The U.S. Code explicitly limits the total number of four-star officers that may be on active duty at any given time. The total number of active-duty general or flag officers is capped at 219 for the Army, 150 for the Navy, 171 … See more

Any billet in the armed forces may be designated as a position of importance requiring the position holder to be of three-star or four-star … See more

The standard tour length for most four-star positions is three years, bundled as a two-year term plus a one-year extension, with the following … See more

• List of United States military leaders by rank
• List of United States Army four-star generals
• See more

Four-star rank and grade, are temporary in nature; officers may only achieve four stars if they are appointed to positions that require or allow the officer to hold the rank. Their rank expires with the expiration of their term of office, which is usually set by statute. Four-star … See more

Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement. Regular four-star officers must retire after 40 years of active commissioned service unless reappointed … See more

1. ^ The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 elevated the vice chief of the National Guard Bureau to the grade of general. See more