--- title: "This is why there’s no Field Marshal rank in the US military" description: "The U.S. needed an equivalent to the British and Russian Field Marshal. The reason why they chose a different title is hilarious." date: "2021-03-11" modified: "2021-03-11" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/why-theres-no-field-marshal-rank/" categories: - "History" - "War History" - "World War II" --- # This is why there’s no Field Marshal rank in the US military ![]() During the second world war, the size of the U.S. military swelled significantly and became far larger than even during World War I. With technology advancing so significantly in the interwar years and the military growing more diverse, the need arose for a rank higher than four-star general. The U.S. needed an equivalent to the British and Russian Field Marshal. --- But they declined. Instead, the five-star "General of the Army" and "Fleet Admiral" for the Navy were created by act of Congress. The reason was ultimately that the name of U.S. Army Chief of Staff General [George C. Marshall would have sounded ridiculous]() with this new rank. Still, the Americans were now the senior partner in the alliance against the Axis and its commanders were technically outranked by British Field Marshals. ![]() *General of the Army George C. Marshall.* Admiral Ernest King was a well-known stickler for things like uniform wear (he even introduced a new Navy uniform during the war), awarding fewer medals so that they meant something when awarded, and – especially – for rank. The [longtime officer hated the idea of using British terms]() like "Admiral of the Fleet." He suggested other terms, like "Arch Admiral" and "Arch General." His suggestions were so odd, his contemporaries thought he was joking. President Franklin Roosevelt thought "Chief General" and "Chief Admiral" would be good names for the new positions. The debate ended when Congress revived the five-star ranks with their new names in 1944. Only one American officer ever held the title of "Field Marshal." Douglas MacArthur was appointed as Field Marshal of the Army of the Philippines in 1936 when the island nation achieved a semi-independent status. MacArthur was tasked to create an operational army for the fledgling country and wore a special uniform, complete with a Field Marshal's baton. ![]() *Left to Right - Vice-President Sergio Osmena, Paul V. McNutt, U.S. High Commissioner, President Manuel Quezon, Field Marshal Douglas MacArthur, General Paulino Santos, Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army.* ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()