My general fluctuates between 1 and 2 gold chevrons depending upon how crazy I attack with him. I figure with 8 command stars and the warmonger trait I should run down and kill all who dare turn their backs on me. Typically I never get infantry above 2-3 red chevrons because I prefer to retrain them or after taking a city I just leave them there as a garrison. I do have some with good experience in North Africa because I have used the same men to take 4 cities and win several open battles with them. That isn't typical though.