Military star ranking

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.^[1]

Star ranking

One-star

A one-star rank is usually the lowest ranking general or flag officer.^[2] In many Commonwealth countries, the one-star army rank of Brigadier is considered the highest field officer rank.^[3]

Two-star

A two-star rank is usually the second lowest ranking general or flag officer.^[4]

Three-star

A three-star rank is usually the third highest general or flag officer.^[5]

Four-star

A four-star rank is usually the highest or second highest ranking general or flag officer.^[6]

Five-star

A five-star rank is usually the highest ranking general or flag officer.^[7] This rank is usually a field marshal, general of the army, admiral of the fleet or marshal of the air force.

Proposed six-star

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; however, this proposal was never officially recognized by the military or by Congress.

List of countries

Star rank	Five-star rank	Four-star rank	Three-star rank	Two-star rank	One-star rank	Ref.^[a]
Australian Army						^[8] ^[9]
Australian Army		General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier	^[8] ^[9]
Royal Australian Navy						^[8] ^[9]
Royal Australian Navy		Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	^[8] ^[9]
Royal Australian Air Force						^[8] ^[9]
Royal Australian Air Force		Air chief marshal	Air marshal	Air vice-marshal	Air commodore	^[8] ^[9]
Star rank	Five-star rank	Four-star rank	Three-star rank	Two-star rank	One-star rank	Ref.^[a]
Bangladesh Army						^[10] –
Bangladesh Army		General জেনারেল	Lieutenant general লেফটেন্যান্ট জেনারেল	Major general মেজর জেনারেল	Brigadier general ব্রিগেডিয়ার জেনারেল	^[10] –
Bangladesh Navy						^[10] ^[11]
Bangladesh Navy		Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	^[10] ^[11]
Bangladesh Air Force						^[10] ^[12]
Bangladesh Air Force		Air chief marshal	Air marshal	Air vice-marshal	Air commodore	^[10] ^[12]
Star rank	Five-star rank	Four-star rank	Three-star rank	Two-star rank	One-star rank	Ref.^[a]
Pakistan Army						^[13] –
Pakistan Army	Field marshal فیلڈ مارشل	General جنرل	Lieutenant general لیفٹیننٹ جنرل	Major general میجر جنرل	Brigadier بریگیڈیئر	^[13] –
Pakistan Navy						^[13] –
Pakistan Navy		Admiral ایڈمرل	Vice admiral وائس ایڈمرل	Rear admiral بحریہ کا امیر	Commodore کموڈور	^[13] –
Pakistan Air Force						^[13] –
Pakistan Air Force		Air chief marshal	Air marshal	Air vice marshal	Air commodore	^[13] –
Star rank	Five-star rank	Four-star rank	Three-star rank	Two-star rank	One-star rank	Ref.^[a]
Sri Lanka Army						^[14] ^[15]
Sri Lanka Army	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier	^[14] ^[15]
Sri Lanka Navy						^[14] ^[15]
Sri Lanka Navy		Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	^[14] ^[15]
Sri Lanka Air Force						^[14] ^[15]
Sri Lanka Air Force		Air Chief Marshal	Air Marshal	Air Vice-Marshal	Air Commodore	^[14] ^[15]
Star rank	Five-star rank	Four-star rank	Three-star rank	Two-star rank	One-star rank	Ref.^[a]
British Army						^[3] –
British Army	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general	Brigadier	^[3] –
Royal Navy						^[3] ^[16]
Royal Navy	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	^[3] ^[16]
Royal Air Force						^[3] ^[17]
Royal Air Force	Marshal of the RAF	Air chief marshal	Air marshal	Air vice-marshal	Air commodore	^[3] ^[17]
Star rank	Five-star rank	Four-star rank	Three-star rank	Two-star rank	One-star rank	Ref.^[a]
United States Army						^[18] ^[19]
United States Army	General of the Army	General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	^[18] ^[19]
United States Navy						^[18] ^[19]
United States Navy	Fleet admiral	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Rear admiral (lower half)	^[18] ^[19]
United States Air Force						^[18] ^[19]
United States Air Force	General of the Air Force	General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	^[18] ^[19]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Upper references are the Star ranking. Lower references are the insignia.

References

^ NATO (October 1975). STANAG 2116 (PDF) (3rd ed.). Brussels, Belgium: NATO Standardization Agency. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
^ "One-star". lexico.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Rank structure". army.mod.uk. British Army. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
^ "Two-star". lexico.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
^ "Three-star". lexico.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
^ "Four-star". lexico.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
^ "Five-star". lexico.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Commissioned Officer Ranks". army.gov.au. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Badges of rank" (PDF). navy.gov.au. Royal Australian Navy. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Ranks & insignia". joinbangladesharmy.army.mil.bd. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
^ "Rank of Navy & Equivalent Rank". navy.mil.bd. Bangladesh Navy. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
^ "Officer's ranks". joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Inter Service Ranks". paf.gov.pk. Pakistan Air Force Official Website. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Dress Regulation PDF – Part I" (PDF). army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. January 2019. p. 11-1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Branches/ Ranks". navy.lk. Sri Lanka Navy. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
^ "Shaping your career". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
^ "RAF Ranks". raf.mod.uk/. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Navy Officer Ranks". military.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "U.S. Military Rank Insignia". defense.gov. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

[Star-8] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Upper references are the Star ranking. Lower references are the insignia.

[1] NATO (October 1975). STANAG 2116 (PDF) (3rd ed.). Brussels, Belgium: NATO Standardization Agency. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.

[2] "One-star". lexico.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.

[UK_Army-3] "Rank structure". army.mod.uk. British Army. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2021.

[4] "Two-star". lexico.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.

[5] "Three-star". lexico.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.

[6] "Four-star". lexico.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.

[7] "Five-star". lexico.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.

[Australia1-9] "Commissioned Officer Ranks". army.gov.au. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2021.

[Australia2-10] "Badges of rank" (PDF). navy.gov.au. Royal Australian Navy. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.

[Bangladesh_Army-11] "Ranks & insignia". joinbangladesharmy.army.mil.bd. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.

[12] "Rank of Navy & Equivalent Rank". navy.mil.bd. Bangladesh Navy. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2022.

[13] "Officer's ranks". joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.

[Pakistan-14] "Inter Service Ranks". paf.gov.pk. Pakistan Air Force Official Website. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.

[SriLanka_Army-15] "Dress Regulation PDF – Part I" (PDF). army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. January 2019. p. 11-1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.

[SriLanka_Navy-16] "Branches/ Ranks". navy.lk. Sri Lanka Navy. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2021.

[UK_Navy-17] "Shaping your career". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.

[UK_AirForce-18] "RAF Ranks". raf.mod.uk/. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.

[UnitedStates-19] "Navy Officer Ranks". military.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2022.

[Dod_Ranks-20] "U.S. Military Rank Insignia". defense.gov. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

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v t e Star officer grades
General officer Flag officer Air officer
By star ranks	Six-star rank (proposed) Five-star rank Four-star rank Three-star rank Two-star rank One-star rank
By titles	Generalissimo Generalissimo of the Soviet Union Supreme Allied Commander Admiral of the Navy General of the Armies Generalfeldmarschall Field marshal Mareşal Marshal of the air force Marshal of the Russian Federation Marshal of the Soviet Union Mushir/Müşir Caudillo Magister militum Spāhbed Ispahsalar Beylerbey Constable of France Grand Domestic Dux bellorum Grand marshal Hetman Jenderal besar Reichsmarschall Sardar Serasker Strategos autokrator First marshal of the empire Dai-gensui Taewonsu Wonsu Yuan shuai / Da yuan shuai Field Marshal / Marshal of Yugoslavia Marshal