Military star ranking#Four-star

{{Short description|Terminology for general and flag officers}}

{{Military ranks | state=expanded}}

Military star ranking is military terminology, used in mainly English speaking countries, to describe general and flag officers. Within NATO's armed forces, the stars are equal to OF-6–10.{{cite book |author1=NATO |author1-link=NATO |title=STANAG 2116 |date=October 1975 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |location=Brussels, Belgium |edition=3rd |url=http://www.marinehist.dk/orlogsbib/n/NATO-Grad.pdf |access-date=14 October 2022 |page=2 |archive-date=14 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014143755/http://www.marinehist.dk/orlogsbib/n/NATO-Grad.pdf |url-status=live }}

Star ranking

= One-star =

A one-star rank is usually the lowest ranking general or flag officer.{{cite web |title=One-star |url=https://www.lexico.com/definition/one-star |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224210652/https://www.lexico.com/definition/one-star |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |website=lexico.com |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=24 March 2022}} In many Commonwealth countries, the one-star army rank of Brigadier is considered the highest field officer rank.

= Two-star =

A two-star rank is usually the second lowest ranking general or flag officer.{{cite web |title=Two-star |url=https://www.lexico.com/definition/two-star |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324164150/https://www.lexico.com/definition/two-star |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |website=lexico.com |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=24 March 2022}}

= Three-star =

A three-star rank is usually the third highest general or flag officer.{{cite web |title=Three-star |url=https://www.lexico.com/definition/three-star |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301132329/https://www.lexico.com/definition/three-star |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |website=lexico.com |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=24 March 2022}}

= Four-star =

A four-star rank is usually the highest or second highest ranking general or flag officer.{{cite web |title=Four-star |url=https://www.lexico.com/definition/four-star |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923223507/https://www.lexico.com/definition/four-star |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |website=lexico.com |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=24 March 2022}}

= Five-star =

{{Main|Five-star rank}}

A five-star rank is usually the highest ranking general or flag officer.{{cite web |title=Five-star |url=https://www.lexico.com/definition/five-star |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324164151/https://www.lexico.com/definition/five-star |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |website=lexico.com |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=24 March 2022}} This rank is usually a field marshal, general of the army, admiral of the fleet or marshal of the air force.

= Proposed six-star =

{{Main|Six-star rank}}

In the United States Armed Forces, a six-star rank is a proposed rank immediately superior to a five-star rank, possibly to be worn by the General of the Armies or Admiral of the Navy. This proposal has not been officially recognized by the military or Congress.

List of countries

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! Star rank

Five-star rankFour-star rankThree-star rankTwo-star rankOne-star rank{{abbr|Ref.|References}}{{efn|name=Star|Upper references are the Star ranking. Lower references are the insignia.}}
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| rowspan=2| {{army|Australia}}

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| rowspan=2| {{cite web |title=Commissioned Officer Ranks |url=https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/ranks/commissioned-officer-ranks |website=army.gov.au |publisher=Australian Army |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=15 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315071131/https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/ranks/commissioned-officer-ranks |url-status=live }}
{{cite web |title=Badges of rank |url=https://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/ADF_badges_of_rank.pdf |website=navy.gov.au |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=28 July 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813173950/https://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/ADF_badges_of_rank.pdf |url-status=live }}

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| General

| Lieutenant general

| Major general

| Brigadier

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| Admiral

| Vice admiral

| Rear admiral

| Commodore

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| rowspan=2| {{air force|Australia}}

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| Air chief marshal

| Air marshal

| Air vice-marshal

| Air commodore

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! Star rank

Five-star rankFour-star rankThree-star rankTwo-star rankOne-star rank{{abbr|Ref.|References}}{{efn|name=Star}}
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| rowspan=2| {{army|Bangladesh}}

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| rowspan=2| {{cite web |title=Ranks & insignia |url=https://joinbangladesharmy.army.mil.bd/home/page/ranks-insignia |website=joinbangladesharmy.army.mil.bd |access-date=11 October 2020 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924041014/https://joinbangladesharmy.army.mil.bd/home/page/ranks-insignia |url-status=live }}

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| General
{{lang|bn|জেনারেল}}

| Lieutenant general
{{lang|bn|লেফটেন্যান্ট জেনারেল}}

| Major general
{{lang|bn|মেজর জেনারেল}}

| Brigadier general
{{lang|bn|ব্রিগেডিয়ার জেনারেল}}

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| rowspan=2| {{navy|Bangladesh}}

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{{cite web |title=Rank of Navy & Equivalent Rank |url=http://navy.mil.bd/rank.php |website=navy.mil.bd |publisher=Bangladesh Navy |access-date=28 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627145930/http://navy.mil.bd/rank.php |archive-date=27 June 2017}}

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| Admiral

| Vice admiral

| Rear admiral

| Commodore

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| rowspan=2| {{air force|Bangladesh}}

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{{cite web |title=Officer's ranks |url=http://www.joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd/index.php/main_controll/ranks_structure_baf?1=1&pagemenu=ranks_structure_baf&submenu=1&leafsub=0 |website=joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd |access-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219212643/http://www.joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd/index.php/main_controll/ranks_structure_baf?1=1&pagemenu=ranks_structure_baf&submenu=1&leafsub=0 |archive-date=19 February 2020}}

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| Air chief marshal

| Air marshal

| Air vice-marshal

| Air commodore

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! Star rank

Five-star rankFour-star rankThree-star rankTwo-star rankOne-star rank{{abbr|Ref.|Re| Air Chief Marshal
{{lang|hi|एयर चीफ मार्शल}}ferences}}{{efn|name=Star}}
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| rowspan=2| {{cite web |title=Inter Service Ranks |url=https://paf.gov.pk/#/ranks |website=paf.gov.pk |publisher=Pakistan Air Force Official Website |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826081717/https://paf.gov.pk/#/ranks |url-status=dead }}

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| Field marshal
{{lang|ur|فیلڈ مارشل}}

| General
{{lang|ur|جنرل}}

| Lieutenant general
{{lang|ur|لیفٹیننٹ جنرل}}

| Major general
{{lang|ur|میجر جنرل}}

| Brigadier
{{lang|ur|بریگیڈیئر}}

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| rowspan=2| {{navy|Pakistan}}

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| Admiral
{{lang|ur|ایڈمرل}}

| Vice admiral
{{lang|ur|وائس ایڈمرل}}

| Rear admiral
{{lang|ur|بحریہ کا امیر}}

| Commodore
{{lang|ur|کموڈور}}

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| rowspan=2| {{air force|Pakistan}}

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| Air chief marshal

| Air marshal

| Air vice marshal

| Air commodore

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! Star rank

Five-star rankFour-star rankThree-star rankTwo-star rankOne-star rank{{abbr|Ref.|References}}{{efn|name=Star}}
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| rowspan=2| {{army|Sri Lanka}}

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| rowspan=2| {{cite web |title=Dress Regulation PDF – Part I |url=https://www.army.lk/sites/all/themes/bootstrap/common/images/images2/downloads/Dress-regulation-2019-PART-I.pdf |website=army.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |page=11-1 |date=January 2019 |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=23 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423112420/https://www.army.lk/sites/all/themes/bootstrap/common/images/images2/downloads/Dress-regulation-2019-PART-I.pdf |url-status=live }}

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| Field marshal

| General

| Lieutenant general

| Major general

| Brigadier

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| rowspan=2| {{naval|Sri Lanka}}

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{{cite web |title=Branches/ Ranks |url=https://www.navy.lk/branches-ranks.html |website=navy.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Navy |access-date=24 September 2021 |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619063013/https://www.navy.lk/branches-ranks.html |url-status=dead }}

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| Admiral

| Vice admiral

| Rear admiral

| Commodore

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| rowspan=2| {{air force|Sri Lanka}}

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| Air Chief Marshal

| Air Marshal

| Air Vice-Marshal

| Air Commodore

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! Star rank

Five-star rankFour-star rankThree-star rankTwo-star rankOne-star rank{{abbr|Ref.|References}}{{efn|name=Star}}
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| rowspan=2| {{army|United Kingdom}}

| File:British Army OF-10.svg

| File:British Army OF-9.svg

| File:British Army OF-8.svg

| File:British Army OF-7.svg

| File:British Army OF-6.svg

| rowspan=2| {{cite web |title=Rank structure |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/our-people/ranks/ |website=army.mod.uk |publisher=British Army |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=6 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406102013/https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/our-people/ranks/ |url-status=live }}

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| Field marshal

| General

| Lieutenant-general

| Major-general

| Brigadier

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| rowspan=2| {{navy|United Kingdom}}

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{{cite web |title=Shaping your career |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/navy-life/shaping-your-career |website=royalnavy.mod.uk |publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=24 September 2021 |archive-date=28 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928204526/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/navy-life/shaping-your-career |url-status=live }}

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| Admiral of the Fleet

| Admiral

| Vice admiral

| Rear admiral

| Commodore

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| rowspan=2 | {{air force|United Kingdom}}

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{{cite web |title=RAF Ranks |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/raf-ranks/ |website=raf.mod.uk/ |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=21 September 2021 |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006100626/https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/raf-ranks/ |url-status=live }}

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| Marshal of the RAF

| Air chief marshal

| Air marshal

| Air vice-marshal

| Air commodore

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! Star rank

Five-star rankFour-star rankThree-star rankTwo-star rankOne-star rank{{abbr|Ref.|References}}{{efn|name=Star}}
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! rowspan=2| {{army|United States}}

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| rowspan=2| {{cite web |title=Navy Officer Ranks |url=https://www.military.com/navy/officer-ranks.html#:~:text=A%20one-star%20rank%2C%20it%20is%20the%20first%20of,may%20be%20assigned%20as%20deputies%20to%20larger%20commands. |website=military.com |access-date=28 July 2022 |archive-date=24 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224171610/https://www.military.com/navy/officer-ranks.html#:~:text=A%20one-star%20rank%2C%20it%20is%20the%20first%20of,may%20be%20assigned%20as%20deputies%20to%20larger%20commands. |url-status=live }}
{{cite web |title=U.S. Military Rank Insignia |url=https://www.defense.gov/Resources/Insignia/ |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2022 |website=defense.gov |publisher=Department of Defense |archive-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113093016/https://www.defense.gov/Resources/Insignia/ }}

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| General of the Army

| General

| Lieutenant general

| Major general

| Brigadier general

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| 100px

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| Fleet admiral

| Admiral

| Vice admiral

| Rear admiral

| Rear admiral
(lower half)

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| rowspan=2| {{air force|United States}}

| 50px

| 50px

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| General of the Air Force

| General

| Lieutenant general

| Major general

| Brigadier general

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Star officer ranks}}

{{Highest Military Ranks}}

Category:Military ranks