Brigadier general (O-7)
Brigadier general (BGen) is the first Marine Corps general officer rank, pay grade O-7. Its insignia is one silver star.
How to read it
Brigadier general follows Colonel (O-6) (O-6) and comes before major general (O-8). The Department of Defense calls officers at O-7 and higher general officers, and says commissioned officers are confirmed at their ranks by the Senate. The uniform regulations describe a single silver-colored star, 9/16 inch across.
Also searched as: BGen.
Ranks and insignia as the Marine Corps’ own orders and pages set them out. Pay grades are the Department of Defense’s.
One star in the Navy
The Navy’s O-7, rear admiral lower half, also wears one silver five-pointed star on the collar.
More marine Corps ranks
Browse symbols drawn with stars.
Sources
- Marine Corps Ranks, marines.mil, Ranks, United States Marine Corps, Officer
- Marine Corps Uniform Regulations (MCO 1020.34H), MCO 1020.34H, 1 May 2018, Commandant of the Marine Corps, para 4005.2.d, p. 1-99
- Officer Knowledge (Officer Development School), Officer Training Command Newport, ODS Knowledge Book, Naval Service Training Command, U.S. Navy, Navy and Marine Corps Officer Rank Structure
- U.S. Military Rank Insignia, Resources: U.S. Military Rank Insignia (enlisted and officer insignia by paygrade), U.S. Department of Defense (defense.gov), Officer insignia, O-7
Last reviewed September 29, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research