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 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 correlation 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.[lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Army | [8] [9] | |||||
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier | |||
Royal Australian Navy | [8] [9] | |||||
Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | |||
Royal Australian Air Force | [8] [9] | |||||
Air chief marshal | Air marshal | Air vice-marshal | Air commodore | |||
Star rank | Five-star rank | Four-star rank | Three-star rank | Two-star rank | One-star rank | Ref.[lower-alpha 1] |
Bangladesh Army | [10] – | |||||
General জেনারেল |
Lieutenant general লেফটেন্যান্ট জেনারেল |
Major general মেজর জেনারেল |
Brigadier general ব্রিগেডিয়ার জেনারেল | |||
Bangladesh Navy | [10] [11] | |||||
Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | |||
Bangladesh Air Force | [10] [12] | |||||
Air chief marshal | Air marshal | Air vice-marshal | Air commodore | |||
Star rank | Five-star rank | Four-star rank | Three-star rank | Two-star rank | One-star rank | Ref.[lower-alpha 1] |
Pakistan Army | [13] – | |||||
Field marshal فیلڈ مارشل |
General جنرل |
Lieutenant general لیفٹیننٹ جنرل |
Major general میجر جنرل |
Brigadier بریگیڈیئر | ||
Pakistan Navy | [13] – | |||||
Admiral ایڈمرل |
Vice admiral وائس ایڈمرل |
Rear admiral بحریہ کا امیر |
Commodore کموڈور | |||
Pakistan Air Force | [13] – | |||||
Air chief marshal | Air marshal | Air vice marshal | Air commodore | |||
Star rank | Five-star rank | Four-star rank | Three-star rank | Two-star rank | One-star rank | Ref.[lower-alpha 1] |
Sri Lanka Army | [14] | |||||
Field marshal | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier | ||
Sri Lanka Navy | [14] | |||||
Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | |||
Sri Lanka Air Force | [14] | |||||
Air Chief Marshal | Air Marshal | Air Vice-Marshal | Air Commodore | |||
Star rank | Five-star rank | Four-star rank | Three-star rank | Two-star rank | One-star rank | Ref.[lower-alpha 1] |
British Army | [3] – | |||||
Field marshal | General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier | ||
Royal Navy | [3] | |||||
Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | ||
Royal Air Force | [3] [17] | |||||
Marshal of the RAF | Air chief marshal | Air marshal | Air vice-marshal | Air commodore | ||
Star rank | Five-star rank | Four-star rank | Three-star rank | Two-star rank | One-star rank | Ref.[lower-alpha 1] |
United States Army | [18] [19] | |||||
General of the Army | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | ||
United States Navy | [18] [19] | |||||
Fleet admiral | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Rear admiral (lower half) | ||
United States Air Force | [18] [19] | |||||
General of the Air Force | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general |
Notes
- 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.
- "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.
- "Commissioned Officer Ranks". army.gov.au. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- "Badges of rank" (PDF). navy.gov.au. Royal Australian Navy. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- "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.
- "Inter Service Ranks". paf.gov.pk. Pakistan Air Force Official Website. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- "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.
- "RAF Ranks". raf.mod.uk/. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- "Navy Officer Ranks". military.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- "U.S. Military Rank Insignia". defense.gov. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.