Ask Difference

Major vs. Captain — What's the Difference?

By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 14, 2024
A Major outranks a Captain in military hierarchies, typically taking on higher-level strategic roles, while Captains often lead companies or smaller units.
Major vs. Captain — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Major and Captain

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Key Differences

In military ranking systems, a Major is a field officer rank higher than a Captain, generally associated with greater responsibilities and strategic roles. On the other hand, Captains often command companies, batteries, or serve as staff officers under higher command, focusing more on tactical operations and direct leadership.
Majors are typically involved in operational planning and may serve as senior staff officers in larger units like brigades or divisions, bridging the gap between high-level strategy and ground-level tactics. Whereas Captains are usually more directly engaged with the day-to-day management and leadership of their units, playing a crucial role in the execution of military operations.
In terms of career progression, reaching the rank of Major requires more years of service and experience compared to that of a Captain. This progression reflects not just an increase in responsibility but also a shift towards more administrative and strategic duties. Meanwhile, Captains often gain extensive field experience, leading soldiers directly and are heavily involved in the training and welfare of their personnel.
The authority and duties of a Major often extend over multiple units or a whole battalion in certain contexts, requiring a broad oversight of operations and personnel management. Captains, on the other hand, have a more focused scope of command, with a deep involvement in the specifics of their unit's operations, logistics, and personnel.
Despite their differences, both ranks are crucial to the functioning of military forces, with Majors and Captains working closely together to ensure the effectiveness and readiness of their troops. The transition from Captain to Major marks a significant shift in a military officer's career, emphasizing leadership at a higher level.
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Comparison Chart

Rank

Above Captain, typically a field officer rank.
Below Major, often a company-grade officer.

Command Scope

Operational planning, senior staff officer roles.
Commands companies, batteries, or serves as staff officers.

Responsibilities

Focus on strategic planning and oversight of multiple units.
Direct leadership and management of a specific unit's operations.

Career Progression

Requires more years of service and experience.
Precedes Major, with focus on gaining field experience.

Authority Level

Broad oversight, may command a battalion or serve in brigade staff.
Direct command over a company, detailed operational control.

Compare with Definitions

Major

A military rank above Captain, involved in higher-level operational planning.
The Major was tasked with developing the operational strategy for the upcoming mission.

Captain

A military rank below Major, often commanding a company or equivalent unit.
The Captain led his company through rigorous training exercises.

Major

Represents a key leadership position in military hierarchy, bridging tactical and strategic levels.
The Major liaised between the battalion and brigade commanders.

Captain

Represents experienced leadership at the company level, focusing on tactical operations.
The Captain's expertise in urban combat was invaluable during the operation.

Major

Indicates a level of command and expertise in military operations and administration.
The promotion to Major marked his transition into higher-level command roles.

Captain

A position of authority within the military, commanding respect and responsibility.
The Captain's decisions were crucial to the success of their mission.

Major

A rank signifying advanced military leadership and strategic responsibilities.
The Major oversaw the training programs for multiple companies.

Captain

Serves as a key figure in the execution of military tactics and unit management.
The Captain coordinated the company's movements in the field exercise.

Major

An officer rank responsible for senior staff roles within larger units.
As a Major, she served as the executive officer of the battalion.

Captain

An officer rank with direct leadership and tactical responsibilities.
As Captain, she was responsible for the daily operational readiness of her unit.

Major

Major is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world.

Captain

The officer in command of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.

Major

Important, serious, or significant
The use of drugs is a major problem

Captain

A precinct commander in a police or fire department, usually ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief.

Major

(of a scale) having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees.

Captain

The designated leader of a team or crew in sports.

Major

(appended to a surname in public schools) indicating the elder of two brothers.

Captain

A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above first lieutenant and below major.

Major

(of a term) occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.

Captain

One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.

Major

A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, above captain and below lieutenant colonel.

Captain

A commissioned rank in the US Navy or Coast Guard that is above commander and below rear admiral.

Major

A major key, interval, or scale.

Captain

One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.

Major

A major organization or competition
The majors have swept up the smaller independent companies in licensing deals
It's not unreasonable to believe someone can win all four majors
The oil majors had a profit bonanza

Captain

A figure in the forefront; a leader
A captain of industry.

Major

A student's principal subject or course
Many students would ignore courses outside their major

Captain

A district official for a political party.

Major

A major term or premise.

Captain

A restaurant employee who is in charge of the waiters and usually attends to table seating.

Major

Short for major suit
South was anxious to mention his four-card major and bid one spade

Captain

A bell captain.

Major

A goal.

Captain

To act as captain of; command or direct
Captained the football team.

Major

Specialize in (a particular subject) at college or university
I was trying to decide if I should major in drama or English

Captain

A chief or leader.

Major

Greater than others in importance or rank
A major artist.

Captain

The person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.
The captain is the last man to leave a sinking ship.

Major

Great in scope or effect
A major improvement.

Captain

An army officer with a rank between the most senior grade of lieutenant and major.

Major

Great in number, size, or extent
The major portion of the population.

Captain

A naval officer with a rank between commander and commodore.

Major

Requiring great attention or concern; very serious
A major illness.

Captain

A commissioned officer in the United States Navy, Coast Guard, NOAA Corps, or PHS Corps of a grade superior to a commander and junior to a rear admiral (lower half). A captain is equal in grade or rank to a United States Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force colonel.

Major

Of or relating to the field of academic study in which a student specializes.

Captain

One of the athletes on a sports team who is designated to make decisions, and is allowed to speak for his team with a referee or official.

Major

Designating a scale or mode having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees.

Captain

The leader of a group of workers.
John Henry said to the captain, "A man ain't nothing but a man."

Major

Equivalent to the distance between the tonic note and the second or third or sixth or seventh degrees of a major scale or mode
A major interval.

Captain

The head boy of a school.

Major

Based on a major scale
A major key.

Captain

A maître d', a headwaiter.

Major

A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above captain and below lieutenant colonel.

Captain

(southern US) An honorific title given to a prominent person. See colonel.

Major

One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.

Captain

(intransitive) To act as captain

Major

One that is superior in rank, importance, or ability
An oil-producing country considered as one of the majors.

Captain

(transitive) To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.

Major

A field of study chosen as an academic specialty.

Captain

A head, or chief officer
A trainband captain eke was he.
The Rhodian captain, relying on . . . the lightness of his vessel, passed, in open day, through all the guards.

Major

A student specializing in such studies
A linguistics major.

Captain

A military leader; a warrior.
Foremost captain of his time.

Major

A major premise.

Captain

To act as captain of; to lead.
Men who captained or accompanied the exodus from existing forms.

Major

A major term.

Captain

Chief; superior.
Captain jewes in the carcanet.

Major

A major scale, key, interval, or mode.

Captain

An officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

Major

A chord containing a major third between the first and second notes and a minor third between the second and third notes.

Captain

The naval officer in command of a military ship

Major

Majors Sports The major leagues.

Captain

A policeman in charge of a precinct

Major

To pursue academic studies in a major
Majoring in mathematics.

Captain

An officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship

Major

(attributive):

Captain

The leader of a group of people;
A captain of industry

Major

Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.

Captain

The pilot ins charge of an airship

Major

Greater in number, quantity, or extent.
The major part of the assembly

Captain

A diningroom attendant who is in charge of the waiters and the seating of customers

Major

Notable or conspicuous in effect or scope.

Captain

Be the captain of a sports team

Major

Prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree.
To earn some major cash

Major

(medicine) Involving great risk, serious, life-threatening.
To suffer from a major illness

Major

Of full legal age, having attained majority.
Major children

Major

(education) Of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization.

Major

(music):

Major

Having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees.
Major scale

Major

Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval.
Major third

Major

(postpositive) of a key Based on a major scale, tending to produce a bright or joyful effect.

Major

(campanology) Bell changes rung on eight bells.

Major

Indicating the elder of two brothers, appended to a surname in public schools.

Major

(logic)

Major

Occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.

Major

Containing the major term in a categorical syllogism.

Major

(military ranks) A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.
He used to be a major in the army.

Major

An officer in charge of a section of band instruments, used with a modifier.

Major

A person of legal age.

Major

(music):

Major

Ellipsis of major key.

Major

Ellipsis of major interval.

Major

Ellipsis of major scale.

Major

(campanology) A system of change-ringing using eight bells.

Major

A large, commercially successful company, especially a record label that is bigger than an indie.

Major

The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.
Midway through his second year of college, he still hadn't chosen a major.

Major

A student at a college or university specializing on a given area of study.
She is a math major.

Major

(logic):

Major

Ellipsis of major term.

Major

Ellipsis of major premise.

Major

(bridge) major suit.

Major

(Canadian football) A touchdown, or major score.

Major

(Australian rules football) A goal.

Major

An elder brother (especially at a public school).

Major

(entomology) A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.

Major

(obsolete) mayor and {{en}}.

Major

(intransitive) major in

Major

Greater in number, quantity, or extent; as, the major part of the assembly; the major part of the revenue; the major part of the territory.

Major

Of greater dignity; more important.

Major

Greater by a semitone, either in interval or in difference of pitch from another tone.

Major

An officer next in rank above a captain and next below a lieutenant colonel; the lowest field officer.

Major

A person of full age.

Major

That premise which contains the major term. It its the first proposition of a regular syllogism; as: No unholy person is qualified for happiness in heaven [the major]. Every man in his natural state is unholy [minor]. Therefore, no man in his natural state is qualified for happiness in heaven [conclusion or inference].

Major

A mayor.

Major

A commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines; below lieutenant colonel and above captain

Major

British statesman who was prime minister from 1990 until 1997 (born in 1943)

Major

A university student who is studying a particular field as the principal subject;
She is a linguistics major

Major

The principal field of study of a student at a university;
Her major is linguistics

Major

Have as one's principal field of study;
She is majoring in linguistics

Major

Of greater importance or stature or rank;
A major artist
A major role
Major highways

Major

Greater in scope or effect;
A major contribution
A major improvement
A major break with tradition
A major misunderstanding

Major

Greater in number or size or amount;
A major portion (a majority) of the population
Ursa Major
A major portion of the winnings

Major

Of the field of academic study in which one concentrates or specializes;
His major field was mathematics

Major

Of a scale or mode;
Major scales
The key of D major

Major

Of greater seriousness or danger;
A major earthquake
A major hurricane
A major illness

Major

Of full legal age;
Major children

Major

Of the elder of two boys with the same family name;
Jones major

Common Curiosities

What are the key responsibilities of a Captain?

Captains are primarily responsible for commanding a company, battery, or similar unit, overseeing its training, operational readiness, and welfare of its personnel.

What is the difference between a Major and a Captain?

A Major is a higher military rank than a Captain, with responsibilities often involving strategic planning and oversight, while Captains focus on tactical operations and direct unit leadership.

Can a Captain become a Major?

Yes, a Captain can be promoted to Major after meeting the necessary service time, performance, and educational requirements as determined by their military branch.

How does one become a Major?

Becoming a Major typically requires several years of military service, demonstrated leadership ability, and often completion of advanced military education beyond the requirements for a Captain.

What types of units do Majors command?

Majors may command specialized units or serve as senior staff officers in brigade or division-level commands, focusing on operational planning and coordination.

How does military structure affect the roles of Majors and Captains?

Military structure dictates that Majors work in more strategic and administrative capacities, while Captains are deeply involved in the day-to-day management and leadership of their units.

What skills are important for a Major?

Important skills for a Major include strategic thinking, leadership, administrative abilities, and a deep understanding of military operations and logistics.

What makes a good Captain?

A good Captain possesses strong leadership skills, tactical knowledge, the ability to manage and motivate troops, and a commitment to the mission and the welfare of their unit.

Is the role of a Major more strategic than that of a Captain?

Yes, Majors generally take on more strategic roles, focusing on planning and oversight, whereas Captains are more involved in tactical operations and direct leadership.

Do Majors and Captains work together?

Majors and Captains often work closely together, with Majors providing operational directives and support to Captains, who then implement these plans at the unit level.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.

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