Who is the youngest 5 star general?

There isn't a single "youngest ever" 5-star general because the rank of General of the Army (5-star) in the U.S. was only created for World War II and its aftermath, with Douglas MacArthur often cited as the youngest to reach high general ranks (Major General at 45) and some sources hinting at Galusha Pennypacker as the youngest ever General (though not 5-star) at age 20 in the Civil War, but no U.S. 5-star general was particularly young; they were all established leaders in their 50s or older.

Who is the youngest general ever?

The youngest general in U.S. history is Galusha Pennypacker, who became a Brigadier General in the Union Army at age 20 during the Civil War, a record that still stands; however, figures like Joan of Arc, appointed Commander-in-Chief at 17, and Octavian, commanding legions at 19, suggest even younger commanders existed in broader world history, with some sources pointing to Naga leader Kaitho Sukhai (23) as a young general commander. 

How many 5 star generals are there?

There are no active five-star generals in the U.S. military today, but a total of nine Americans have held five-star ranks (General of the Army/Air Force or Fleet Admiral) historically, during wartime; these include five Army Generals (Marshall, MacArthur, Eisenhower, Arnold, Bradley) and four Navy Fleet Admirals (Leahy, King, Nimitz, Halsey). The rank is no longer attainable, reserved for wartime exceptionalism, with Henry H. Arnold being unique as the only five-star in both Army/Air Force. 

Who is the youngest 4 star general?

The youngest four-star general in U.S. Army history was Mark W. Clark, promoted at age 48 during World War II, though records sometimes vary with Alfred Gruenther, who became one at 53, and others like Curtis LeMay, who was 44 when he received his fourth star in the Air Force, making him the youngest American four-star general since Ulysses S. Grant, highlighting different service branches and eras for the distinction. 

What is the youngest age to be a general?

TIL that the youngest general in the US army was only 20 years old.

Every Five-Star General in American History, Part 1

Who is the only 7 star general?

8.0 Introduction. No person have ever been awarded or promoted to a seven-star rank, although some commentators might argue that General George Washington posthumously became a seven-star general in 1976 (see Part Seven).

Can you be a 6 star general?

The grade is sometimes described as a six-star general, as being senior to the five-star grade of General of the Army. However, no six-star insignia was ever officially created, and Pershing, the only person to be General of the Armies during his own lifetime, never wore more than four stars.

How many female 4 star generals are there?

As of late 2024/early 2025, there are no women serving as active four-star generals or admirals in the U.S. military, though four held these ranks in 2024 before retirements and changes, and only 10 women have ever reached this highest rank in U.S. history, including pioneers like Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody.
 

Was Mark Clark a good general?

General Mark Clark is a divisive figure, seen by some as a bold, capable leader who achieved key victories like capturing Rome, but criticized by others as overly ambitious, poor at staff work, and responsible for high casualties in the difficult Italian Campaign. He successfully led the U.S. Fifth Army, liberating Naples and receiving the German surrender in Italy, but his controversial decision to prioritize Rome over destroying German forces remains a major point of contention, with debates over whether he was a flawed hero or a poor commander. 

What is the salary of a 4 star general?

The base yearly four-star general pay is $197,302.

Has any 6 star general ever existed?

There is no official "6-star" general, however there is a "General of the Armies of the United States". This rank, which has been awarded to two generals, is not officially recognized as 6-stars. The two generals to be honored with this designation were General John Jay Pershing and General George Washington.

Who was the best U.S. general ever?

There's no single "greatest," but George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, George S. Patton, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Winfield Scott are consistently ranked among America's top generals for their transformative leadership, battlefield success, and impact on the nation's military history, from founding the Continental Army to commanding Allied forces in World War II.
 

Was Patton a 5 star general?

No, General George S. Patton Jr. was not a five-star general; he reached the rank of a four-star, or full, General, during World War II, with his promotion becoming effective in April 1945, while five-star generals like Dwight D. Eisenhower were given that rank for higher strategic commands, not just field command. The rank of General of the Army (five-star) was reserved for top commanders, and Patton's role as a field army commander, despite his success, didn't meet the criteria for the higher distinction. 

Are any 5 star generals alive today?

There are no current 5-star generals in the U.S. military, as this rank is reserved for wartime or extraordinary circumstances and hasn't been held since General Omar Bradley (Army) died in 1981, though the ranks of General of the Army (Army), Fleet Admiral (Navy), and General of the Air Force (Air Force) still exist in law and are considered 5-star ranks. The highest active ranks are 4-star generals, with dozens serving across different branches. 

Who is the world's youngest general?

Kaitho Sukhai. Kaito Sukhai (22 May 1933 – 4 August 1968), was a Naga nationalist and military leader, known for being the world's youngest General Commander-in-Chief at the age of 23.

Can generals be female?

Yes, women absolutely can be generals; they serve at all ranks, including the highest four-star level, in the U.S. military and globally, with historic milestones like General Ann E. Dunwoody (first female four-star) shattering ceilings, proving that women are integral to senior military leadership today, though they remain a minority in these top positions.
 

Who is the world's best general?

10 great military generals from history

• Alexander the Great. Born in 356 BC, Alexander the Great ascended the throne at the age of 20 following the assassination of his father, Philip II of Macedon. ...
• Attila the Hun. ...
• Saladin. ...
• Genghis Khan. ...
• Erwin Rommel.

What happened to Mark Clark after WWII?

Post-Army career

From 1954 to 1965, after retiring from the Army, Clark served as president of The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina in Charleston. From 1954 to 1955, Clark was head of the Clark Task Force to study and make recommendations on all intelligence activities of the Federal government.

What did Jackie Stewart say about Jim Clark?

Yes he was a wonderful friend as two Scotts of course to participate in Formula 1 at that time with something new but Jim was a very very good friend of Helen and I throughout his career he was the cleanest best driver that I had ever been playing part of and he was we've shared each other in in London in a an ...

What is the hardest military branch for females?

The hardest military branch for females (and generally for anyone) in terms of physical rigor, demanding lifestyle, and combat focus is often considered the Marine Corps, followed by the Army, due to their intense training and ground combat roles, though the Air Force can be tough to get into due to high education standards. However, "hardest" is subjective, depending on a woman's goals (physical vs. technical), as all branches present unique challenges, from the Navy's ship life to the Space Force's high-tech focus.
 

How many 3 star generals exist?

There are 54 in the Army, 24 in the Marine Corps, 31 in the Navy, 34 in the Air Force, six in the Space Force, two in the Coast Guard, none in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and one in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.

Are there female US Navy Seals?

No, there are currently no female Navy SEALs, as no woman has successfully completed the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training to date, but women can now try for the role, with some reaching the assessment stages. While no women have become SEALs, the Navy did have the first female Naval Special Warfare (NSW) operator graduate as a Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman (SWCC) in 2021, the sister program to SEALs, proving women can succeed in Navy Special Warfare.
 

Does an O-1 outrank an E-9?

Yes, formally, an O-1 (Second Lieutenant/Ensign) always outranks an E-9 (Master Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer/etc.), as all officers outrank all enlisted personnel, but in practice, the highly experienced E-9 holds significant informal authority and respect, and a smart O-1 relies on the E-9's expertise rather than strictly "barking orders," understanding the command structure and "soft power" of senior enlisted leaders. 

Why is a brigadier not a General?

Brigadier is the highest field officer rank (hence the absence of the word "general"), whereas brigadier-general was the lowest general officer "rank".

How much do generals get paid?

U.S. Army Generals' pay varies significantly by rank (O-7 to O-10) and experience, with base pay for a 4-star General (O-10) starting around $18,500 per month ($222,000/year) or more, while a 1-star Major General (O-8) starts lower but increases with service, plus housing allowances (BAH), subsistence (BAS), and other special pays, making total compensation much higher, potentially exceeding $200k-$300k+ annually.