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This question is about army officer.
How hard is it to become a general?
It is extremely difficult to become a general. In fact, fewer than 1% of commissioned officers make it to the top three ranks of Army general. In all, there can be only 302 general officers (generals, lieutenant generals, major generals, and brigadier generals) in the U.S. Army at one time.
To even be considered for a general job, you need at least 20 to 30 years of military service. First, The President of the United States must nominate an officer for promotion to the next star. Then the U.S. The Senate must confirm the nomination. It is a largely political process with potential candidates being groomed years in advance.
Promotions occur as vacancies open up within commissioned officer ranks. Boards composed of senior officers determine which officers are promoted based on achievement, years of service and number of open positions. The Secretary of Defense convenes the selection boards every year to make decisions for ranks higher than O-2 (first lieutenant).
The president nominates officers for the rank of general, and the U.S. Senate must confirm the appointment. When a general retires or loses the rank for some other reason, the president suggests a replacement from a list of nominees.
Although many officers and enlisted personnel choose to retire after 20 years of service, when they are first eligible to collect a military pension, a four-star general is not typically awarded the rank before 30 years of service.The mandatory retirement age is 62, though it can be pushed to 64 in some cases.
Steps needed to become a general:
Become an officer: you can do this by either earning a bachelor's degree before you enlist or by completing a reserve officer training corps (ROTC) program
Make a good impression on your officers and fellow soldiers
Prove your worth
Gain experience (20 to 30 years worth)
Master the art of politics
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