Major general

Major general (or major-general, short MG) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparently confusing phenomenon whereby a lieutenant general outranks a major general. (Though a major outranks a lieutenant, a lieutenant outranks a sergeant-major.)

In the Commonwealth and United States, it is a division commander's rank subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the rank of brigadier/brigadier general.

In some countries, including much of Eastern Europe, major general is the lowest of the general officer ranks, with no brigadier-grade rank above colonel.

In France, major general (major général) is an appointment, normally of corps general. The major general assists a chief of staff. There is one major general for the chief of staff of the armed forces as a whole, and one for each of the four armed forces chiefs (army, navy, air force and gendarmerie).

Major-general (United Kingdom)

Major general (Maj Gen), formerly more commonly major-general, is a 2 star rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. The rank was used by the Royal Air Force from 1918 to 1919. In the British Army, a division is commanded by a major general. In the Royal Marines the Commandant General holds the rank of major general.

A major general is superior to a brigadier but subordinate to lieutenant-general. The rank has a NATO rank code of OF-7, equivalent to a rear admiral in the Royal Navy or an air vice-marshal in the Royal Air Force or the air forces of many Commonwealth countries.

The rank insignia is the star (or 'pip') of the Order of the Bath, over a crossed sword and baton. Similar to that of the Deputy Chief Constable.

British Army usage

In the British Army, a division is commanded by a major general. However, many other appointments exist for major generals. The most senior officer of the Royal Army Chaplains Department, the chaplain-general, holds the rank of major general.

Major-general (Sri Lanka)

Major general (Maj Gen) is a senior rank in the Sri Lanka Army. The Director of the National Cadet Corps holds the rank of major general.

A major general is superior to a brigadier but subordinate to lieutenant general. The rank has a NATO rank code of OF-7, equivalent to a rear-admiral in the Sri Lanka Navy or an air vice-marshal in the Sri Lanka Air Force or the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. The rank insignia is a pip over a crossed sword and baton.

From 1958 to 1974, the Commander of the Army held the rank of Major General.

See also

  • List of Sri Lankan generals
  • Sri Lanka Army rank insignia
  • Sri Lanka Navy rank insignia
  • Sri Lanka Air Force rank insignia
  • Sri Lanka Army
  • Military of Sri Lanka
  • Comparative military ranks
  • Military rank
  • References

  • Army, Sri Lanka. (1st Edition - October 1999). "50 YEARS ON" - 1949-1999, Sri Lanka Army. ISBN 955-8089-02-8
  • External links

  • Sri Lanka Army
  • Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
  • Podcasts:

    PLAYLIST TIME:

    Major General

    by: Gilbert & Sullivan

    GENERAL:
    I am the very model of a modern Major-General,
    I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral,
    I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical
    From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical;
    I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical,
    I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical,
    About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news,
    With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.
    ALL:
    With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.
    With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.
    With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotepotenuse.
    GENERAL:
    I'm very good at integral and differential calculus;
    I know the scientific names of beings animalculous:
    In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
    I am the very model of a modern Major-General.
    ALL:
    In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
    He is the very model of a modern Major-General.
    GENERAL:
    I know our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's;
    I answer hard acrostics, I've a pretty taste for paradox,
    I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus,
    In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolous;
    I can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and Zoffanies,
    I know the croaking chorus from the Frogs of Aristophanes!
    Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore,
    And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.
    ALL:
    And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.
    And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.
    And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.
    GENERAL:
    Then I can write a washing bill in Babylonic cuneiform,
    And tell you ev'ry detail of Caractacus's uniform:
    In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
    I am the very model of a modern Major-General.
    ALL:
    In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
    He is the very model of a modern Major-General.
    GENERAL:
    In fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin",
    When I can tell at sight a Mauser rifle from a javelin,
    When such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm more wary at,
    And when I know precisely what is meant by "commissariat",
    When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery,
    When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery--
    In short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategy,
    You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.
    ALL:
    You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.
    You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.
    You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.
    GENERAL:
    For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury,
    Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century;
    But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
    I am the very model of a modern Major-General.
    ALL:
    But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,




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