Major

Major is the name most commonly given to the military rank equivalent to NATO rank code OF-3. It is usually immediately superior to the rank of Captain (OF-2), and immediately subordinate to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4).

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United States armed forces

In the United States military, the rank of Major is used in the United States Army, U.S. Air Force, and United States Marines. The insignia consists of a gold oak leaf. The rank is considered the equivalent to a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.

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The U.S. rank of Major is considered the first field grade officer grade and warrants gold trim worn on a military cap's visor.

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French Army

Until 1973, when the rank was re-instated, the French Army and French Air Force did not use the rank of Major except for its medical doctors. The rank Commandant (shortened from Capitaine-commandant, 'captain commanding (a batallion)'; just C. rather indicates a commanding function, regardless of rank, especially 'the captain' of a war ship) was used instead. This is because, prior to the professionalization of armies subsequent to the French revolution, a major was appointed by the King to keep track of the expenditures and readiness of a regiment. He could be either a commoner or a nobleman, and was called a "commissar", not an "officer". The French Army did not want to be reminded of the old monarch.

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British Army

In the British Army and Royal Marines, a major wears a single crown. The crown has varied in the past with different monarchs; the current one being the Crown of St Edward. The insignia of the nations of the British Commonwealth is similar.

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In the British Commonwealth a major holds the position of Company (or equivalent) Officer Commanding.

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Canadian Forces

In the Canadian Forces, the Major rank is represented by three bars. Two thick bars with a thin bar in between them. All officer bars are of gold thread in the dress uniforms, olive drab in combat uniform.

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Korea

The Korean military rank of Major is known as Soryong in South Korea and as Sojwa in the North. The South Korean insignia consists of a single star burst collar insignia while the North Korean military displays a shoulder board similar to the old Soviet Union rank of Major.

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Germany

The rank of Major in Germany is pronounced Mi'or and dates to the time of the Middle Ages. During World War II, the Waffen-SS equivalent to the rank of Major was known as Sturmbannf?hrer.

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Military rank: Military rank, or simply rank, is a system of grading seniority and command within military organizations....

Captain: Captain is both a nautical term and a military rank. The word came to English via French from the Latin capitaneus ("chief") which is itself derived from the Latin word for "head" (caput)....

Lieutenant Colonel: Lieutenant Colonel (usually Lieutenant-Colonel in Britain) is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and marine corps (and some air forces) of Commonwealth countries and the United States superior to Major and subordinate to Colonel. The comparable naval rank is Commander and the comparable ra...

Major related Images and Photos (experimental)

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