The United States Constitution names the president of the United States the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces. Many presidents, however, also served in the military before taking office. All but 13 of the 45 persons to become president have served.
Of the 32 presidents with military service, 31 have been commissioned officers, of whom five began their careers as regular officers (Jimmy Carter transferred to the Navy Reserve after five years in the Navy). There have been 13 presidents who held general officer rank (four regular officers, six militia officers, three volunteers).
Table of United States presidents by military rank General of the Armies
Rank order Highest rank Branch President Service experience Service notes1No official insignia General of the Armies of the United States Virginian militia(1752–1758)Continental Army(1775–1783)United States Army(1798–1799)George WashingtonFrench and Indian War(1754–1758)Revolutionary War(1775–1783)Whiskey Rebellion(1791–1794)–Thanks of Congress Served in the Virginian militia (1752–1758) during the French and Indian War Served as commander in chief of the Continental Army (1775–1783) during the Revolutionary War, with the rank of "General and Commander in Chief." Washington was a lieutenant general in the United States Army at his death. In 1976, as part of the Bicentennial, then-president Gerald Ford posthumously appointed Washington as General of the Armies, a rank that ensured he would forever rank above all other officers.wikisource:Public Law 94-479wikisource:Order 31-3 Department of the Army Order Number 31-3 of 13 March 1978 United States Army(Regular Army) Ulysses S. Grant Mexican–American War Civil War–Thanks of Congress Graduated West Point; first lieutenant general since Washington, appointed as four-star General of the Army in 1866. In 2022 Grant was promoted by the United States Congress to General of the Armies to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth. The rank of General of the Armies is considered senior to General of the Army. Grant became the third person to become General of the Armies after John J. Pershing and George Washington. Grant and Pershing are outranked by only Washington.
General of the Army (Special grade; OF-10)
Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes 2 General of the Army United States Army(Regular Army) Dwight D. Eisenhower Supreme Commander of the Allied Invasion of Europe, primarily the Battles for Normandy, France and Germany World War II–Army Distinguished Service Medal (5)Navy Distinguished Service Medal Graduated West Point; served 1915–1952, resigned to run for president. Commission and rank restored by Congress in 1961. Commissioned but inactive until death. Served stateside during World War I and as Supreme Allied Commander during World War II
Major General (O-8; OF-7)
Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes3Major General United States ArmyNorth Carolina MilitiaTennessee Militia Andrew Jackson Revolutionary War Creek WarWar of 1812First Seminole War–Thanks of CongressServed at age 13 as a militia messenger during the Revolutionary War; was captured, becoming the only president to have been held as a prisoner of war (Washington had surrendered in the French and Indian War but was immediately paroled); served in the War of 1812, attaining the rank of major general and became a national hero after his success at the Battle of New Orleans.United States Army William H. Harrison Northwest Indian WarWar of 1812–Thanks of CongressDates of service: 1791–1798, 1812–1814. Became a national hero after success at the Battle of the Thames Zachary Taylor War of 1812Black Hawk WarSecond Seminole WarMexican–American War–Thanks of Congress Became a national hero because of his achievements in the Mexican–American War Major General of Volunteers United States Army(volunteers) James A. Garfield Civil War His heroic ride at the Battle of Chickamauga later helped him to be elected president. Major General American Red Cross (Under jurisdiction of the U.S. War Department) William Howard Taft NoneHe was Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1904 to 1908. Taft also joined a Connecticut Home Guard unit during World War I. He was commissioned with a military rank in the American Red Cross by President Wilson August 1917. See Image 3.
Brigadier General (O-7; OF-6)
Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes 4Brigadier General United States ArmyNew Hampshire Militia Franklin Pierce Mexican–American War Served in the New Hampshire Militia from 1831 to 1847 and attained the rank of colonel. Appointed to command the 9th Infantry Regiment during army expansion for the Mexican–American War. Subsequently promoted to brigadier general and command of a brigade New York State Militia Chester A. Arthur Inspector General of the New York Militia–Civil War Joined militia as Judge Advocate of 2nd Brigade. Appointed Quartermaster General on Governor's staff, and later appointed Inspector General. Offered command of brigade raised in New York City, but Governor declined to allow him to leave state service. Left service in 1863 after the new governor appointed a successor United States Army Andrew Johnson Military Governor of Tennessee–Civil War Served in the 90th Regiment of Tennessee Militia in 1830s. Later appointed colonel United States Army(volunteers) Rutherford B. Hayes Civil War Successful leadership in Virginia/West Virginia region; wounded at the Battle of South Mountain. Later appointed brevet major general United States ArmyIndiana State Militia Benjamin Harrison Civil War Battle of Perryville Atlanta campaign Battle of Nashville
Colonel (O-6; OF-5)
Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes5Colonel Virginia State MilitiaAlbemarle County Thomas Jefferson None Like other Virginia gentlemen, he had militia duties, and did administrative work. Virginia Colonial MilitiaOrange County James Madison None Left the militia to enter the Virginia legislature (Some sources claim Madison briefly assumed command of an artillery battery during the British assault on Washington during the War of 1812. If true, he would join Washington as having seen military service as commander-in-chief.) Continental ArmyVirginia State Militia James Monroe Revolutionary War Dates of service: 1776–1779. Wounded and nearly died in the Battle of Trenton. Returned to Virginia to recruit and lead a regiment as a militia lieutenant colonel, but the regiment was never raised. Commissioned as a colonel during the British invasion of Virginia in 1780 to command the militia raised in response and act as liaison to the Continental Army in North Carolina. Appointed As Secretary of State during the War of 1812, scouted and deployed troops during the British invasion of Washington Tennessee Militia James K. Polk None Captain in a cavalry unit beginning in 1821. Subsequently appointed colonel on staff of Governor William Carroll United States Army Theodore Roosevelt Spanish–American War–Medal of Honor(posthumously; 2001) Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the New York National Guard's 8th Regiment in 1882. Company commander with rank of Captain when he resigned in 1886. Battlefield Promotion to Colonel the day before leading his Famous charge up San Juan Hill. Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. As ex-president, volunteered for service in World War I, but President Wilson declined. Harry S. Truman World War I–Armed Forces Reserve Medal (2) Served 1905–1911, then in World War I, 129th Field Artillery (1917–1919), Army Reserves (1919–1953)
Commander (O-5; OF-4)
Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes6 Commander United States Navy(Reserve) Lyndon B. Johnson World War II–Silver Star Awarded the Silver Star by General Douglas MacArthur for his role as an observer on a Martin B-26 Marauder bomber mission. This award has been the subject of controversy.Commander Lyndon B. Johnson, USNR from the Naval Historical Center Richard Nixon World War II–Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Served 1942–1945 on various islands in the South Pacific and commanded SCAT units. United States Naval Reserve (1946–1966)
Major/Lieutenant Commander (O-4; OF-3)
Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes7 Major New York State Militia Millard Fillmore None Years of service: 1820s–1830s, 1860s–1870s Brevet major United States Army(volunteers) William McKinley Civil War Served in the Army of the Potomac, originally with the 23rd Ohio Infantry, the same unit as President Rutherford B. Hayes. First major engagement in West Virginia in 1861 and was present at the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia Lieutenant Commander United States Navy(Reserve) Gerald Ford World War II–American Campaign MedalAsiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal Years of service: 1942–1946. Served on USS Monterey. Earned 10 battle starsLieutenant Commander Gerald R. Ford, USNR from the Naval Historical Center
Captain / Lieutenant (naval) (O-3; OF-2)
Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes8Captain Virginia State Militia John Tyler War of 1812 Raised a company for the defense of Richmond in 1813 Illinois State Militia Abraham Lincoln Black Hawk War Initially elected to command a company as a captain. Was mustered in and out of service during the Black Hawk War, going from Captain to Private and finishing his service in an independent spy company commanded by Captain Jacob Early. Honorably discharged without seeing combat. Also served in Stillman's Run and the Battle of Kellogg's Grove United States Army Air Forces(Reserve) Ronald Reagan None Served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve; served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, attaining the rank of captain. Was barred from combat because of poor eyesight. Narrated pre-flight training films under the Army Air Forces Motion Picture UnitLieutenantUnited States Navy(Reserve) John F. Kennedy World War II–Navy and Marine Corps Medal Commanded a PT boat. Earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism in the PT-109 IncidentLieutenant John F. Kennedy, USN from the Naval Historical Center George H. W. Bush World War II–Distinguished Flying Cross Years of service: 1942–1955 (on active service 1942–1945). SecondRyder, Robert Randall "My War Chuck Downey Youngest Naval Aviator in WWII." Sea Classics, August 2013. "Off he went for training in Memphis, Tenn., before heading to Pensacola, Fla., for flight school, where he was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy on July 16, 1943. Downey was the tender age of 18 years, 11 months, and 14 days when he earned his wings." youngest pilot in the United States Navy during World War II (Three days before turning 19).Lieutenant Junior Grade George Bush, USNR from the Naval Historical Center Earned the Distinguished Flying Cross Jimmy Carter World War II–China Service Medal Years of service: 1946–1961 (on active service 1946–1953). Graduated 59th in class of 1946 out of 820, United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Submarine service (Nuclear Specialist). Midshipman during World War II, served during the Korean War, but never sent to Korea
First lieutenant (O-2; OF-1)
Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes9 First lieutenant United StatesAir Force(Air National Guard) George W. Bush None–Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award Performed Air National Guard duty as an F-102 pilot through April 1972, logging 336 hours, when he lost his authorization to be a pilot for failing to meet attendance and physical examination requirements He was later discharged eight months short of his six-year service requirement.
Private (E-1; OR-1)