Major

Senior officers

The rank of major is a rank of senior officer, in general the first. It was also employed by the French Army. The current French name of " major" , which gives place to ambiguities, corresponds in fact to a contraction of the " term; adjudant-major".

Belgium

In Belgium the badge of the major ( majoor in Dutch) consists of a bar and a star. The rank of captain-commander also exists but it is a rank of subaltern above the rank of captain.

Canada

With the Canada, it is about the first rank of senior officer of the terrestrial Force and the Air force. It is located between that of Capitaine and Lieutenant-colonel. This rank is equivalent to that of Lieutenant commander in the maritime Force.

The badge of the rank consists of a broad gallon, small then another broad. On the other hand, the badge of major of the army of the United Kingdom can also be carried to Canada with certain great behaviors of ceremony, or with certain behaviors of mess .

The United States

With the the United States, the badge is a sheet of oak of gilded color:

The rank of major is intermediate between that of Capitaine and Lieutenant-colonel for the terrestrial forces like the US Army and the US Marine Body .

France (Old Mode)

In the French Army of the Old Mode, the major was second administrative Colonel in his regiment, as well as the commander of a fortified town after the governor and the lieutenant of king.

During the Napoleonean period, the rank of Lieutenant-colonel was replaced by that of major.

Name major or medical officer , with variations of rank (major of first class, of second class, assistant medical officer, under-assistance-major) appointed until in 1928 an army medical officer.

There existed in the marine of French war of the 18th century a rank of major of vessel , located between those of Lieutenant and Commander. The position of major appointed also the officer charged to maintain safety and to manage the materials of a port or a naval base.

The term of Major is replaced in current France by the generic term of Commander, Major or Major according to the army and the weapon in question.

The United Kingdom

With the the United Kingdom, the badge is a crown:

Switzerland

The Major is the first rank of the senior officers (symbolized by a thick feature on the badges placed on the shoulder pads called vulgarly " nouille" in the troop). The Major is located hierarchically at the top of the captain higher rank of the officers (symbolized by three vulgarly called fine features: " spaghettis" ) and under the orders of the lieutenant-colonel (symbolized by two " nouilles" )

to see Ranks of the army suisse#Chef army

Other countries

The rank is also used in Albania, in Germany, Austria, Bielorussia ( mayor ), in Finland ( Majuri ), in Italy ( Maggiore ), with the Netherlands ( Majoor ), in Poland ()

General officers

The title of major is often added to a rank of general officers.

Major Général

In much of armies, the rank of general major or of major general is the second rank of general officer. It results from an abbreviation of the rank of general quartermaster-sergeant .

Warrant officers

It indicates also an intermediate rank between warrant officers and officers sulbalternes in certain countries.

France

To note that in all the other countries (Anglo-Saxon, countries Slavic, Italy, etc) the rank of major (or his exact translation) is generally allotted to what is called in France a commander (what could create some confusions when the prisoner of war salary is not the same one according to their row - as in the Geneva Convention). French name corresponds in fact to a contraction of the " term; adjudant-major".

The regimental sergeant majors pass a contest to become major. This is why the major is defined (under the articles) like " a warrant officer found ready to occupy an use of officier". It is rather rare to become major by usual promotion. This rank is very recent (at least in this form) in the French hierarchy, since there exists only since 1972.

The badge is, for the Army, the national police and the air force one gallon with a red edging (distinguished regimental sergeant major) to which was assistant a soutache: .

For the marine , it acts of one gallon plus two soutaches (distinguished of the Master-main thing) to which were assistant two cursées anchors: .

There was also a rank of Quartermaster-sergeant.

See too

Ranks of the French Army

Assistant medical officer

External bonds

ranks of the Marine Site of the Navy

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