MajorGeneral

Major General is a senior military rank used by many armed forces around the world. It is a two-star general officer rank, typically above Brigadier General and below Lieutenant General, and is commonly designated as Major General, abbreviated Maj. Gen. or MG in some services. In NATO terminology it corresponds to OF-7.

Insignia and naming vary by country. In the United States Army, the insignia is two silver stars worn on the shoulder epaulets or collar. In the British Army and many Commonwealth forces, Major General is also a two-star rank with its own distinctive insignia and formal address. In naval services the closest equivalents are generally senior one- or two-star ranks such as Rear Admiral (lower half) in some navies; the exact equivalence can differ by country and service.

Duties and typical assignments: A Major General commonly commands a division of several thousand to tens of thousands of personnel or serves in high-level staff roles at corps or theater levels. They may oversee operations, planning, logistics, and force development, or act as deputy commanders or senior commanders of large formations. In some cases, a Major General may lead independent commands or serve as a senior advisor within a ministry or government.

History and usage: The term combines elements of “major” and “general,” reflecting historical arms of command. The rank emerged in European armies during the early modern period and spread with national variations. Today, Major General remains a standard two-star rank in many countries, with differences in duties, insignia, and organizational placement reflecting national military traditions.