Through The Ranks

More than half of the Army's officers are lieutenants or captains. The progression from those junior officer ranks to general can take an average of 30 years. Here's a look at the average ages, basic pay and years of experience at each level.

2nd Lieutenant (8,404)

* Entry-level/25 years old * Annual salary: $28,123 * Commands platoon-size elements of 16 to 44 soldiers, including a platoon sergeant and two or more squads

1st Lieutenant (9,867)

* 18-24 months' experience/27 years old * Annual salary: $36,896 * Commands specialized weapons platoons and indirect fire computation centers or is executive officer of a company of 110 to 140 soldiers

Captain (23,315)

* 4 years' experience/31 years old * Annual salary: $55,040 * Commands company of 62 to 190 soldiers or staff officer at battalion level

Major (13,964)

* 11 years' experience/38 years old * Annual salary: $69,199 * Primary staff officer for brigade and task force command on personnel, logistical and operational missions

Lt. Colonel (9,029)

* 17 years' experience/43 years old * Annual salary: $81,518 * Commands battalion of 300 to 1,000 soldiers or is brigade and task force executive officer

Colonel (3,741)

* 22 years' experience/48 years old * Annual salary: $98,089 * Commands brigade of 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers or chief of divisional-level staff agency

Brig. General (157)

* 25 years' experience/50 years old * Annual salary: $116,575 * Deputy commander to the commanding general for a division

Maj. General (107)

* 28 years' experience/53 years old * Annual salary: $132,086 * Commands division of 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers

Lt. General (38)

* 30 years' experience/55 years old * Annual salary: $145,789 * Commands corps of 20,000 to 45,000 soldiers

General (11)

* 30+ years' experience/56 years old * Annual salary: $165,232 * Command all operations in a geographical area

New Officers

In fiscal 2004, more than half of the Army's new active-duty lieutenants came through the ROTC program.