General of the Army (GA)^[1] is a military rank used (primarily used in the United States of America) to denote a senior military leader, usually a general in command of a nation's army.^{[citation needed]} It may also be the title given to a general who commands an army in the field.^{[citation needed]}

The rank is typically considered^{[by whom?]} the equivalent of marshal, field marshal, fleet admiral and other equivalent five-star ranks.^{[citation needed]} The rank of grand general, which may also be considered a General of the Army equivalent, has appeared most often in fiction, although it is the literal translation of da jiang.^{[citation needed]}

The rank of "General of the Army" should not be confused with the title "army general"; the rank of "General of the Army" is usually the equivalent of a five-star rank, and theoretically corresponds to overall command of an entire national army, whereas the title of "army general" is usually held by the equivalent of a four-star general, and corresponds to the command of an individual army in the field.^{[citation needed]}

General of the Army ranks by country[link]

• General of the Army (United States)
• General of Army of Ukraine

Equivalent General of the Army ranks[link]

• Field marshal (numerous countries)
• Maréchal de France (marshal of France) (France)
• Artesh-bod (Iran) (Note: Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 no one has been promoted to this rank.)^{[citation needed]}
• Marechal (Brazil)
• Stožerni general (Croatia)
• Chom phon (Thailand)
• Comandante en jefe (Cuba)
• Jenderal besar (Indonesia)
• Pradhan senapati (Nepal)
• Da jiang (senior general) (People's Republic of China)
• Te ji shang jiang (generalissimo) (Republic of China)
• Wonsu (North and South Korea)
• Capitán general (Spain)
• Mushir (Arabic countries)

Similar General of the Army titles[link]

• Armeegeneral (Wachregiment F.E. Dzierzinsky of the GDR)
• Reichsführer-SS (Schutzstaffel of Nazi Germany)
• Stabschef (Nazi Stormtroopers "Sturmabteilung")

See also[link]

• Generalissimo
• Général
• General officer
• Army general
• Staff (military)
• Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers

References[link]

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John Gowans (born 13 November 1934) was the sixteenth General of the Salvation Army from 1999–2002, succeeding General Paul Rader. He is also notable for pairing with General John Larsson in the composition of many songs and musicals.

John Gowans was born in Blantyre, Scotland, on 13 November 1934, the third of five children. His parents were Salvation Army officers.

At 18, he undertook compulsory military service, with plans to train for the teaching profession. He eventually decided to join Her Majesty's Army, where John's first choice was the Army Catering Corps. However, the military personnel recommend he join the Royal Army Educational Corps. He then spent his two years of national service in Germany.

In 1954, John Gowans entered the Salvation Army International Training College (Soulwinners Session). There he met his wife Gisèle Bonhotal who, herself, was a qualified children's nurse. She was French by birth and her parents, like John's, were both Salvation Army officers. The couple were married in Paris in 1957 and have two sons John-Marc and Christophe.

Beginning in 1967 Gowans demonstrated his writing capacity when, with John Larsson, co-authored ten full-length stage musicals. These were Take-Over Bid (1967), Hosea (1969), Jesus Folk (1972), Spirit (1973), Glory (1975), White Rose (1977), The Blood Of The Lamb (1978), Son Of Man (1983), Man Mark II (1985), and The Meeting (1990).

He has also written three books of prayer poems under the title of O Lord! and an autobiography, There's a Boy Here ...

John and Gisèle served in various corps in the British Territory over a period of 16 years. John was then appointed national stewardship secretary, while Gisèle combined her role as organiser of the International Youth Fellowship with work in one of the Army's maternity homes in London.

After a period as divisional leaders in Manchester, UK, Lieut-Colonel John Gowans became chief secretary of the France Territory. He was then appointed to Los Angeles in the USA Western Territory where he served as Secretary for Programme.

After serving as leaders of the Southern California Division the couple returned to France in 1986 as territorial leaders. Seven years later they were appointed territorial leaders of the Australia Eastern and Papua New Guinea Territory, which included responsibility for the work of the Army in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australia Capital Territory and Papua New Guinea.

In 1997, Commissioner John Gowans took command of the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland.

On 15 May 1999, John Gowans was elected the 16th General of The Salvation Army and took office on 23 July 1999, with Commissioner Gisèle Gowans as World President of Women's Organisations.

When Gowans retired in 2002, his earlier musical partner John Larsson succeeded him as the next international leader of The Salvation Army.[1].

External links[link]

• Salvation Army biography
• http://www.gowans-larsson.com