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A Flag Officer is defined within the military hierarchy as a commissioned officer who holds a rank typically recognized as O-7 or higher. This includes the ranks of Rear Admiral (lower half) at O-7, Rear Admiral (upper half) at O-8, Vice Admiral at O-9, and Admiral at O-10.

The classification directly relates to the level of responsibility and authority these officers possess, often commanding major units, joint task forces, or significant installations. Achieving a flag officer rank signifies a considerable level of experience, leadership, and operational expertise within the armed forces.

While lower pay grades, such as O-5 (Commander) and O-6 (Captain), denote senior enlisted ranks, they do not qualify as flag officers. Only those who have reached O-7 and above can be classified in this way because they hold distinct duties and positions that reflect their elevated status within the military structure.