brigadier general (United States)

brigadier general (United States)
Name	Brigadier general
Caption	The insignia for a brigadier general in the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Space Force.
Country	United States
Service branch	United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, United States Space Force
Abbreviation	BG (Army/Space Force), BGen (Marine Corps), BG (Air Force)
Rank	One-star rank
Nato rank	OF-6
Non nato rank	O-7
Formation	June 1780
Higher rank	Major general
Lower rank	Colonel
Equivalent ranks	Rear admiral (lower half) (United States Navy, United States Coast Guard)

brigadier general (United States) is a one-star general officer rank in the United States Armed Forces, specifically within the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, and United States Space Force. It is the lowest-ranking general officer, ranking above colonel and below major general. The equivalent rank in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard is rear admiral (lower half). A brigadier general typically commands a brigade-sized unit of 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers or serves in high-level staff positions within a combant command, Joint Chiefs of Staff, or the United States Department of Defense.

History

The rank of brigadier general has its origins in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, with the Continental Congress authorizing the appointment of officers to command brigades. The first American brigadier generals included notable figures like John Sullivan and Nathanael Greene. The rank was formally established in the United States Army in June 1780. Throughout the 19th century, during conflicts like the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, and the American Civil War, the rank was crucial for commanding infantry and cavalry brigades, with officers such as George Armstrong Custer holding the rank. The United States Marine Corps adopted the rank in the early 20th century, and with the creation of the United States Air Force as a separate service in 1947, it became a standard rank across multiple services. The establishment of the United States Space Force in 2019 continued this tradition.

Appointment

Brigadier generals are appointed by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by the United States Senate. Nominations originate from the respective service secretaries, such as the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Air Force, and are processed through the United States Department of Defense. The appointment is based on a rigorous selection process that evaluates an officer's record, including command of a regiment or group, staff experience at levels like the Pentagon or United States European Command, and completion of senior service colleges like the National War College. The total number of general officers, including brigadier generals, is limited by statute under the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act.

Duties and responsibilities

A brigadier general typically serves as the commander of a brigade-sized combat unit, such as an Armored Brigade Combat Team in the United States Army or a Marine Expeditionary Brigade in the United States Marine Corps. They may also hold significant staff roles, including deputy director of a Joint Staff directorate, chief of staff for a numbered air force, or a division chief within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Their responsibilities encompass planning and executing major operational missions, managing large budgets and personnel, and advising senior leadership at commands like United States Central Command or United States Indo-Pacific Command. In the United States Space Force, a brigadier general might command a Space Operations Command delta.

Insignia and uniform

The rank insignia for a brigadier general is a single silver star, worn on the shoulder boards of the Army Green Service Uniform, the Air Force Service Dress uniform, and the Space Force dress uniform. On the Army Combat Uniform and Air Force Operational Camouflage Pattern, the star is embroidered in subdued thread. The United States Marine Corps places a single silver star on the collar points of the Service Dress Blue uniform and on the camouflage MCCUU cover. The distinctive vehicle plate and flag for a brigadier general feature a single white star on a red field. The style and placement of insignia are governed by uniform regulations from the United States Department of the Army and the United States Department of the Air Force.

Promotion and advancement

Promotion to brigadier general is highly competitive and follows a strict timeline outlined in the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act. Eligible colonels are reviewed by promotion boards convened by their respective service departments, such as the United States Department of the Navy. Key prerequisites often include command of a wing or regiment, a tour in a joint duty assignment like the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and graduation from a senior war college like the United States Army War College. Advancement to the next rank of major general requires further demonstration of leadership in positions of significant responsibility, often involving command of a division or service as a director at United States Strategic Command.

Notable brigadier generals

Numerous notable Americans have held the rank of brigadier general, often achieving fame in other fields. Historical military figures include Theodore Roosevelt Jr., who landed at Utah Beach on D-Day, and Benjamin O. Davis Sr., the first African American general in the United States Army. Others gained prominence in politics, such as Alexander Haig, who later served as White House Chief of Staff and United States Secretary of State, and Wendell H. Ford, who became Governor of Kentucky and a United States Senator. Figures from public life include James Stewart, the Academy Award-winning actor who served in the United States Army Air Forces, and Oliver North, a central figure in the Iran–Contra affair. In science, Brigadier General Charles Elwood Yeager was a famed test pilot who broke the sound barrier.

Category:Military ranks of the United States Category:General officers of the United States