The Current Status of 4-Star Generals in the U.S. Military

Since the death of General of the Army Bradley in April 1981, there have been no living 5-star officers in any U.S. military service. As of the latest statistics from the U.S. Defense Manpower Data Center in June 2022, there are 33 uniformed 4-star generals across different branches:

Army:

17 generals, including one from the Army National Guard who currently serves as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Marines:

2 generals

Air Force:

12 generals

Space Force:

2 generals

In addition to the generals, there are 13 uniformed 4-star admirals:

Navy:

10 admirals

Coast Guard:

2 admirals

Public Health Service:

1 admiral

The limitation on the number of 4-star officers is governed by the U.S. Code, specifically 10 U.S. Code § 526 - Authorization of strength: general and flag officers on active duty.

Limitations on 4-STAR Officers

As of 31 December 2022, the cap on the number of 4-star officers will be reduced from the current total to 220 across all services. Here are the current limits:

Army: 231 Navy: 162 Air Force: 198 Marine Corps: 62

Currently, in the U.S. Army, there are a total of 17 four-star positions, with 16 filled by general officers and the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Futures Command (Futures Command) position left vacant.

Note: The U.S. military is unusual in its active-duty general and flag officer ranks compared to other countries. For example, the Indian Army can only have two 4-star generals at most, with one holding the position of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) and the other as Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), which can be held by an Air Force or Navy general.