Six-star rank

"Six-star general" redirects here. For other high military ranks, see highest military ranks.

Unofficial speculative sketch for the insignia of a U.S. six-star rank, in the event of a future requirement

The term six-star rank is based on the proposed, but never adopted, insignia of six-stars for the U.S. rank of general of the armies.

In 1955, a six-star rank insignia and promotion to general of the armies was proposed in Congress for General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, but the proposal was shelved.

In 1976, George Washington was posthumously awarded the American supreme rank of general of the armies, which was described in an Oregon newspaper as a six-star rank. At his death in December 1799, Washington was a three-star lieutenant-general. Although Congress created a higher rank of general of the armies in March 1799, President John Adams did not submit Washington's name for confirmation and so the rank was not awarded in Washington's lifetime. Two hundred years later, as part of the United States Bicentennial celebrations, Congress passed a joint resolution (sponsored by Representative Mario Biaggi) on September 28, 1976, calling for Washington to be posthumously promoted to the highest possible rank above all other ranks in the United States Army forever. President Gerald Ford signed the order on October 12, with an effective date of July 4, 1976. Representative Lucien Nedzi, who opposed the resolution, said the rank was "superfluous and unnecessary ... it is like the Pope offering to make Christ a cardinal."

See also

• List of United States military leaders by rank
• Admiral of the Navy (United States)
• Highest military ranks
• Generalissimo