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→Other Militaries
A '''General''' is a high ranking military officer in several militaries.
A '''General''' is a high-ranking military officer in several militaries.
==United States==
==United States==
In the [[United States]], general officers are the highest set of officers in the [[US Army]], the [[US Marine Corps]], and the [[US Air Force]]. There are four grades in use today, each sometimes referred to by the number of stars in that rank's insignia. In descending order, they are:
In the [[United States]], general officers are the highest set of officers in the [[US Army]], the [[US Marine Corps]], and the [[US Air Force]]. There are four grades in use today, each sometimes referred to by the number of stars in that rank's insignia. In descending order, they are:
*[[General]] (four star)
*General (four star)
*[[Lieutenant General]] (three star)
*[[Lieutenant General]] (three star)
*[[Major General]] (two star)
*[[Major General]] (two star)
==Origins of names==
==Origins of names==
The title orginates from the [[adjective]] describing the office or position of the overal leader during a campaign in many European armies as the "Captain General" in a similar way that we may refer to the [[Surgeon General]] of the United States today.
The title originates from the [[adjective]] used in describing the office or position of the overal leader during a campaign in many European armies as the '''Captain ''General'''''; in a similar way that we may refer to the [[Surgeon General]] of the United States today. Eventually the rank was shortened to just General.
A [[lieutenant]] was the title of leader under a [[captain]] and able to act in place of the captain (from the words "lieu" meaning in place of and "tenant" meaning position) hence the rank of "Lieutenant General" preceded Captain General.
A [[lieutenant]] was the title of leader under a [[captain]] and able to act in place of the captain (from the words "lieu" meaning in place of and "tenant" meaning position) hence the rank of '''Lieutenant General''' preceded Captain General.
The senior commander in charge of the infantry on a field of battle took the title of "Serjeant Major" (using the older English spelling with a j). When this title became used for smaller units such as regiments, the title was renamed Sejeant-Major General. During the eighteenth century the two ranks were shortened respectively to Major and Major General. The rank of Sergeant Major as a senior non-commissioned officer (enlisted ranks) was introduced later.
The senior commander in charge of the infantry on a field of battle took the title of "Serjeant Major" (using the older English spelling with a j). When this title became used for smaller units such as regiments, the title was renamed Sejeant-Major General. During the eighteenth century the two ranks were shortened respectively to Major and '''Major General'''. The rank of Sergeant Major as a senior non-commissioned officer (enlisted ranks) was introduced later.
A Brigadier General was orginally the senior officer in charge of a Brigade.
A '''Brigadier General''' was originally the senior officer in charge of a Brigade.
==Other Militaries==
'''Field Marshal''' is used as and equivalent of a five star General in many armies, including the British Army where the rank is currently inactive.
The rank of '''Colonel General''' was used in the German Army as a rank equivalent to a four star general, though this translation from the German ''General Oberst'' is somewhat misguided; coming from the German rank of Oberst being equivalent to a Colonel (Oberst simply means "top-most"). The later adoption of the rank of Colonel General other armies such as Russia and North Korea is as a result of this imperfect translation.
In some militaries the rank of '''Brigadier''' is used in place of Brigadier General. This includes the British Army who had already informally used this title for its Brigadier Generals up until 1922 when they replaced the rank briefly with Colonel Commandant (a rank previously exclusive to the Royal Marines). In 1929 the rank of Brigadier replaced this in both the Army and Royal Marines.
Some air forces, including the British Royal Air Force use various grades of Air Marshal in place of Generals of two stars or higher, The equivalent of a one star General is an Air Commodore.
== See also ==
*[[Leadership]]
==References==
==References==