2007-12-02 07:28:26 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
This is how the rank structure was created. Therefore, it is what it is.
2007-12-02 07:44:22 · answer #1 · answered by David_the_Great 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I was told the British Army original ranks were General, Lieutenant General, Sergent Major General, Brigadier General.
The General Commanded the Force
the Lieutenant General was like the XO, second in command.
The Sergent Major General was like the G-1/4 or personnel/supply Officer
The Brigadier General commanded the Brigade
After the Development of a professional NCO Corps the Sergent Major General was renamed Major General.
2007-12-02 07:50:25 · answer #2 · answered by MP US Army 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A long time ago the ranks weren't as fleshed-out as they are now. The precession used to be:
Brigadier General
Lieutenant General
General
Major General was added later and drives its name from
"Sergeant Major General" and was until around the time of the Civil War the highest General Officer Rank. IN the Middle Ages the rank of Sergeant Major General Ranked immediately below Captain General.
In many Armies there is no One-Star (Brigadier) Equivalent, so Major General is the Lowest Flag-ranking Officer in those Armies.
Basically the rank titles are reversed because of the history of how the positions were created in European Armies in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.
2007-12-02 08:55:35 · answer #3 · answered by Greenman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm, never thought about it really, Just always knew what the officer ranks were and where they stood in the pecking order. I would suppose there really is no reason other than because there is a difference between being a Lieutenant and being a lieutenant General.
2007-12-02 07:34:29 · answer #4 · answered by SFC_Ollie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When Oliver Cromwell reorganized the British Army the rank went.....
Brigadier General
Sargent Major General
Lieutenant General
Captain General
We dropped the Sargent and Captain parts for our Army.
2007-12-02 07:45:27 · answer #5 · answered by Yak Rider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The meanig of 'Lieutenant' here is assistant whereby Lieutenant is assistant to Captain and Lieutenant General is the first assistant to the General...
2007-12-02 08:34:35 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because a Lieutenant General has three stars and a Major General has only two stars, but it does seem like a misnomer doesn't it.
2007-12-02 08:00:22 · answer #7 · answered by ikeman32 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Remember it this way:
Brig. Gen
Maj. Gen
Lt. Gen.
General.
Be My Little General........it works
2007-12-02 13:17:01 · answer #8 · answered by David M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why is a Major illness worse than a General illness for that matter
2007-12-02 08:55:22 · answer #9 · answered by Nathan J 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I doubt if there is a clear cut answer to this , just a lot of guesses.
2007-12-02 07:51:02 · answer #10 · answered by jim h 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋