A US general's rank insignia^[1]

Four-star rank is a term used to describe a very senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO OF-9 code. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members. Typically, four-star officers would hold the rank of admiral, general or in the case of those air forces with a separate rank structure, air chief marshal.

Australia[link]

Australian admiral's shoulder board

Indian Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major wearing four-star insignia

• Admiral (Royal Australian Navy four-star rank)
• General (Australian Army four-star rank)
• Air chief marshal (Royal Australian Air Force four-star rank)

The four-star rank is reserved in Australia for the Chief of the Defence Force, the highest position in peace time.

In times of major conflict, the highest ranks are the five-star ranks: admiral of the fleet, field marshal, and marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Canada[link]

• Admiral (Canadian Forces officers authorized to wear naval uniform four-star-equivalent rank)
• General/général (Canadian Forces officers authorized to wear army and air force uniform four-star-equivalent rank)

Four maple leaves appear with St. Edward's crown and crossed sabre and baton on epaulettes and shoulder boards. In Canada and when referring to Canadian officers, it is sometimes referred to as the "4-leaf" rank, rather than "four-star".^{[citation needed]}

This is the highest rank that is defined in the Canadian Forces under the current National Defence Act Schedule.^[2] Usually, only one officer carries the rank of full Admiral or General at any one time: the Chief of the Defence Staff. In exceptional circumstances, from time-to-time, the minister may authorize additional officers at that level, for instance, Canadian officers in the position of Chairman of the NATO Military Committee are usually former Chiefs of the Defence Staff seconded to NATO for that duty.

The Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II, holds the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces, bearing no rank.^[3] Likewise, the Minister of National Defence, since he is not a member of the Canadian Forces, nor in the chain-of-command, also bears no rank. Prince Philip holds the four-star rank of admiral in the Royal Canadian Navy in an honorary capacity.

Before unification in 1968, the rank of air chief marshal was the four-star equivalent for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

India[link]

• Director (Intelligence Bureau four-star rank)
• General (Indian Army four-star rank)
• Air chief marshal (Indian Air Force four-star rank)
• Admiral (Indian Navy four-star rank)

Pakistan[link]

• General (Pakistan Army four-star rank)
• Air chief marshal (Pakistan Air Force four-star rank)
• Admiral (Pakistan Navy four-star rank)

United Kingdom[link]

• Admiral (Royal Navy four-star rank)
• General (British Army and Royal Marines four-star rank)^[4]
• Air chief marshal (Royal Air Force four-star rank)^[5]

United States[link]

• Admiral (United States Navy, Coast Guard, NOAA Corps, and Public Health Service Commissioned Corps four-star rank)
• General (United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps four-star rank)

See also:

• List of active duty United States four-star officers
• List of United States Navy four-star admirals
• List of United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps four-star admirals
• List of United States Army four-star generals
• List of United States Air Force four-star generals
• List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals

See also[link]

• Ranks and insignia of NATO
• General officer

Notes[link]