Major (Maj) ( sv, Major, Mj) is a field grade military officer rank in the

Swedish Armed Forces The Swedish Armed Forces ( sv, Försvarsmakten, "the Defense Force") is the government agency that forms the armed forces of Sweden, tasked with the defense of the country as well as with promoting Sweden's wider interests, supporting internati ...

, above the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

and below the rank of

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

. It is equivalent to the naval rank of

lieutenant commander Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding rank i ...

in the

Swedish Navy The Swedish Navy ( sv, Svenska marinen) is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet () – as well as marine units, the Amphibious Corps (). In Swedish, vessels o ...

History

The rank of major was introduced in the middle of the 16th century in the Spanish and German armies, and its holders were assigned to the regimental commander. After the introduction of the battalion division, the major was eventually given command of a battalion in all armies, as was the lieutenant colonel. After the division of the regiment was established in Sweden in 1634, each regiment with regimental officers had a colonel (regimental commander), a lieutenant colonel and a major, of whom the latter often commanded the colonel's battalion. Like the 2nd major added in 1757 and the 3rd major added later in several regiments, the major had company commanders position until the 1833 pay regulation. All the regimental officers, with the exception of the regimental commander, were then called majors (1st, 2nd and 3rd major), of whom the 1st major usually had the rank of lieutenant colonel. The 2nd and 3rd major were changed to major in 1875, at the same time as the positions of lieutenant colonel and 1st major were firmly united in the infantry and cavalry; the term 1st major was removed in 1901.

Duties

The major acts as a commander or deputy battalion commander both in the war organization or in basic training. In staff service, the major works as a section head, head of function or qualified administrator. The major can also serve at schools in various management, teacher and staff positions. The depth of competence can vary depending on time in the position and other abilities. The lower level refers to the start of the position.

Promotion

According to Chapter 2, Section 1 of FFS 2018:7, a person who is eligible for promotion has served in the Swedish Armed Forces to such an extent that assessment of suitability, knowledge and skills could be carried out, is deemed suitable for promotion, possesses the knowledge and skills required for the higher rank, and meets time requirements according to Section 2 (must have held the rank for at least two years). Promotion of a

to major may take place when the captain has completed applicable promotion training with approved results. After completing a tactical staff course at the Swedish Defence University, a captain who is OFSK may only be promoted to major if the position is within the functional area where the captain's special competence is and the position's rank code is OF 3. Promotion of a major to lieutenant colonel may take place when the major has completed the applicable promotion training with approved results. Responsible head of promotion to major is the unit commander. In the case of reserve officers, promotion of a captain to major may take place when the captain has completed applicable promotion training with approved results. Promotion to positions higher than major may take place after placement until further notice in a position at a higher position level than that corresponding to the individual's current rank, provided that the officer in the reserve has an academic degree at advanced level.

Rank insignia

Collar patches

File:OF-3 Major.jpg, Collar patch m/58 for a major File:3_Major_1939.jpg, Collar patch File:10_Major_krage_1923.jpg, Collar patch

Shoulder marks

Air Force

File:OF-3_Major_FV_hylsa.jpg,
(2003–present) File:OF-3_Major_1987-2000_FV_hylsa.jpg,
(–2003)

Army

File:10_Major_axelklaff_m1923.jpg,

Shoulder mark A shoulder mark, also called rank slide, or slip-on, is a flat cloth sleeve worn on the shoulder strap of a uniform. It may bear rank or other insignia. A shoulder mark should not be confused with a ''shoulder board'' (which is an elaborate sh ...

m/1923
(13 =

Dalarna Regiment The Dalarna Regiment ( sv, Dalregementet), designation I 13, is a Swedish Army infantry unit that traced its origins back to the 16th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of Dalarna, where it was later gar ...

) File:10_Major_axelträns_m1910.jpg,

m/1910
(13 =

)

Navy (Amphibious Corps)

File:OF-3_Major_AMF_hylsa.jpg, Embroidered

shoulder mark A shoulder mark, also called rank slide, or slip-on, is a flat cloth sleeve worn on the shoulder strap of a uniform. It may bear rank or other insignia. A shoulder mark should not be confused with a ''shoulder board'' (which is an elaborate sh ...

(Navy)
(2003–present) File:OF-3_Major_1987-2000_AMF_hylsa.jpg, Embroidered

(Navy)
(–2003) File:OF-3 Major AMF hylsa02.jpg, Wowen

(2003–present)

Sleeve insignias

Air Force

File:OF-3 Major FV mäss.jpg,

Mess jacket The mess jacket is a type of formal jacket that ends at the waist. It features either a non-fastening double breast cut or a single-breasted version that fastens.

sleeve insignia for a major
(2003–present) File:OF-3_Major_1987-2000_FV_mäss.jpg,

Mess jacket The mess jacket is a type of formal jacket that ends at the waist. It features either a non-fastening double breast cut or a single-breasted version that fastens.

sleeve insignia for a major
(–2003) File:OF-3 Major FV ärmmatta.jpg,

Flight suit A flight suit is a full-body garment, worn while flying aircraft such as military airplanes, gliders and helicopters. These suits are generally made to keep the wearer warm, as well as being practical (plenty of pockets), and durable (includi ...

sleeve insignia for a major
(2003–present) File:OF-3_Major_1987-2000_FV_ärmmatta.jpg,

sleeve insignia for a major
(–2003)

Army

File:6_Major_armén_ärm_1906.jpg, Sleeve insignia on uniform m/1906 for a major.

Navy (Amphibious Corps)

File:OF-3_Major_AMF_arm.jpg, Sleeve insignia on ''innerkavaj m/48'' ("inner jacket m/48") for a major.
(2003–present) File:OF-3_Major_1987-2000_AMF_arm.jpg, Sleeve insignia on ''innerkavaj m/48'' ("inner jacket m/48") for a major.
(–2003)

Hats

File:10_Major_mössa_m1923.jpg, Hat (''Mössa m/1923'') for a major. File:OF-3 Major lägermössa m1865-99.png, Camp hat (''Lägermössa m/1865-99'') for a major. File:OF-3 Major lägermössa m1865-99 LG.png, Hat (''Mössa m/1865-99'') for a major in Life Guards infantry. File:6_Major_armén_hatt_m1910-14.jpg, Rank insignia for a major on hat (''Hatt m/1910-14'') in the army. File:8_Major_armén_mössmärke_1946.jpg, Hat badge (''Mössmärke m/1946'') for a major in the army. File:8_Major_armén_mössmärke_1940.jpg, Hat badge (''Mössmärke m/1940'') for a major in the army. File:6_Major_armén_mössmärke_1914.jpg, Hat badge (''Mössmärke m/1914'') for a major in the army on fur hat (''pälsmössa m/1909-14'').

References

Notes

Print

Web

* * * *{{cite web , url=https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/siteassets/4-om-myndigheten/dokumentfiler/lagrum/gallande-ffs-2014-/ffs-2019-06.pdf , publisher=

, title=Försvarsmaktens föreskrifter om personaltjänst (FFS 2019:6) , date=2019-12-02 , access-date=17 August 2020 , language=sv , ref={{harvid, FFS 2019:6, 2019 Military ranks of the Swedish Army Military ranks of the Swedish Air Force