MrTanuki wrote:
Your absolutely right, Sargent Major should be the highest rank because it is the highest rank that enlisted marines can recieve (I believe that I am right about this?). Perhaps that is why it was the highest for a long while and perhaps EA is planning on creating some-type of officer school for the expansion? Even if EA said that they were, I would be absolutely shocked if they actually included it.
As for a 5 star general, there has never been one in the Marine Corps. I think that they can make that position with an act of congress, but it has never been done. Normally, 5 star generals commanded allied forces rather than just United States Forces. For example: Patton was a four star general and commanded United States soldiers, Eisenhower was a 5-Star General and was the Supreme Allied Commander.
I may be wrong about all of the this, but this is what I remember...
Well you are half right and half wrong about Sergeant Major being the highest enlisted rank but it is actually Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. Yes, both are at the pay grade of E-9 along with Master Gunnery Sergeant but there is only one Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. Think of it as the head General of Enlisted Personel.
You were right about the 5 Star General. It has to actually be decided by the Commander In Chief and there has never been one in the Marine Corps. The President could very well if he wanted make a Marine General, Navy Admiral, or Air Force General a 5 Star General (or Admiral) but it hasn't been done. All 5 Star Generals have come from the Army. Oh yeah and Patton became a 5 Star General later because he was in charge of all troops in Germany and the occupation of Germany. MacArthur was a 5 Star General of the Pacific. It really all depends on how the President wants to split them up.