The United States Marine Corps has had a long history of various 4-star generals, beginning with Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. in 1950 who was the first U. S. Marine Corps officer to be appointed to the 4-star rank.
Since then, there have been thirteen others who have achieved this rank: Edward M. Almond, Robert H. Barrow, Paul X. Kelley, Alfred M. Gray, Carl E. Mundy, Jr. , Charles C. Krulak, James L. Jones, James F.
Amos, John J. Paxton, Robert Neller, Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. , Robert B. Neller, and David H. Berger. There have been four female Marine Corps Generals who have achieved the 4-star rank: Ann E. Dunwoody, Tina S.
Kaidanow, Jill Morgenthaler, and Gloria C. Shadley.
Table of Contents
Has there ever been a 4 star Marine general?
Yes, there have been 4-star Marine general officers. The most recent Marine to hold the 4-star rank was General Robert B. Neller, who was the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2015 to 2019. As of 2021, he is the most recent Marine to serve in the 4-star rank.
The first Marine to hold the rank of 4-star general was General Alexander Vandegrift, the 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1 July 1944 to 15 March 1946. Since Vandegrift, there have been five other 4-star Marine generals – General Randolph Pate (20th Commandant, 1952-1955), General Leonard F.
Chapman, Jr. (23rd Commandant, 1968-1972), General Robert H. Barrow (27th Commandant, 1979-1983), General Carl E. Mundy, Jr. (29th Commandant, 1991-1995), and General James T. Conway (33rd Commandant, 2006-2010).
What is a 4 star general called in the Marine Corps?
A 4 star general in the Marine Corps is called a General of the Marine Corps, or General abbreviated. This is the highest rank in the U. S. Marine Corps and is held by only one active-duty Marine at any given time.
The General of the Marine Corps is appointed by the President of the United States upon the nomination of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, who is also appointed by the President upon the advice and consent of the Senate.
The General’s primary responsibility is to serve as the senior military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council. The General also serves as the symbolic leader of the Marine Corps and acts as a spokesman for the Marine Corps to the American people and foreign nations.
Can a Marine be a 5 star general?
No, while the United States Marine Corps is a highly respected military branch, it does not have the same rank structure as many other branches of the United States military. Only officers from the Army and Air Force hold the rank of five star general, also known as a General of the Army or General of the Air Force.
The highest rank that a Marine can attain is General, which is a four star rank. Although Marines have served in top positions throughout history, including the role of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it is not possible for a Marine to be a five star general.
How do you greet a general USMC?
The proper way to greet a general USMC is with a salute. Upon recognizing a general’s rank, the salute should be initiated while calling out “Good morning/afternoon/evening, General (last name)” or “Sir/Ma’am.
” The salute should be held until the general returns the gesture, or alternatively, acknowledges the greeting with a verbal response like “Carry on” or “As you were. ” Occasionally, general officers may choose to shake hands with a non-commissioned officer.
When shaking hands, the non-commissioned officer should extend the handshake first and state the same greeting as noted above.
Are there any generals in the Marines?
Yes, there are generals in the Marine Corps. Generals are senior-ranking officers in the Marines who are responsible for providing leadership, direction, and guidance to their subordinates. There are four general ranks in the Marine Corps: Brigadier General (BGen), Major General (MGen), Lieutenant General (LtGen), and General (Gen).
Brigadier Generals are the first general rank in the Marine Corps. They are typically responsible for overseeing the performance of brigade-level operations and hold the senior-most command positions in the Fleet Marine Force.
Major Generals are the second general rank in the Marine Corps. They typically oversee the performance of division-level staffs and training, as well as providing advice and support to Brigadier Generals.
Lieutenant Generals are the third general rank in the Marine Corps. They are responsible for providing guidance and oversight for significant Marine Corps operations and exercises, in addition to the strategic performance of forces within the Marine component of the military.
Generals are the highest general rank in the Marine Corps. They are responsible for all Marine Corps activities, officers, and personnel. Generals also have the authority to issue orders and issue regulations that apply to the entire Marine Corps.
Who was the military’s only 6 star general?
The United States military’s only 6-star general was General of the Armies John J. Pershing, who held the rank from September 3, 1919, until his death in 1948. Pershing was an American military leader who served in the Mexican Expedition of 1916 and World War I.
Before being promoted to six-star general, Pershing had already achieved the rank of full General of the Armies, General of the Army, and General of the Air Force. He is the only person in the history of the United States to have been awarded the highest possible grade of military leadership.
John Joseph Pershing was born in Laclede, Missouri, in 1860 and studied at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Pershing served in the Spanish–American War and the Battle of San Juan Hill, and was appointed the 15th Superintendent of the academy in 1912.
During 1916, he was appointed Commander of the 8th Brigade, 5th Division of the U. S. Army and led the expedition against Pancho Villa in Mexico. During World War I, Pershing was the Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Force and in 1918, he was promoted and appointed Commander of the American Forces in Europe.
Due to his distinguished and impressive service, he was promoted to 6-star General of the Armies in 1919, with the rank made retroactive to the day he assumed command in Europe. After the war, Pershing returned to the United States and served in various military positions including Army Chief of Staff and President of the Army War College.
He retired from active service in 1924 and was later selected to lead the American Battle Monument Commission in 1933 which was subsequently named after him. Pershing passed away in 1948 at the age of 87 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Are there any female 3 star generals?
Yes, there are female three-star generals in the United States military. As of 2021, there are two female three-star generals in the U. S. Army, two female three-star generals in the U. S. Air Force, and one female three-star general in the U.
S. Marine Corps.
The first female three-star general in the United States military is Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody, U. S. Army. General Dunwoody was promoted to three-star general in 2008 and held that rank until her retirement in 2012.
After her promotion, she became the highest ranking woman in the U. S. military at the time.
Jean Marie Auel, U.S. Army, is the second female three-star general. She was promoted in 2019, becoming the first female three-star general in the Army Materiel Command.
In the Air Force, the first female three-star general was Janet Wolfenbarger, who was promoted in 2012 and retired in 2016. The current three-star female general in the Air Force is Miranda A. W. Ballentine, who was appointed in 2018.
The first female three-star general in the Marine Corps is Carol Ann Fenton, who was promoted in 2020.
All four female three-star generals were appointed by the President and had their promotions approved by the Senate.
Who is the highest ranking Marine general?
The current highest ranking Marine general is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David H. Berger. The Commandant of the Marine Corps is a four-star general, the highest rank achievable in the Marine Corps, and is appointed by the President of the United States to serve as the most senior uniformed officer in the Department of the Navy.
General Berger is the 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps and assumed the office on July 11, 2019. He possesses over 36 years of service, and has won numerous awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device.
Is a 3 star general a high rank?
A 3 star general is considered a high rank within the United States military. The rank of a 3 star general is the third highest ranking an officer can achieve, only outranked by a 4 star general, which is the highest-ranking officer in the United States military.
A 3 star general is usually a lieutenant general and is usually in charge of multiple large divisions within the military. It is considered to be the highest rank that a service member is likely to reach in their career, and it opens the individual up to many further opportunities in their professional life.
How hard is it to become a three star general?
Becoming a three star general is a difficult and complex process that requires a great deal of persistence, perseverance and dedication. In order to become a three star general, an individual must first be commissioned as an officer in the United States Armed Forces.
This requires either a four-year college degree or completion of a military academy. Depending on the chosen service, an individual may need to complete Officer Candidate School or other special training before being commissioned.
Once commissioned, an individual must make a concerted effort to excel in their appointed assignments. The number of years of service can vary depending on the rank, but typically three star generals have a minimum of 25 years in the military or reaching the O-7 (major general) rank.
The individual’s professional conduct, as well as their performance as an officer, are evaluated by their commanding officers and other superiors, as part of the process of promotion. In addition to their performance in the field, an individual must demonstrate an aptitude for leadership and a commitment to service.
It is also important to possess strong organizational and managerial skills, as well as a knowledge of current military operations and strategies.
The selection process for the position of a three star general is extremely competitive and those who are chosen have generally worked their way up from the lower ranks. Becoming a three star general is an honorable accomplishment that requires hard work and determination.
In order to become a three star general, it is essential for an individual to demonstrate exemplary service in the military and to have the necessary set of skills and aptitude for leadership.
How many generals are in each military branch?
The number of generals in each of the United States military branches can vary, as it is dependent on the size and needs of the branch at any given time. Each branch of the military is allowed a certain number of general officers (GOs) who serve at any one time, as established by law.
In the U. S. Army, the highest rank a general officer can achieve is General of the Army (five stars). As of December 2019, there was one active GO in the Army – General Mark Milley, the Chief of Staff of the Army.
The other ranks of general in the Army consist of General (four stars), Lieutenant General (three stars), Major General (two stars), and Brigadier General (one star). Depending on the size of the Army, there could be up to 206 general officer slots.
In the U. S. Air Force, the highest rank a general officer can achieve is General of the Air Force (five stars). As of 2019, there was one active GO – General David Goldfein, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
The other ranks of general in the Air Force consist of General (four stars), Lieutenant General (three stars), Major General (two stars), and Brigadier General (one star). Depending on the size of the Air Force, there could be up to 280 general officer slots.
In the U. S. Marine Corps, the highest rank a general officer can achieve is General (four stars). As of 2019, the active GO was General David Berger, the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The other ranks of general in the Marine Corps consist of (in descending order): Lieutenant General (three stars), Major General (two stars), and Brigadier General (one star).
Depending on the size of the Marine Corps, there could be up to 109 general officer slots.
In the U. S. Navy, the highest rank a general officer can achieve is Admiral of the Navy (five stars). As of 2019, there was no active GO in the Navy, though the highest ranking officer was Admiral Michael Gilday, the Chief of Naval Operations.
The other ranks of general in the Navy consist of (in descending order): Admiral (four stars), Vice Admiral (three stars), Rear Admiral (two stars), and Captain (one star). Depending on the size of the Navy, there could be up to 285 general officer slots.
