Talk:Major (United States)

Oak Leaf
It doesn't look like an oak leaf. It looks more like a sycamore leaf. Any explanations on the leaf design?

Compare:
 * Oak Leaf
 * Sycamore Leaf

205.174.22.26 (talk) 02:54, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

It is not supposed to be a single leaf. It is a cluster of seven oak leaves arranged in a fanned circle. An oak leaf is somewhat diamond or kite-shaped, and that is what the insignia represents. Whomever altered the description to maple leaf should be shot...that's seriously insulting to the US Military. 68.159.177.77 (talk) 06:20, 10 February 2008 (UTC)jgeiger54

Is there actually any reliable source that defines it as oak leaves, preferably something official from the DoD or so. I think it doesn't really look like oak leaves, not even a cluster, which wouldn't be that symmetric. It looks more like chestnut leaves.131.220.99.58 (talk) 09:44, 7 October 2011 (UTC)

I can't provide any reference but I've never heard it called anything but an oak leaf. It is, of course, stylized and so need not exactly resemble an actual oak leaf. Wschart (talk) 18:31, 3 November 2016 (UTC)

WP:LE tag removal

 * I removed the wikproject law enforcement tag because of extremely limited LE content. This article fits much beter in the military history wikiprojectEMT1871 16:16, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Major (United States). Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20070510190847/http://www.agd.state.tx.us/stateguard/air/rank_history.asp to http://www.agd.state.tx.us/StateGuard/air/rank_history.asp

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 19:43, 30 May 2017 (UTC)

Union Major

 * During the American Civil War, there were third majors, second majors, and first majors. I can find mention of these but no other information so if anyone has some insight into these sub-rankings please let me know. Otr500 (talk) 17:54, 6 December 2017 (UTC)

All majors are primary Staff Officers for brigade and task force command. Seniority is in accordance with rank and grade. An assignment of first, second, or third major would be a Regimental ranking, as battalion leaders. "First Major" leading the right flank and thus "Third Major the left. If Elliott was the only major when Custer was suspended, or senior above any at the time, he would have assumed command. Otr500 (talk) 21:24, 6 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Note: During the Revolutionary War there were different classifications for a major. Joel Elliott was promoted to captain then appointed to "third major" of the 7th Cavalry Regiment. Major Elliot had taken over the 7th, during the suspension of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, and was killed at the Battle of Washita along with Sergt. Major Walter Kennedy and seventeen enlisted men.