A five-star rank is a very senior military rank, first established in the United States in 1944, with a five-star general insignia, and corresponding ranks in other countries. The rank is that of the most senior operational military commanders, and within NATO's "standard rank scale" it is designated by the code OF-10. Not all armed forces have such a rank, and in those that do the actual insignia of the "five-star ranks" may not contain five stars. For example: the insignia for the French OF-10 rank maréchal de France contains 7 stars; the insignia for the Portuguese marechal contains four gold stars; and many of the insignia of the ranks in the Commonwealth of Nations contain no stars at all. Typically, five-star officers hold the rank of general of the army, admiral of the fleet, field marshal, marshal or general of the air force, and several other similarly named ranks. "Five-star" ranks are extremely senior—usually the highest ranks. As an active rank, the position exists only in a minority of countries and is usually held by only a very few officers during wartime. In times of peace, it is usually held only as an honorary rank. Traditionally, five-star ranks are granted to distinguished military commanders for notable wartime victories and/or in recognition of a record of achievement during the officer's career, whether in peace or in war. Alternatively, a five-star rank may be assumed by heads of state in their capacities as commanders-in-chief of their nation's armed forces. Despite the rarity and seniority of five-star officers, even more-senior ranks have been adopted in the United States, namely, admiral of the navy and general of the armies. Other names for highly senior ranks from the twentieth century include généralissime, generalissimo and generalissimus.
Stožerni general awarded to six men, none of whom are in active duty.
Admiral flote. The rank was called stožerni admiral until 1999; only Sveto Letica was awarded this rank - in March 1996, three months before his retirement.
India
Field Marshal, held by K. M. Cariappa and Sam Manekshaw
Around 1998, the Indian Air Force introduced gorget patches for its air officers. For marshals of the Indian Air Force, the patches display five stars.
Indonesia
Refer to government regulation No. 32/1997, The Indonesian five star ranks are:
*Jenderal besar Soedirman, the rank was granted posthumously.
*Jenderal besar Abdul Haris Nasution, the rank was granted 26-years after his retirement.
*Jenderal besar Soeharto, his rank was granted during his own rule.
Laksamana besar - never awarded
Marsekal besar - never awarded
The five-star ranks above are honorary rank and does not provide additional authority or responsibility. However, as government regulation No. 32/1997 have been revoked and replaced by government regulation No. 39/2010, whereas the latest regulation don't mentioned five-star rank. Therefore, it is unlikely there will be any Indonesian military personnel to be awarded five-star rank.
is a Polish Army five-star rank. There are today no living marshals of Poland, since this rank is bestowed only on military commanders who have achieved victory in war. The last appointment was in 1963 to Marian Spychalski.
Romania
is the highest military rank in the Romanian Military Forces. This rank can be bestowed to persons from the Royal Family or to 4-star Generals or Admirals during wartime only. After WWII, the latest surviving Marshal of Romania was HM King Michael I, who was bestowed this rank on May 10th, 1941. He died in December 2017.
The worn insignia of British five-star commanders do not contain stars; the vehicle star plate, mounted on the front of a staff car, does display five stars.
Promotion to the ranks of admiral of the fleet and marshal of the Royal Air Force is now generally held in abeyance in peacetime with exceptions for special circumstances. Promotion to the rank of field marshal was generally stopped in 1995 as a cost-cutting measure but is still made in some cases. The most recent appointments to five-star ranks are the promotions in 2012 of the Prince of Wales to honorary five-star rank in all three services, and of former Chief of the Defence StaffLord Guthrie of Craigiebank to the honorary rank of field marshal. In 2014 the former Chief of the Defence Staff Lord Stirrup was promoted to the honorary rank of marshal of the Royal Air Force. During World War II and after, serving NATO, a small number of British five-star commanders have held the additional title Supreme Allied Commander, given operational control over all air, land, and sea units led by the four-star commanders of multi-national forces.
United States
Fleet Admiral
General of the Army
General of the Air Force
Before the five-star ranks were established in 1944, two officers had previously been promoted from their four-star ranks to the superior and unique ranks of Admiral of the Navy and General of the Armies: Admiral George Dewey and General John J. Pershing. In 1944 the Navy and Army specified that these officers were considered senior to any officers promoted to the five-star ranks within their services. Five-star ranks were created in the U.S. military during World War II because of the awkward situation created when some American senior commanders were placed in positions commanding allied officers of higher rank. U.S. officers holding five-star rank never retire; they draw full active duty pay for life. The five-star ranks were retired in 1981 on the death of General of the ArmyOmar Bradley. Nine Americans have been promoted to five-star rank, one of them, Henry H. Arnold, in two services. As part of the bicentennial celebration, George Washington was, 177 years after his death, permanently made senior to all other U.S. generals and admirals with the title General of the Armies effective on 4 July 1976. The appointment stated he was to have "rank and precedence over all other grades of the Army, past or present". During World War II and serving NATO, a small number of American five-star commanders have also held the additional title of Supreme Allied Commander, given operational control over all air, land, and sea units led by the four-star commanders of multi-national forces.
