Major (military) - Definition and Overview

For non-military meanings, see major (disambiguation).

Insignia of a United States Air Force Major

In the US Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and the British Army, a major is a commissioned officer superior to a captain and inferior to a lieutenant colonel. The equivalent rank in the US Navy is Lieutenant Commander.

The insignia for all three US positions is a gold oak leaf. 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 word major is also used for superior army ranks, such as Sergeant Major, Drum-Major and Major-General.

In the military of Germany, Major is one of the oldest existing ranks, dating to the 17th century. The German version of the rank is pronounced Mi'or but spelled the same as in English.

As Cruickshank was a Canadian the Major rank is represented by 3 bars. Two 1 cm thick bars with a 1/2 cm bar inbetween them. All officer bars are of gold thread.

See also

• Comparative military ranks
• U.S. Army officer rank insignia
• British Army officer rank insignia
• College major

British commissioned officer ranks
	Student Officer	OF(D)	OF-1	OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9	OF-10
Royal Navy:	OCdt	Mid	SLt	Lt	Lt Cdr	Cdr	Capt	Cdre	RAdm	VAdm	Adm	Admiral of the Fleet
Royal Marines:	OCdt		2Lt - Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen
Army:	OCdt	OD	2Lt - Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	Field Marshal
Royal Air Force:	OCdt	OD	PO - FO	Flt Lt	Sqn Ldr	Wg Cdr	Gp Capt	ACdre	AVM	AM	ACM	MRAF