Major General

Major General (abbreviated MG, Maj. Gen. and similar) 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 apparent confusion of a lieutenant general outranking a major general whereas a major outranks a lieutenant.

In the Commonwealth and in the United States, it is a two-star, division commander’s rank that is subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the rank of brigadier or brigadier general. In the Commonwealth, major general is equivalent to the navy rank of rear admiral, and in air forces, with a separate rank structure, it is equivalent to air vice-marshal.

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