Major (O-4)
A gold oak leaf is the insignia of a major (MAJ), pay grade O-4 in the US Army.
Easily confused with
How to read it
DA Pamphlet 670-1 describes the major insignia as a gold-colored oak leaf in a satin finish with an irregular surface, worn with the stem towards the outside shoulder seam. The Lieutenant colonel (O-5), one grade up, wears the same leaf in silver. The Department of Defense lists the grade as O-4, the first of the field grade ranks. The Army’s ranks page describes a major as the primary staff officer for brigade and task force command on personnel, logistical and operational missions. Army Regulation 600-20 gives the title of address as “Major”.
Also searched as: army major, MAJ.
Ranks and insignia as the US Army’s own regulations and pages set them out. Pay grades are the Department of Defense’s.
Gold leaf or silver leaf?
Gold is the junior, as with the lieutenants’ bars: a gold leaf is a major, a silver leaf a Lieutenant colonel (O-5). The Army Institute of Heraldry says leaves were adopted for lieutenant colonels and majors in 1836.
More army ranks
Browse symbols drawn with curves and waves.
Sources
- DA Pamphlet 670-1, Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, DA PAM 670-1, 26 January 2021, Headquarters, Department of the Army (Army Publishing Directorate), para 21–6a(4), 21–6a(3), 21–6a(2)
- U.S. Military Rank Insignia, Resources: U.S. Military Rank Insignia (enlisted and officer insignia by paygrade), U.S. Department of Defense (defense.gov), Insignia chart: captain, major, lieutenant-colonel; Officer insignia
- U.S. Army Ranks, army.mil ranks page (enlisted, warrant officer and officer ranks), U.S. Army, Officer ranks: Major
- Army Regulation 600-20, Army Command Policy, AR 600-20, 6 February 2025 (administrative revision 20 February 2025), Headquarters, Department of the Army (copy hosted by the Army Transportation Corps, transportation.army.mil), para 1–7b; table 1–1
- Officer Insignia of Rank: Origin, The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army heraldry, insignia of grade, The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army, Officer Insignia of Rank: Origin
Last reviewed September 29, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research