The Rear Admiral is the next in command of a group of ships. This rank is a Navy rank as you Navy ring customers already know (but I have to add a little in here for the rest of us military ring customers who are land lubbers).
Ther Rear Admiral is the equivalent to what we Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force military ring customers know to be a one star General.
The term originated in the Royal Navy and referred to the most junior Admiral in the fleet. The Admiral was located in the center of the fleet and the Vice Admiral was in front with the action. The Rear Admiral was in control of the ships in the rear of the Squadron thus the term Rear Admiral.
In the Army combat division the parallel is this: The 2 Star General is the Division Commander. He has two assistant commanders the ADCM (mechanized) who is in control of the fighting units, and the ADCS (support) who controls the combat support units. It may be different for those military ring customers who are in the Air Force. If so send up a comment and let us know.
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