United States military seniority is the method by which
the United States Armed Forces determines precedence among commissioned
officers, in particular those who hold the same rank.
Historical seniority loosely indicates the general
significance of various generals and flag officers within the scope of the
history of the United States. Historical seniority is typically only bestowed
to those officers who were the inaugural holders of ranks or for those who
served as the senior most military officer during a major armed conflict.
The only case where historical seniority has been
legally established by the United States Congress are for the two "super
ranks" of the armed forces of the United States, these being the ranks
General of the Armies and Admiral of the Navy. By clear precedent, the
holders of these two ranks (three persons in all) are senior to all other
officers of the United States military, past and present. By special Congressional edict, George
Washington is considered the senior most officer of all time meaning he may
never be lesser in seniority to any other military officer, although
Washington technically shares the same rank with John Pershing.
General of the Armies and Admiral of the Navy are equivalent to a six-star general/admiral.
|
SENIORITY ORDER
|
RANK
ORDER
|
OFFICER
|
SERVICE
|
HIGHEST
RANK
|
DATE OF
RANK
|
NOTES
|
1
|
1
|
George
Washington
|
U.S. Army
|
General of the Armies
|
4 Jul
1976
|
Declared by a Congressional Act
in 1976 to be the senior most U.S. officer of all time. Held the rank of
lieutenant general during his lifetime, as well as special rank of “General
and Commander-in-Chief” of the Continental Army during the American
Revolutionary War.
|
2
|
1
|
John
Pershing
|
U.S. Army
|
General of the Armies
|
3 Sep
1919
|
Only person to hold the rank
of General of the Armies on active duty
|
3
|
1
|
George
Dewey
|
U.S. Navy
|
Admiral of the Navy
|
2 Mar
1899
|
Inaugural and sole holder of
rank.
|
 |
| Unofficial Army service uniform shoulder-strap design for the proposed insignia for a General of the Armies |
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