(Redirected from Sho-sa)
Inner Sphere Military Ranks
Field Officer
General Officer
For specific ranks see Military Ranks

Depending on the faction, officers holding this rank typically command battalions or act as the executive officer of a larger formation. They also act as staff officers, handling logistics, intelligence, etc. for their units.


In the SLDF, majors were Regular Army battalion commanders and led their troops from the front. This led to them having more experience than their House Army counterparts. In the Star League Navy, a Major commanded destroyers or JumpShips transporting troops or cargo.[1]

In the Second SLDF, a Naval officer at this rank was called Captain, and commanded a small WarShip, a transport JumpShip, or a wing of AeroSpace Fighters. This naval rank was a new feature of the second SLDF, and a radical departure from the first.[2]

A Major's rank insignia was the same for both SLDF incarnations: A Captain's double green bars with a silver pip in between them.

SLDF Rank insignia
Rank Insignia (First SLDF)[3] Insignia (Second SLDF)[4]
SLDF-Major-1stSL.png SLDF-Major-1stSL.png

Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance[edit]

In the LCAF the rank equivalent of Major is Kommandant, though the senior battalion commander often carries the rank of Hauptmann-Kommandant.[5]

The Hauptmann-Kommandant is likely to be the third in command of a LCAF regiment after the Colonel and Leutnant-Colonel.

LAAF Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Kommandant KommandantLAAF.png
Hauptmann-Kommandant HauptmannKommandant.png

Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery[edit]

In the DCMS, a major was formally known as a Sho-sa, while the equivalent naval rank was Dai-i. Both officers wore the katakana symbol for "1" in apple green to show their rank.[6]

DCMS Officer Ranks by branch of service
Rank MechWarrior AeroSpace Fighter Infantry Armor Artillery Naval Crew
Draconis Combine Admiralty
Shosa-mech.png Shosa-asf.png Shosa-infantry.png Shosa-armor.png Shosa-artillery.png Shosa-naval.png Shosa-tech.png

Armed Forces of the Federated Suns[edit]

In the AFFS a major typically commands a battalion, though elite tank and BattleMech companies were sometimes commanded by a major. Majors use epaulettes with one broad base across the bottom as their symbol of rank.[7]

AFFS Major insignia by branch of service
Rank MechWarrior AeroSpace Fighter Infantry Armor Naval Crew Technical
Administrative Medical Legal Logistics/
Major MajorMW.png MajorASF.png MajorInf.png Majorarmor.png Majornaval.png Majortech.png Majoradmin.png Majormedical.png Majorlegal.png Majorlogistics.png

Capellan Confederation[edit]

Prior to Sun-Tzu Liao's ascension to the Celestial Throne, majors in the CCAF either commanded a 'Mech battalion or a regiment of three air squadrons. Staff officers with this rank often served in diplomatic, and logistic roles for the Senior Colonels that oversaw a Capellan Confederation commonality. The commanding officer of a Capellan Home Guard regiment was typically a major.[8] As part of the Xin Sheng movement, Sun-Tzu Liao implemented a new system of ranks that used traditional Chinese names and brought the CCAF ranks in line with the militaries of other Successor States. Officers holding the rank of major under the older system became Zhong-shaos or Lieutenant Colonels. Sao-shao is the rank used for Major after the Xin Sheng movement was implemented. The sao-shao rank insignia is a brass bar with two silver pips.

CCAF Sao-shao rank insignia

Due to their unique place in the CCAF, Warrior House company commanders hold the rank of Lien-zhang, which is equivalent to Major.

Free Worlds League[edit]

The FWLM is unique in the Inner Sphere because the militaries of the three largest provinces were integrated into one whole, but each province's military retained their existing rank structure until recently. This had meant that officers from the Marik Commonwealth could not have the rank of major, as those units used Force Commander but officers from the Duchies of Andurien and Oriente could hold the rank of major.[9] Following the reforms of Captain-General Thomas Marik, the FWLM rank structure was streamlined and the rank of Force Commander formally replaced the rank of Major. Regardless of the rank's name, FWLM officers who held it would command battalions, or garrison units that were smaller than regimental size. Prior to the Succession Wars, officers with this rank would command marines aboard DropShips, JumpShips, and WarShips.[10]

In the post Clan Invasion FWLM Navy, an officer with the rank of Force Commander is known as a Commander. Typically they serve as the executive officer of a FWLM Navy vessel. Sometimes a Commander will serve as the commanding officer of a JumpShip or DropShip while gaining the experience needed to be promoted to Captain.[11]

FWLM Force Commander (Major) Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Force Commander

The Clans[edit]

The Clans do not use the rank of Major. Instead a Clan warrior would have the rank of Star Captain or Star Colonel, depending on the situation. Some Clans however, notably Clan Hell's Horses, use the rank of Nova Captain to indicate a warrior who leads a Nova or Supernova.

ComStar/Word of Blake[edit]

In the ComGuards and Word of Blake Militia, the equivalent rank would be Demi-Precentor or Adept, depending on the soldier's time of service. ComStar Adepts use a ComStar logo with a blue halo to show their rank, while Demi-Precentor's insignia use a red-yellow-blue halo. Word of Blake Adepts use a silver medallion, while Demi-Precentors use a gold medallion with silver branch of service letter. Insignia shows theta symbol, indicating JumpShip/WarShip crew. Other service branches replace theta with appropriate Greek letter.

ComGuard/Word of Blake Militia Insignia
Rank ComGuard Insignia Word of Blake Militia Insignia
Adept Comstar-Adept.png WoB-Adept.png
Demi-Precentor Comstar-DemiPrecentor.png WoB-DemiPrecentor.png

Free Rasalhague Republic[edit]

In the KungsArmé officers with this rank are called Major; The Swedish term being the same as the English.[12] These soldiers wear a green patch with a silver cross as their rank insignia.

KungsArmé Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Major FreeRasalhague-Major.png

Periphery Powers[edit]

Magistracy of Canopus[edit]

A Magistracy Armed Forces Major is a battalion commander, a position worth 24,000-45,000 C-Bills but which requires the approval of the Magestrix. Prior to its reorganization, Majors could command battalions or regiments as brevet majors, but under the new MAF they may only command battalions. In the Navy, this officer rank is known as Comcapt, a combination of Commodore and Captain. Formerly they were able to command a flotilla of ships, but now only command single vessels.[13][14] A Major's rank insignia is a single gold diamond, while a Comcapt's is a single gold diamond surrounded by a wreath.

Magistracy Armed Forces Insignia
Rank Insignia
Major MagistracyOfCanopus-Major.png
Comcapt MagistracyOfCanopus-ComCapt.png

Taurian Defense Force[edit]

A Brigadier in the Taurian Defense Force serves either as the commander of a 'Mech battalion or the executive officer of a conventional regiment and among the support branches. In the TDF Navy, officers who hold this rank are known as an Air Master, Senior Grade or Air Master, SG and either serves as a ship's executive officer or commands an air division.[15][16][17] Their rank insignia is a single gold ring with a small "horn" on the left side.

Taurian Defense Force Insignia
Rank Insignia
Brigadier TaurianConcordat-Brigadier.png

Marian Hegemony[edit]

This rank isn't used by the Marian Legions. With their focus on re-creating the Roman Empire, battalion commanders hold the rank of Legatus, Latin for deputy, officer, or legion commander.[18] To show their rank, they wear a silver triangle with a black triangle in it, topped by a silver star.

Marian Legions Insignia
Rank Insignia
Legatus MH-Legatus.png

Outworlds Alliance[edit]

Major isn't one of the eight ranks used by the Alliance Military Corps. The AMC identifies battalion commanders by the rank of Director.[19] A Director's insignia is a single brown bar.

Alliance Military Corps Insignia
Rank Insignia
Director OA-Director.png

Hanseatic League[edit]

In the Hanseatic League this rank name is called Major.[20]

Umayyad Caliphate[edit]

In the Umayyad Caliphate this rank name is called Amir mi'a.[20]

Castillan Principalities[edit]

In the Nueva Castile this rank name is called Comandante.[20]

Other Factions[edit]

Arms of Thor[edit]

The Battalion Leaders of the mercenary unit Arms of Thor are called Övercaptain.[21]


  1. The Star League, p. 103
  2. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 80
  3. The Star League, p. 113
  4. Field Manual: ComStar
  5. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 117
  6. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 124, 129.
  7. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 128
  8. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 71
  9. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 85
  10. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 86
  11. Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 22
  12. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 66
  13. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 25
  14. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 86
  15. The Periphery, pg. 74
  16. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 54
  17. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 112
  18. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 73
  19. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 88
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Field Manual: Periphery, p. 14 "Periphery Comparative Rank Table"
  21. The Periphery, 2nd Edition (sourcebook), "Note: This is a swedish team meaning over captain"