major general
military rank
Quick Summary
Military rank insignias
Rank insignias of U.S. military officers.
A major general is a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps. This rank is above a brigadier general and is symbolized by two stars. The title "major general" was originally "sergeant major general" until the early 1700s, when the "sergeant" was dropped as distinctions between commissioned and noncommissioned officers became clearer. The rank of "major" itself is a shortened form of "sergeant major," which historically was an officer ranking above a captain.123
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