Comparative military ranks
Armies,
air forces
(non-Commonwealth)		 Navies,
coast guard		 Air forces
(Commonwealth system)
Flag commissioned officers
Field marshal Admiral of the fleet Marshal of the air force
General or
colonel general or
army general		 Admiral or
general admiral		 Air chief marshal
Lieutenant general or
army corps general		 Vice admiral Air marshal
Major general or
divisional general		 Rear admiral or
Counter admiral		 Air vice-marshal
Brigadier or
brigadier general		 Commodore or
flotilla admiral		 Air commodore
Senior commissioned officers
Colonel Captain Group captain
Lieutenant colonel Commander Wing commander
Major or
commandant		 Lieutenant
commander		 Squadron leader
Junior commissioned officers
Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant
First lieutenant or
lieutenant		 Lieutenant
junior grade or
sub-lieutenant		 Flying officer
Second lieutenant or
junior lieutenant		 Ensign or
midshipman		 Pilot officer
Officer cadet Officer cadet Flight cadet
Non-commissioned officers
Warrant officer or
sergeant major		 Warrant officer or
chief petty officer		 Warrant officer
Sergeant Petty officer Sergeant
Enlisted ranks
Corporal or
bombardier or
specialist		 Leading seaman Corporal or leading aircraftman
Private or
gunner or
trooper or
sapper		 Seaman Aircraftman or
airman or
aviator

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

Main article: Five-star rank

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

Main article: 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; 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]
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.[a]
 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.[a]
 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.[a]
 Sri Lanka Army [14]
[15]
Field marshal General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier
 Sri Lanka Navy [14]
[15]
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore
 Sri Lanka Air Force [14]
[15]
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.[a]
 British Army Field marshal General Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier [3]
–
Field marshal General Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier
 Royal Navy [3]
[16]
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.[a]
 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

See also

Notes

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

References

  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.
  3. ^ a b c d "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.
  8. ^ a b c "Commissioned Officer Ranks". army.gov.au. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b c "Ranks & insignia". joinbangladesharmy.army.mil.bd. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Rank of Navy & Equivalent Rank". navy.mil.bd. Bangladesh Navy. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Officer's ranks". joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ a b c "Branches/ Ranks". navy.lk. Sri Lanka Navy. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Shaping your career". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  17. ^ "RAF Ranks". raf.mod.uk/. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  18. ^ a b c "Navy Officer Ranks". military.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  19. ^ 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.
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