Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a
military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of
sergeant major general
Sergeant major general is a now mostly extinct name of military rank. A prominent example was Philip Skippon in the English New Model Army as organized by Oliver Cromwell.
Over the course of the 17th century, the increasing professionalisation o ...
. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a
lieutenant general outranking a major general, whereas a major outranks a lieutenant.
In the
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
and in the
United States, when appointed to a field command, a major general is typically in command of a
division consisting of around 6,000 to 25,000 troops (several
regiments or
brigades). It is a
two-star rank that is subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the rank of
brigadier or
brigadier general. In the Commonwealth, major general is equivalent to the navy rank of
rear admiral
Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
. In air forces with a separate rank structure (Commonwealth), major general is equivalent to
air vice-marshal.
In some countries including much of
Eastern Europe, major general is the lowest of the
general officer
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...
ranks, with no brigadier general rank.
Countries
Major general ranks by country
Australia
Canada
In the
Canadian Armed Forces
}
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force.
...
, the rank of major-general (MGen) (french: major-général) is both a
Canadian Army and
Royal Canadian Air Force rank equivalent to the
Royal Canadian Navy's rank of
rear-admiral. A major-general is a
general officer
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...
, the equivalent of a naval
flag officer. The major-general rank is senior to the ranks of
brigadier-general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
and
commodore, and junior to
lieutenant-general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
and
vice-admiral. Prior to 1968, the
Air Force used the rank of
air vice-marshal, instead.
The rank insignia for a major-general in the Royal Canadian Air Force is a wide braid under a single narrow braid on the cuff, as well as two silver maple leaves beneath crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by St. Edward's Crown. In the Canadian Army, the rank insignia is a wide braid on the cuff, as well as two gold maple leaves beneath crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by St. Edward's Crown. It is worn on the shoulder straps of the service dress tunic, and on slip-ons on other uniforms. On the visor of the service cap are two rows of gold oak leaves.
Major-generals are initially addressed as "general" and name, as are all general officers; thereafter by subordinates as "sir" or "ma'am" as applicable in English (french: mon général). Major-generals are normally entitled to
staff car
A staff car is a vehicle used by a senior military officer, and is part of their country's white fleet. The term is most often used in relation to the United Kingdom where they were first used in quantity during World War I, examples being the ...
s.
India
Japan
Because no brigadier-general rank is used in Japan, major-general is the rank of brigade commander. Therefore, the designation in the
French Revolutionary System is the
brigade general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...
. In the past, ''rikugun-shōshō'' (陸軍少将) in the
Imperial Japanese Army was equivalent to major-general; in the current
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The Japan Self-Defense Forces ( ja, 自衛隊, Jieitai; abbreviated JSDF), also informally known as the Japanese Armed Forces, are the unified ''de facto''Since Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution outlaws the formation of armed forces, the ...
, ''rikushō-ho'' (陸将補) in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and ''kūshō-ho'' (空将補) in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are equivalent to it.
New Zealand
In the
New Zealand Army
, image = New Zealand Army Logo.png
, image_size = 175px
, caption =
, start_date =
, country =
, branch = ...
, major-general is the rank held by the chief of army (formerly the chief of general staff). The more senior rank of lieutenant-general is reserved for when an army officer holds the position of chief of defense force, who commands all New Zealand's armed forces. This position is subject to rotation between the heads of the air force, army, and navy.
Pakistan
Major general in the
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...
is equivalent to rear admiral in the
Navy and air vice marshal in the
Air Force. It is the lowest of the general officer ranks, ranking between brigadier and lieutenant general.
Portugal
The rank of major-general was reintroduced in the
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army ( pt, Exército Português) is the land component of the Armed Forces of Portugal and is also its largest branch. It is charged with the defence of Portugal, in co-operation with other branches of the Armed Forces. With its ...
,
Air Force and
National Republican Guard in 1999, replacing the former rank of
brigadier in the role of brigade commander. As a rank, it had previously been used in the Army only for a brief period (from 1862 to 1864). It is equivalent to the rank of ''contra-almirante'' (rear-admiral) in the
Portuguese Navy. In 2015, the rank of major-general was moved up one level, with the role of brigade commander being assumed by the below rank of brigadier-general.
In most of the 19th and first half of the 20th century, major-general was not used as a rank in the Portuguese military, but as an appointment title conferred to the general officer that acted as the military head of a
service branch. The roles of Major-General of the Navy (''Major-General da Armada'') and Major-General of the Army (''Major-General do Exército'') became extinct in 1950, with their roles being unified in the then created
Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
Russia
In the
Russian Army
The Russian Ground Forces (russian: Сухопутные войска В Sukhoputnyye voyska V, also known as the Russian Army (, ), are the Army, land forces of the Russian Armed Forces.
The primary responsibilities of the Russian Gro ...
, the rank "major general" is known as russian: генера́л-майо́р, Generál-mayór. It is equivalent to a British
brigadier or an American
brigadier general.
Sri Lanka
Turkey
The Turkish Army and Air Force refer to the rank as . The Turkish Navy equivalent is . The name is derived from , the Turkish word for a military division ( itself is an older Turkish word meaning "10,000"). Thus, linguistically, it is similar to the French equivalent for a major general, .
United Kingdom
United States
In the
United States, the rank of major general exists in the
United States Air Force,
United States Army,
United States Marine Corps, and
United States Space Force.
''Generalmajor''
''Generalmajor'' is the
Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of
Central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
and
Northern Europe
The northern region of Europe has several definitions. A restrictive definition may describe Northern Europe as being roughly north of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, which is about 54th parallel north, 54°N, or may be based on other g ...
an countries, including
Austria,
Belgium,
Denmark,
Finland,
Germany,
Norway, and
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
.
Insignia
Army
File:ALB-Army-OF-7.svg,
( Albanian Land Force)
)
(Algerian Land Forces
The Algerian Land Forces ( ar, القوات البرية الجزائرية, , Algerian Land Forces) are the land forces of the Algerian People's National Army. The forces' equipment is supplied by Russia and various other countries.
The force ...
)
( Armenian Ground Forces)
( Australian Army)
( Austrian Land Forces)
( Azerbaijani Land Forces)
( Barbados Regiment)
File:Bangladesh-army-OF-7.svg, Major general
)
( Bangladesh Army)
( Belarusian Ground Forces)
( Belgian Land Component)
( Belize Defence Force)
File:14.Bhutan Army-MG.svg, Major general
)
(Royal Bhutan Army
The Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; dz, བསྟན་སྲུང་དམག་སྡེ་, bStan-srung dmag-sde) is a branch of the armed forces of the Kingdom of Bhutan responsible for maintaining the country's territorial integrity and sovereign ...
)
(Bosnian Ground Forces
The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Oružane snage Bosne i Hercegovine, OSBiH, Оружане снаге Босне и Херцеговине, ОСБИХ) is the official military force of Bosnia and Herz ...
)
( Botswana Ground Force)
( Royal Brunei Land Forces)
( Bulgarian Land Forces)
)
( Burundi Army)
)
( Canadian Army)
( Cape Verdean National Guard)
( Colombian National Army)
( Land Forces of the DR Congo)
File:Army-HRV-OF-07.svg,
( Croatian Army)
( Czech Land Forces)
( Royal Danish Army)
( Dominican Army)
( Eritrean Army)
File:Estonia-Army-OF-7.svg,
(Estonian Land Forces
The Estonian Land Forces ( et, Maavägi), unofficially referred to as the Estonian Army, is the name of the unified ground forces among the Estonian Defense Forces where it has an offensive military formation role. It is currently the largest ...
)
( Eswatini Army)
File:16.EA-MG.svg,
(Ethiopian Ground Forces
The Ethiopian Ground Forces () is the land service branch of the Ethiopian National Defense Force. It is senior of the two uniformed military branches. It engages in land warfare and combined arms operations, including armored and mechanized o ...
)
( Fiji Infantry Regiment)
File:Kenraalimajuri M05.svg,
)
( Finnish Army)
(Gambian National Army
The Gambia Armed Forces, also known as the Armed Forces of The Gambia, consists of three branches: the Gambia National Army (GNA), the Gambia Navy, and the Republican National Guard (RNG). It formerly included the Gambia National Gendarmerie (GNG) ...
)
File:Georgia-Army-OF-7.svg,
( Georgian Land Forces)
(German Army
The German Army (, "army") is the land component of the armed forces of Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German ''Bundeswehr'' together with the ''Marine'' (German Navy) and the ''Luftwaf ...
)
( Ghana Army)
File:13. Guinea-Bissau MG.svg,
( Army of Guinea-Bissau)
File:Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major General rank insignia.svg, Major general
( Guyana Army)
)
( Indian Army)
(Indonesian Army
The Indonesian Army ( id, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD), ) is the land branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It has an estimated strength of 300,000 active personnel. The history of the Indonesian Army has its ...
)
)
( Irish Army)
( Jamaican Army)
( Kazakh Ground Forces)
( Kenya Army)
(Kosovo Security Force
, image = KSF logo.svg
, alt =
, caption = Emblem
, image2 = Flag of the Kosovo Security Force.svg
, alt2 =
, caption2 = Flag
, motto =
, founded ...
)
( Kyrgyz Army)
( Latvian Land Forces)
( Lithuanian Land Forces)
(Lesotho Army
The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) is the military of the Southern African Kingdom of Lesotho, which consists of about 2,000 personnel and is tasked with maintaining internal security, territorial integrity, and defending the constitution of Lesoth ...
)
( Liberian Ground Forces)
( Malawi Army)
File:Malaysia-army-OF-7.svg,
( Malaysian Army)
)
( Maldivian Marine Corps)
(Mongolian Ground Force
The Ground Force of Mongolia (, ''Mongol Ulsyn Zevsegt hüchniy Huurai zamyn tsereg'', ) is the land force of the Mongolian Armed Forces, formed from parts of the former Mongolian People's Army in 1992. It was known as the "Mongolian General Purpo ...
)
(Montenegrin Ground Army
Montenegrin Ground Army ( cnr, Kopnena vojska Crne Gore) is the ground force of the Armed Forces of Montenegro
The Armed Forces of Montenegro ( cnr, Војска Црне Горе, Vojska Crne Gore) are the military forces of Montenegro. The ...
)
(Mozambican Army
The Mozambique Defence Armed Forces ( pt, Forças Armadas de Defesa de Moçambique) or FADM are the national armed forces of Mozambique. They include the General Staff of the Armed Forces and three branches of service: Army, Air Force and Nav ...
)
File:14-Namibia Army-MG.svg, Major general
( Namibian Army)
File:Netherlands-Army-OF-7.svg,
(Royal Netherlands Army
The Royal Netherlands Army ( nl, Koninklijke Landmacht) is the land branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Though the Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, its origins date back to 1572, when the was raised – making the Dutc ...
)
(New Zealand Army
, image = New Zealand Army Logo.png
, image_size = 175px
, caption =
, start_date =
, country =
, branch = ...
)
( Nicaraguan Army)
( Nigerian Army)
( North Macedonian Ground Forces)
( Norwegian Army)
(Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...
)
( Papua New Guinea Land Element)
File:PA Maj. Gen.png, Major general
( Philippine Army)
(Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army ( pt, Exército Português) is the land component of the Armed Forces of Portugal and is also its largest branch. It is charged with the defence of Portugal, in co-operation with other branches of the Armed Forces. With its ...
)
( Romanian Land Forces)
( Russian Ground Forces)
( Rwandan Land Forces)
( Serbian Army)
( Sierra Leone Army)
File:09-RSA-OF07.svg, Major general
(Singapore Army
The Singapore Army is the land service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The largest of the four branches of the SAF, the Singapore Army traces its origins to the 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR), which was formed i ...
)
(Slovak Ground Forces
The Slovak Ground Forces, also known as the Slovak Army, is the land specialized service branch of the Slovak Armed Forces.
Structure
Ground Forces Command
* Ground Forces Command, in Trenčín (Commander: 2 Star General)
** Command Suppo ...
)
(Slovenian Ground Force
The Slovenian Ground Force is the primary component of Slovenian Armed Forces.
History
The current Slovenian Armed Forces are descended from the Territorial Defense of the Republic of Slovenia (''Teritorialna Obramba Republike Slovenije''; ''TO ...
)
)
(Somali National Army
The Somali National Army ( Somali: ''Xooga Dalka Soomaaliyeed,'' lit. ''"Somali Ground Forces"'') is the ground forces component of the Somali Armed Forces, and is the largest out of the three service branches that make up the majority of the A ...
)
(South African Army
The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. ...
)
( Sri Lanka Army)
(Swedish Army
The Swedish Army ( sv, svenska armén) is the land force of the Swedish Armed Forces.
History
Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna chose 16 young able men as body guards for the insurgent nobleman Gustav Vas ...
)
(Tajik Ground Forces
The Tajik Ground Forces (), known officially as the Ground Forces of the Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan is the land army of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan. Created during the Tajik civil war, it makes up about 70 percent of the ...
)
(Tanzanian Army
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...
)
File:Timor-Leste-Army-OF-7.svg,
( Timor-Leste Army)
File:TaT-Army-OF-7.svg, Major general
(Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is the main ground force element of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. It has approximately 10,000 men and women organized into a Regiment Headquarters (located in Port of Spain) and four battalions. There is a ...
)
(Turkmen Ground Forces
The Turkmen Ground Forces () is the army branch of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan. The ground forces include the 2nd, 3rd, 11th, and 22nd Motor Rifle Divisions as well as smaller units consisting of various types of troops.
History
The b ...
)
( Ugandan Land Forces)
( Ukrainian Ground Forces)
( British Army)
( United States Army)
( National Army of Uruguay)
( Uzbek Ground Forces)
(Venezuelan Army
The Venezuelan Army, officially the National Army of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, Ejército Nacional de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is one of the six professional branches of the Armed Forces of Venezuela. Also known ...
)
( Zambian Army)
File:Zimbabwe-Army-OF-7.svg, Major general
( Zimbabwe National Army)
Air force
File:Canada-Air force-OF-7-collected.svg, '')
File:Czech-Airforce OF-7.svg,
File:RDAF Maj Gen.svg,
File:Georgia Air Force OF-8.png,
File:Luftwaffe-321-Generalmajor.png,
File:Hellenic Air Force OF-7.svg,
File:Ireland-AirForce-OF-7.svg,
File:JASDF Major General insignia (b).svg,
File:Malaysia-Air Force-OF-7.svg,
File:RNAF Maj Gen.svg,
File:PAF MGEN Svc.svg,
File:Rank insignia of generał dywizji of the Air Force of Poland.svg,
File:Portugal-AirForce-OF-7.svg,
File:RO-Airforce-OF-7s.PNG,
File:Russia-Airforce-OF-6-2010.svg,
File:16-Serbian Air Force-MG.svg,
File:OF-7 Generalmajor FV hylsa.jpg,
File:Turkey-air-force-OF-7.svg,
File:UAAF shoulder mark 19.svg,
File:US Air Force O8 shoulderboard.svg,
File:RTAF OF-7 (Air Vice Marshal).svg, alt=, Royal Thai Air Force Major general (พลอากาศตรี)
Naval infantry
File:OF-7 Konteramiral FL hylsa.jpg,
File:British Royal Marines OF-7.svg,
File:US Marine O8 shoulderboard vertical.svg,
File:20-TNI Navy-RADM.svg,
File:UAN shoulder mark 19.svg,
Other services
File:US Space-force O8 (interim).svg,
See also
*
Comparative military ranks
*
Military unit
Military organization or military organisation is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer such military capability as a national defense policy may require. In some countries paramilitary forces are included in a nation' ...
*
Major General's Song
"I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General" (often referred to as the "Major-General's Song" or "Modern Major-General's Song") is a patter song from Gilbert and Sullivan's 1879 comic opera ''The Pirates of Penzance''. It has been called the ...
References
Citations
Sources
* Boatner, Mark M., III. ''The Civil War Dictionary.'' New York: David McKay, 1959. .
* Bowden, Scotty & Tarbox, Charlie. ''Armies on the Danube 1809.'' Arlington, TX: Empire Games Press, 1980. .
* Foote, Shelby. ''The Civil War: A Narrative. Vol. 2''. New York: Random House, 1986. .
External links
*
Military ranks of Canada
Military insignia
Military ranks
Military ranks of Australia
Military ranks of Singapore
Military ranks of Pakistan
Military ranks of British India
{{DEFAULTSORT:Major_General
