Facts for Kids

In Brunei, the rank is called Mejar jeneral in Malay. This rank appears in both the Royal Brunei Land Force (the army) and the Royal Brunei Air Force. That means officers in both services can hold the same senior title.

Often the person who is the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces holds this rank or a similar high rank. In that role the officer helps guide the whole military, makes important plans, and represents the armed forces inside Brunei and with other countries.

In Canada the rank is written as MGen for short. A major-general in the Canadian Armed Forces is equal to a rear-admiral in the Royal Canadian Navy. This shows how army and navy ranks match up so people can work together.

A Canadian major-general is senior to a brigadier-general and junior to a lieutenant-general. They may lead a large military formation or serve as a top advisor. Before 1968, the Air Force used a different name, air vice-marshal, for this level.

In the Russian Army the rank called major general is written in Russian as Генера́л-майо́р (generál-mayór). This rank is used for senior army officers who hold important command or staff positions and is part of the group of general officers.

A Russian major general is roughly the same level as a British brigadier or an American brigadier general. That means they are senior leaders, responsible for large units or important duties in the army, but not the very top commanders who lead whole branches of the armed forces.

In Turkey the rank is called tümgeneral. The word comes from “tümen,” an old name for a large military group that meant about 10,000 soldiers. In the Turkish Army and Air Force a tümgeneral is a senior officer. The Turkish Navy uses a similar rank called tümamiral.

A tümgeneral helps lead and organize big parts of the military. They do more planning and decision-making than lower officers, and they work with other leaders to keep units ready and safe. Saying the name helps people know which part of the military the officer serves and how much responsibility they have.

In Myanmar, officers with the rank of major general often command a large area called a Regional Military Command. That means they are in charge of the troops and operations in a region of the country.

People with this rank may also lead important offices, such as branches that gather information or plan military work. Because of these jobs, a major general in Myanmar has many responsibilities for both people and plans in the military.

In the Pakistan Army the rank of major-general is an important senior officer rank. It is the lowest of the general officer ranks, which are the most senior leaders who command large groups of soldiers. In the army’s order, a major-general stands above a brigadier and below a lieutenant-general.

The same level in the other services has different names. For example, a major-general in the army equals a rear admiral in the Pakistan Navy and an air vice marshal in the Pakistan Air Force. These officers lead big units or hold senior staff jobs.

Portugal brought back the rank of major-general in 1999 for the Army, Air Force, and the National Republican Guard. At that time it replaced the earlier title of brigadier when someone led a brigade, which is a large group of soldiers organized for action.

In the Portuguese Navy, the matching rank is called contra-almirante (rear admiral). Then in 2015 the ranks were shifted so that brigade commanders became brigadier-general, and major-general moved up one step. Long ago, the name sometimes acted more like a job title than a formal, permanent rank.

In the New Zealand Army the rank of major-general is the title given to the officer who serves as the chief of army. This person is in charge of the Army and makes big decisions about training, equipment, and how soldiers are organized, so the rank is one of the most senior in that service.

Above the Army chief is the lieutenant-general, who serves as the chief of defence force. That job is different because it leads all of New Zealand’s armed forces together. The chief of defence force often comes from the Air Force, Army, or Navy in turn, so the top leader is chosen from the three services on a rotating basis.

Major general is a military rank used in many countries. It names a senior officer who has more responsibility than a brigadier but is below a lieutenant-general. A rank is like a job title in the military that shows how much authority a person has.

Because armed forces are organized in levels, a major general often leads large groups of soldiers or works in top staff jobs. Different countries sometimes use other words or navy titles for the same level, but the idea is similar: a trusted leader with big responsibilities.

In the United States the rank is called a major general and it appears in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. A major general is a high-level officer who usually wears two stars as a sign of rank.

A major general commands large groups of service members and helps make important plans for training, missions, and support. This rank is above a one-star brigadier general and below a three-star lieutenant general, which shows it is a strong leadership job with lots of responsibility and teamwork with other officers and civilian leaders.