InEnglish-speaking countries, when appointed to a field command, a major general is typically in command of adivision consisting of around 6,000 to 25,000 troops (severalregiments orbrigades). It is a rank that is subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the rank ofbrigadier orbrigadier general. In the Commonwealth, major general is equivalent to the navy rank ofrear admiral. In air forces with a separate rank structure (Commonwealth), major general is equivalent toair vice-marshal.
In some countries including much ofEastern Europe, major general is the lowest of thegeneral officer ranks without brigadier general rank.
The rank insignia for a major-general in the Royal Canadian Air Force is a wide braid under a single narrow braid on the cuff, as well as two silver maple leaves beneath a crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by St. Edward's Crown. In the Canadian Army, the rank insignia is a wide braid on the cuff, as well as two gold maple leaves beneath a crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by St. Edward's Crown. It is worn on the shoulder straps of the service dress tunic, and on slip-ons on other uniforms. On the visor of the service cap are two rows of gold oak leaves.
Major-generals are initially addressed as 'general' and name, as are all general officers; thereafter by subordinates as 'sir' or 'ma'am' as applicable in English (French:mon général). Major-generals are normally entitled tostaff cars.
In Myanmar, a Major General rank is usually held by someone that is a Regional Military Command General Officer Commanding (Regional Commander or တိုင်းမှူး) or a Director such as Director of Defence Service Intelligence (Khin Nyunt for example)
In theNew Zealand Army, major-general is the rank held by the chief of army (formerly the chief of general staff). The more senior rank of lieutenant-general is reserved for when an army officer holds the position of chief of defence force, who commands all of New Zealand's armed forces. This position is subject to rotation between the heads of theNew Zealand Air Force, New Zealand Army, andNew Zealand Navy.
Major general in thePakistan Army is equivalent to rear admiral in thePakistan Navy and air vice marshal in thePakistan Air Force. It is the lowest of the general officer ranks, ranking between brigadier and lieutenant general.
The rank of major-general was reintroduced in thePortuguese Army,Portuguese Air Force, andPortuguese National Republican Guard in 1999, replacing the former rank ofbrigadier in the role of brigade commander. As a rank, it had previously been used in the Army only for a brief period (from 1862 to 1864). It is equivalent to the rank ofcontra-almirante (rear-admiral) in thePortuguese Navy. In 2015, the rank of major-general was moved up one level, with the role of brigade commander being assumed by the below rank of brigadier-general.
In most of the 19th and first half of the 20th century, major-general was not used as a rank in the Portuguese military, but as an appointment title conferred to the general officer that acted as the military head of aservice branch. The roles of Major-General of the Navy (Major-General da Armada) and Major-General of the Army (Major-General do Exército) became extinct in 1950, with their roles being unified in the then createdChief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
The Turkish Army and Air Force refer to the rank astümgeneral. The Turkish Navy equivalent istümamiral. The name is derived fromtümen, the Turkish word for a military division (tümen itself is an older Turkish word meaning 10,000). Thus, linguistically, it is similar to the French equivalent for a major general,French:général de division.
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