Gambian National Army)

File:Georgia-Army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|ka|გენერალი}}
{{lang|ka-Latn|Generali}}
(Georgian Land Forces)

File:HD H 64 General.svg|{{lang|de|General}}
(German Army)

File:16-Ghana Army-GEN.svg|General
(Ghana Army)

File:15. Guinea-Bissau GEN.svg|{{lang|pt|General}}
(Army of Guinea-Bissau)

File:Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Minister of Defence rank insignia.svg|General
(Guyana Army)

File:General of the Indian Army.svg|{{lang|hi|जनरल}}
General
(Indian Army)

File:22-TNI Army-GEN.svg|{{lang|id|Jenderal}}
(Indonesian Army)

File:Rank insignia of generale of the Army of Italy (1973).svg|{{lang|it|Generale}}
(Italian Army)

File:16. Kenyan Army GEN.svg|General
(Kenya Army)

File:Luxembourg-Army-OF-6.svg|{{lang|fr|Général}}
(Luxembourg Army)

File:North-Macedonia-Army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|mk|Генерал}}
{{lang|mk-Latn|General}}
(Army of North Macedonia)

File:16. Malawi Army - GEN.svg|General
(Malawian Army)

File:Malaysia-army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|ms|Jeneral}}
(Malaysian Army)

File:Mexico army OF9.svg|{{lang|es|General}}
(Mexican Army)

File:Mongolian Army-GEN-service.svg|{{lang|mn|Генерал}}
{{lang|mn-Latn|Gyenyeral}}
(Mongolian Ground Force)

File:Namibia-army-OF-9.svg|General
(Namibian Army)

File:22.Nepalese Army-FM.svg|General
(Nepal Army)

File:Netherlands-Army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|nl|Generaal}}
(Royal Netherlands Army)

File:Nigeria-Army-OF-9.svg|General
(Nigerian Army)

File:Norway-army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|no|General}}
(Norwegian Army)

File:OF-9 Pakistan Army.svg|{{lang|ur|جنرل}}
General
(Pakistan Army)

File:PA General.png|{{lang|fil|Heneral}}
(Philippine Army)

File:Army-POL-OF-09.svg|{{lang|pl|Generał}}
(Polish Army)

File:Portugal-Army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|pt|General}}
(Portuguese Army)

File:Romania-Army-OF-9.svg|{{lang|ro|General}}
(Romanian Land Forces)

File:16-Rwanda Army-GEN.svg|General
(Rwandan Defence Forces)

File:18-Serbian Army-GEN.svg|{{lang|sr|Генерал}}
{{lang|sr-Latn|General}}
(Serbian Army)

File:Army-SVK-OF-09.svg|{{lang|sk|Generál}}
(Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic)

File:SAA-OF-9.svg|General
(South African Army)

File:Sri Lanka-army-OF-9.svg|General
(Sri Lanka Army)

File:Sweden-Army-OF-9 (M1987).svg|{{lang|sv|General}}
(Swedish Army)

File:CHE OF9 General.svg|{{lang|de|General}}
(Swiss Land Forces)

File:17-Tanzania Army-GEN.svg|{{lang|sw|Jenerali}}
(Tanzanian Army)

File:Uganda-Army-OF-9 (2019).svg|General
(Ugandan Land Forces)

File:Погон генерала ЗСУ (2020).svg|{{lang|uk|Генерал}}
{{lang|uk-Latn|Heneral}}
(Ukrainian Ground Forces)

File:British Army OF-9.svg|General
(British Army)

File:US Army O10 (Army greens).svg|General
(U.S. Army)

File:Zimbabwe-Army-OF-9.svg|General
(Zimbabwe National Army)

==Air force generals' insignia==

File:16.ANAF-GEN.svg|{{lang|pt|General}}
(National Air Force of Angola)

File:BE-Air Force-OF9.svg|{{lang|nl-BE|Generaal}}
(Belgian Air Component)

File:19.RBrAF-GEN.svg|{{lang|ms|Jeneral (Udara)}}
(Royal Brunei Air Force)

File:Rank insignia of Генерал of the Bulgarian Air forces.png|{{lang|bg|Генерал}}
{{lang|bg-Latn|General}}
(Bulgarian Air Force)

File:Canada-Air force-OF-9-collected.svg|General
(Royal Canadian Air Force)

File:General del Aire FACH.png|{{lang|es|General de aire}}
(Chilean Air Force)

File:Colombia-AirForce-OF-9.svg|{{lang|es|General de aire}}
(Colombian Air Force)

File:RDAF-OF-9 Sleeve.svg|{{lang|da|General}}
(Royal Danish Air Force)

File:17.Ecuadorian Air Force-GEN.svg|{{lang|es|General del aire}}
(Ecuadorian Air Force)

File:Estonia-AirForce-OF-9.svg|{{lang|et|Kindral}}
(Estonian Air Force)

File:Finland-AirForce-OF-9.svg|{{lang|fi|Kenraali}}
(Finnish Air Force)

File:Georgia Air Force OF-10.png|{{lang|ka|გენერალი}}
{{lang|ka-Latn|Generali}}
(Georgian Air Force)

File:LD B 64 General.svg|{{lang|de|General}}
(German Air Force)

File:16. Kenyan Air Force GEN.svg|General
(Kenya Air Force)

File:Malaysia-Air Force-OF-9.svg|{{lang|ms|Jeneral}}
(Royal Malaysian Air Force)

File:Mongolian Army-GEN-service.svg|{{lang|mn|Генерал}}
{{lang|mn-Latn|General}}
(Mongolian Air Force)

File:Netherlands-AirForce-OF-9.svg|{{lang|nl|Generaal}}
(Royal Netherlands Air Force)

File:Norway-air force-OF-9.svg|{{lang|no|General}}
(Royal Norwegian Air Force)

File:Peru-AirForce-OF-9.svg|{{lang|es|General del aire}}
(Peruvian Air Force)

File:PAF GEN Svc.svg|{{lang|fil|Heneral}}
(Philippine Air Force)

File:Rank insignia of generał of the Air Force of Poland.svg|{{lang|pl|Generał}}
(Polish Air Force)

File:Portugal-AirForce-OF-9.svg|{{lang|pt|General}}
(Portuguese Air Force)

File:Romania-AirForce-OF-9.svg|{{lang|ro|General}}
(Romanian Air Force)

File:16-Rwanda Air Force-GEN.svg|General
(Rwandan Air Force)

File:18-Serbian Air Force-GEN.svg|{{lang|sr|Генерал}}
{{lang|sr-Latn|General}}
(Serbian Air Force and Air Defence)

File:SVK-Air Force-OF-09.svg|{{lang|sk|Generál}}
(Slovak Air Force)

File:SAAF-OF-9.svg|General
(South African Air Force)

File:SP-09 General del Aire.svg|{{lang|es|General del aire}}
(Spanish Air and Space Force)

File:Sweden-AirForce-OF-9.svg|{{lang|sv|General}}
(Swedish Air Force)

File:17-Tanzania Air Force-GEN.svg|General
(Tanzania Air Force Command)

File:Turkey-air-force-OF-9a.svg|{{lang|tr|Orgeneral}}
(Turkish Air Force)

File:Uganda-AirForce-OF-9.svg|General
(Ugandan Air Force)

File:Ukraine-AirForce-OF-9 (2020).svg|{{lang|uk|Генерал}}
{{lang|uk-Latn|Heneral}}
(Ukrainian Air Force)

File:US Air Force O10 shoulderboard.svg|General
(US Air Force)

File:Uruguay-AirForce-OF-9.svg|General del aire
(Uruguayan Air Force)

==Naval infantry generals' insignia==

File:Generic-Navy-O12.svg|{{lang|es|General}}
(Colombian Naval Infantry)

File:22-TNI Navy-ADM.svg|{{lang|id|Jenderal (Marinir)}}
(Indonesian Marine Corps)

File:Maldives Army OF-9.svg|{{lang|dv|ޖެނެރަލް}}
General
(Maldivian Marine Corps)

File:Netherlands-Navy-OF-9.svg|{{lang|nl|Generaal}}
(Netherlands Marine Corps)

File:Sweden-Navy-OF-9.svg|{{lang|sv|General}}
(Swedish Amphibious Corps)

File:British Royal Marines OF-9.svg|General
(Royal Marines)

File:US Marine 10 shoulderboard vertical.svg|General
(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 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

{{Notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Wiktionary}}

  • [http://www.generals.dk/ Generals of World War II]
  • [http://schema-root.org/region/americas/north_america/usa/government/branches/executive/departments/defense/personnel/generals/ Schema-root.org: US Generals] News feeds for US Generals in the news
  • [http://www.marines.mil/genbios2.nsf/bio+Main/ Marines.mil: General Officer Biographies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318124328/http://www.marines.mil/genbios2.nsf/bio+Main/ |date=2008-03-18 }} Biographies of US Marine Corps General Officers
  • [http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-generals-of-western-history.php Bios & Information on Generals of Western History] Information on 10 Generals who influenced Western History

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{{Military ranks by country}}

{{Star officer ranks}}

{{Highest Military Ranks}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:General Officer}}

Category:Military ranks