Which rank is associated with a single five-point star on its insignia?

Which rank is associated with a single five-point star on its insignia?

• A. Colonel (COL) - Silver Spread Eagle
• B. Brigadier General (BG) - One 5 Point Star
• C. Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) - Silver Oak Leaf
• D. Major (MAJ) - Gold Oak Leaf

Answer: (B)

Insignia communicate rank, and for general officers the symbol used is stars. A single five-point star is the mark of Brigadier General, the entry-level rank among generals. As you go up, the number of stars increases: two stars for Major General, three for Lieutenant General, and four for General. The other insignia shown are not stars at all—Colonel uses a silver spread eagle, Lieutenant Colonel uses a silver oak leaf, and Major uses a gold oak leaf—so they correspond to different, non-general ranks. So, a lone five-point star clearly identifies Brigadier General.

Insignia communicate rank, and for general officers the symbol used is stars. A single five-point star is the mark of Brigadier General, the entry-level rank among generals. As you go up, the number of stars increases: two stars for Major General, three for Lieutenant General, and four for General. The other insignia shown are not stars at all—Colonel uses a silver spread eagle, Lieutenant Colonel uses a silver oak leaf, and Major uses a gold oak leaf—so they correspond to different, non-general ranks. So, a lone five-point star clearly identifies Brigadier General.