General (United States)
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| General (United States) | |
|---|---|
| Name | General |
| Caption | Four-star shoulder boards used by United States generals |
| Abbreviation | Gen. |
| Formation | 1857 (modern usage 1917) |
| Higher | General of the Army (wartime five-star) |
| Lower | Lieutenant General |
General (United States) is the four-star flag officer rank used in the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps as the highest regularly appointed peacetime grade. The grade of general sits above lieutenant general and below the wartime rank of General of the Army or General of the Air Force, and is typically held by senior officers commanding major combatant commands, service branches, or holding key joint positions in the Department of Defense, The White House, and on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Generals have led American forces in conflicts from the Civil War era through World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), to recent operations against Islamic State and other contingencies.
History
The rank traces antecedents to the Continental Army commanders like George Washington and Revolutionary-era leaders such as Nathanael Greene and Horatio Gates, though modern statutory four-star appointments originated in early 20th‑century legislation and wartime practice. During World War I officers such as John J. Pershing shaped contemporary American generalship; in World War II figures like Dwight D. Eisenhower, George S. Patton, Douglas MacArthur, and Omar Bradley expanded operational scale, coalition command, and joint doctrine. Postwar reorganizations including the National Security Act of 1947 and reforms following the Goldwater–Nichols Act altered assignment patterns, producing generals who serve in unified combatant commands such as United States European Command, United States Central Command, United States Indo-Pacific Command, and on NATO bodies like Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).
Rank and Insignia
The grade of general is denoted by four silver stars worn in line on shoulder boards, sleeve insignia, and service dress coats; variants appear across the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps. Historically, shoulder strap patterns and sleeve braid evolved from 19th‑century dress regulations used by officers under Secretaries such as Elihu Root and Henry L. Stimson. The position is codified in Title 10 of the United States Code; uniform regulations set by the Department of the Army, Department of the Air Force, and Department of the Navy prescribe wear for service, mess, and dress uniforms. Precedence among general officers is governed by seniority, date of rank, and position, affecting seating and honors at events hosted by institutions like the United States Capitol or The White House.
Roles and Responsibilities
Generals command major organizations: numbered armies, corps, and joint task forces within commands such as United States Northern Command and United States Africa Command; they serve as service chiefs like the Chief of Staff of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Air Force; and rotate through joint billets including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant command leadership. Their responsibilities encompass operational planning for campaigns like Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom, strategy coordination with allies through forums such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and bilateral staff talks with counterparts from United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea, and interagency interaction with entities like the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of State, and Homeland Security Council. Generals also oversee force development, doctrine, readiness, resource allocation via the Defense Department Budget, and education at institutions including the United States Military Academy, United States Air Force Academy, and National War College.
Appointment, Promotion, and Retirement
Appointment to four‑star general requires nomination by the President of the United States and confirmation by the United States Senate. Promotions consider vacancies authorized by Congress and are subject to statutes limiting numbers of general officers; the Senate Armed Services Committee holds hearings where nominees may be questioned about operations in theaters such as Iraq or Afghanistan. Fixed tour lengths, statutory retirement ages, and time‑in‑grade rules guide tenure; some officers receive extensions during wartime or to complete critical assignments. Retirement procedures can include administrative reviews or Senate inquiries in cases tied to events involving commands like United States Forces Korea or United States Central Command.
Pay, Benefits, and Protocol
Generals receive compensation set by Congress and published under federal pay scales, with additional allowances for housing, travel, and separation pay; benefits include access to TRICARE health coverage and retirement under military pension statutes. Protocol at national ceremonies—state funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, change‑of‑command parades, and Presidential inaugurations—follows directives from the Joint Staff and Office of the Secretary of Defense; honors include four‑star pennants, precedence in processions, and equivalents for foreign dignitaries from militaries such as the Canadian Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, and Bundeswehr.
Notable Generals
Prominent American generals include George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, George S. Patton, Colin Powell, Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., David Petraeus, Raymond T. Odierno, Stanley McChrystal, Mark A. Milley, H. Norman Schwarzkopf Sr., James Mattis, John F. Kelly, Richard Myers, Martin Dempsey, Joseph Dunford and Lloyd Austin — each influential in campaigns, doctrine, or civil‑military relations. Others such as Henry H. Arnold, Leslie Groves, Curtis LeMay, Jacob L. Devers, Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., and Alexander Haig contributed to logistics, airpower, nuclear policy, and alliance management.
Controversies and Reforms
Generals and the general officer corps have been focal points of debates over civilian control, accountability, and transformation. Controversies include civil‑military disputes in the Korean War and Vietnam War, public controversies over conduct such as the My Lai Massacre investigations, prewar intelligence and decisions surrounding Iraq War (2003–2011), and inquiries following incidents in Afghanistan. Reforms have included legislative action like the Goldwater–Nichols Act, revisions to promotion and ethics rules, expanded inspector general oversight, and changes in force structure advocated after studies by RAND Corporation and commissions such as the Independent Commission on the Security Forces. Ongoing reforms address joint readiness, civilian oversight through the National Defense Authorization Act, and alliance interoperability with partners including NATO and Five Eyes members.