Major

In the United Stars Army, Marine Corps, and Space Force, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of lieutenant commander in the other uniformed services, although lieutenant commanders are considered junior officers by their respective services while the rank of major is considered field grade.

The pay grade for the rank of major is O-4. The insignia for the rank consists of a golden oak leaf, with slight stylized differences between the Army/Air Force version and the Marine Corps version. Around 80% of the captains are promoted to major after serving a minimum of three years at their present rank and after attaining nine to eleven years of cumulative commissioned service.