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| Major | |
|---|---|
_OF-3.svg)  Army and Royal Marines insignia | |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Service branch |  British Army Royal Marines |
| Abbreviation | Maj |
| NATOrank code | OF-3 |
| Next higher rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Next lower rank | Captain |
| Equivalent ranks | |
Major (Maj) is a military rank which is used by both theBritish Army andRoyal Marines. The rank is superior tocaptain and subordinate tolieutenant colonel. The insignia for a major is acrown. The equivalent rank in theRoyal Navy islieutenant commander, andsquadron leader in theRoyal Air Force.
By the time of theNapoleonic wars, aninfantrybattalion usually had two majors, designated the "senior major" and the "junior major". The senior major effectively acted assecond-in-command and the majors often commanded detachments of two or morecompanies split from the main body. The second-in-command of a battalion orregiment is still a major.
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During World War I, majors wore the following cuff badges:
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During World War I, some officers took to wearing similar jackets to the men, with the rank badges on the shoulder, as the cuff badges made them conspicuous to snipers. This practice was frowned on outside the trenches but was given official sanction in 1917 as an alternative, being made permanent in 1920 when the cuff badges were abolished.
From 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919, the Royal Air Force maintained the rank of major. It was superseded by the rank of squadron leader on the following day.
ByWorld War I, majors were often commanding independent companies,squadrons, andbatteries, but those that were organically part of a regiment or battalion were still usually commanded by captains. AfterWorld War II, major became the usual rank held byofficers commanding all companies, squadrons, and batteries. In the 21st century British Army, officers normally attain the rank after around eight to 10 years of commissioned service. A common job for a major is the command of a sub-unit of 120 or fewer junior officers and soldiers.[1]
