Major

Please see "Major" for other countries that use this rank

Insignia of the Army and Air Force rank of Major

In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. It is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant commander in the other uniformed services.

The pay grade for the rank of major is O-4. The insignia for the rank consists of a golden oak leaf, with slight stylized differences between the Army/Air Force version and the Marine Corps version.

Army

A major in the U.S. Army typically serves as a battalion executive officer or as the battalion operations officer (S-3). A major can also serve as a primary staff officer for a brigade or task force in the areas concerning personnel, logistical and operations. In addition, majors command augmented companies in Combat Service and Service Support units. U.S. Army majors also command Special Operations companies, such as U.S. Army Special Forces companies, Civil Affairs companies, Psychological Operations companies, as well as certain types of separate, numbered vice lettered, Military Intelligence companies.

Virtually all majors in the United States Army attend the 10-month Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, with a smaller number attending satellite schools administered by Fort Leavenworth at Fort Belvoir, Fort Lee, Virginia and Fort Gordon.^[1] 960 graduated the Leavenworth course in 2009 (the largest class in Army history).^[2]

American Civil War (Union)

During the American Civil War the Union forces continued to use the same rank structure previously established for the Army and Marine Corps.

American Civil War (Confederate)

Major rank insignia of the Confederate Army as used during the American Civil War

Prior to the American Civil War, the rank structure for the military forces of the United States were modeled after the British rank insignia. After the Southern states seceded and became the Confederate States of America, the Confederate Army developed their own system of rank identification for its officers.

The new Confederate rank of Major was to be indicated on the collar and in rows of gold lace forming an Austrian knot on each sleeve. Previously, the United States military at that time indicated rank by systems using epaulettes, chevrons, or shoulder straps so this new style differed greatly from the system used by Union forces.

Air Force

A major in the Air Force typically has duties as a senior staff officer at the squadron level. In flying squadrons majors are generally flight commanders or assistant directors of operations. In the mission support and maintenance groups majors may occasionally be squadron commanders. In the medical corps, a major may be the head of a clinic or flight.

Police officer

The rank is also used in some police departments.

References

United States Air Force portal

• Confederate Army rank insignia: A guide
• Officer rank insignia
• Rank history

v • d • e United States commissioned officer and officer candidate ranks
	Officer candidate	O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5	O-6	O-7	O-8	O-9	O-10	Special	Special
Approximate insignia:	(no universal insignia)												(no authorized insignia)
Air Force:	CDT / OT	2d Lt	1st Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig Gen	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	GOAF[1][4]	[2]
Army:	CDT / OC	2LT	1LT	CPT	MAJ	LTC	COL	BG	MG	LTG	GEN	GA[1][4]	General of the Armies[1][4]
Marine Corps:	Midn / Cand	2ndLt	1stLt	Capt	Maj	LtCol	Col	BGen	MajGen	LtGen	Gen	[2]	[2]
Navy:	MIDN / OC	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM	ADM	FADM[1][4]	Admiral of the Navy[1][4]
Coast Guard:	CDT	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM	ADM	[2]	[2]
Public Health Service:	[2]	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RADM	RADM	VADM	ADM	[2]	[2]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:	[2]	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM[1][4]	[3]	[2]	[2]
Grade inactive [1] Grade never created [2] Grade is authorized for use by U.S. Code but has not been created [3] Grade requires Congressional approval for re-activation [4]

v • d • e United States warrant officer ranks
	W-1	W-2	W-3	W-4	W-5
Approximate insignia:	(no universal insignia)	(no universal insignia)	(no universal insignia)	(no universal insignia)	(no universal insignia)
Air Force:	WO-1[1]	CWO-2[1]	CWO-3[1]	CWO-4[1]	CWO-5[1]
Army:	WO1	CW2	CW3	CW4	CW5
Marine Corps:	WO-1	CWO-2	CWO-3	CWO-4	CWO-5
Navy:	WO-1[1]	CWO-2	CWO-3	CWO-4	CWO-5
Coast Guard:	[3]	CWO-2	CWO-3	CWO-4	[3]
Public Health Service:	[3]	[3]	[3]	[3]	[2]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:	[2]	[2]	[2]	[2]	[2]
Grade inactive [1] Grade never created [2] Grade is authorized for use by U.S. Code but has not been created [3]