General (United Kingdom)

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General is a rank in the British Army. (Since 1996 the highest position within The Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of Major General). It is currently the highest rank conferred, although it is in the Army subordinate to Field Marshal.

A general's insignia is a crossed sword and baton. This appeared on its own for the now obsolete rank of Brigadier-General. A Major-General has a star (sometimes called a "pip") over this emblem; a Lieutenant-General a crown instead of a pip; and a full General both a pip and a crown. The insignia for the highest rank of Field Marshal consists of crossed batons within a wreath and surmounted by a crown.

Brigadiers, although equivalent to Brigadier Generals in other armies, are not considered to be general officers in the British Army.

	Officer ranks of the British Armed Forces
	Student Officer	OF(D)	OF-1		OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9	OF-10
Royal Navy:		Mid	SLt		Lt	Lt Cdr	Cdr	Capt	Cdre	RAdm	VAdm	Adm	Adm of the Fleet
Royal Marines:			2Lt	Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen
Army:	OCdt		2Lt	Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	FM
Royal Air Force:	OC / SO		APO / Plt Off	Fg Off	Flt Lt	Sqn Ldr	Wg Cdr	Gp Capt	Air Cdre	AVM	Air Mshl	Air Chf Mshl	MRAF