Understanding the Ranks: What is a General Officer?
In the United States military, a general officer refers to a commissioned officer in the pay grades of O-7 and above. In the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, these ranks include:
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Brigadier General (O-7) – one star
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Major General (O-8) – two stars
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Lieutenant General (O-9) – three stars
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General (O-10) – four stars
In the Navy and Coast Guard, equivalent ranks are known as flag officers, including:
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Rear Admiral (Lower Half) (O-7) – one star
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Rear Admiral (Upper Half) (O-8) – two stars
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Vice Admiral (O-9) – three stars
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Admiral (O-10) – four stars
These officers typically hold leadership positions at the highest levels—overseeing major commands, service branches, and multinational coalitions. Their responsibilities range from managing tens of thousands of personnel to strategic decision-making at the national level.
Unified Combatant Commands and Their Role
The U.S. military operates under a global structure called Unified Combatant Commands (COCOMs). These are joint military commands composed of forces from at least two military departments and have broad, continuing missions. As of 2025, there are 11 Unified Combatant Commands, including:
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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) – Oversees operations in the Middle East
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U.S. European Command (EUCOM) – Responsible for U.S. military relations in Europe
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U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) – Covers the Asia-Pacific region
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U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) – Cover North and South America respectively
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U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) – Conducts cyberspace operations
Each of these commands is typically led by a four-star general or admiral. Hegseth’s proposed changes include a review of the Unified Command Plan that could result in consolidation of commands, such as merging EUCOM with Africa Command (AFRICOM) or NORTHCOM with SOUTHCOM (Politico, 2025).
The Rationale for Reduction
Secretary Hegseth has cited historical comparisons to justify the reforms. During World War II, only 17 top generals led a force of over 12 million troops. In contrast, the current military employs 44 four-star officers to manage a total force of around 2.1 million (New York Post, 2025). Hegseth argues that this bloated leadership structure contributes to bureaucratic inefficiencies, command overlap, and sluggish decision-making processes.
Furthermore, the Pentagon intends to reallocate resources from administrative overhead to combat readiness, innovation, and support for enlisted personnel. The Army, for instance, has already announced its intent to eliminate 40 general-led positions as part of this restructuring (Politico, 2025).
Possible Negative Impacts and Criticism
Not everyone agrees with the proposed cuts. Senator Jack Reed, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned that "arbitrary reductions" could harm military efficiency and readiness (Washington Post, 2025). Critics argue that senior officers are vital for managing increasingly complex joint operations and emerging domains such as cyber warfare and space operations.
The removal of top-level leaders could also:
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Weaken command continuity during crises or large-scale conflicts.
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Hinder coalition building with allies who expect to work with high-ranking counterparts.
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Damage morale among career officers whose pathways to promotion are narrowed.
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Disrupt specialized missions, such as those conducted by special operations or nuclear command forces, which require senior oversight.
There are also concerns that the reform could be politically motivated. Some observers suggest the move may be aimed at reshaping the military’s senior leadership with ideologically aligned personnel, raising fears about the politicization of what has traditionally been an apolitical institution (Washington Examiner, 2025).
Looking Forward
The restructuring is set to roll out in two phases. Phase one will involve immediate reductions in the number of four-star officers. Phase two will focus on organizational restructuring, including a thorough review of the Unified Command Plan and service-specific leadership roles (Politico, 2025). No timeline has been officially released, and details about which positions will be eliminated remain undisclosed.
Hegseth maintains that the goal is not to punish the current leadership but to enhance lethality and effectiveness in an era of rapid global change. Whether this gamble pays off or undermines the command capabilities of the world’s most powerful military remains to be seen.
References
Hegseth, P. (2025, May 5). Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders 20% reduction in four-star generals: 'Less Generals More GIs'. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2025/05/05/us-news/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-orders-20-reduction-in-four-star-generals-less-generals-more-gis/
Politico. (2025, May 5). Hegseth orders Pentagon to slash top ranks of military. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/05/pentagon-officer-cuts-00329990
Washington Post. (2025, May 5). Hegseth orders cuts to Pentagon’s stable of generals and admirals. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/05/05/hegseth-cuts-generals-admirals/
Reuters. (2025, May 5). US Defense Secretary Hegseth to slash senior-most ranks of military. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pentagon-reduce-4-star-positions-by-20-official-says-2025-05-05/
Washington Examiner. (2025, May 7). Concerns emerge four-star general reduction could be 'loyalty test'. Washington Examiner. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense/3402937/concerns-four-star-generals-reduction-loyalty-test-pete-hegseth/
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