Lieutenant-general (LGen; ) is a Canadian Forces rank used by

commissioned officers An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...

of the

Canadian Army The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also respo ...

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

. Vice-admiral is the equivalent rank in the

Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack submar ...

. A lieutenant-general is a

general officer A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...

, senior to a

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

rear-admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

, and junior to a

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

or admiral. Prior to the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, Royal Canadian Air Force officers held the equivalent rank of air marshal.

Insignia

The rank insignia for a lieutenant-general in the Royal Canadian Air Force is a wide braid below two narrow braid on the cuff, as well as three silver maple leaves, beneath crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by

St. Edward's Crown St Edward's Crown is the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, versions of it have traditionally been used to crown English and British monarchs at Coronation of the British monarch, the ...

, worn on the shoulder straps of the service dress tunic. In the Canadian Army, the rank insignia is a wide braid on the cuff, as well as three gold maple leaves, beneath crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by St. Edward's Crown, worn on the shoulder straps of the service dress tunic. The rank is also worn on slip-ons on other uniforms. On the visor of the service cap are two rows of gold oak leaves. File:Canada-Army-OF-8-collected.svg, Dress uniform tunic - shoulder and sleeve File:CADPAT temperate LGen.png, CADPAT uniform File:CADPAT arid LGen.png, Arid-region CADPAT uniform File:9 LGEN DEU(SHIRT).png, Insignia used from 2013 to 2016 on uniform shirts File:CA-Army-OF8.gif, Olive green uniform (no longer in use) File:Canada-Air force-OF-8-collected.svg, Dress uniform tunic - shoulder and sleeve Image:Air Force slip-on LGen.png, Uniform shirts (old insignia) Image:Air Force olive LGen.png, CADPAT uniform

Forms of address

Lieutenant-generals may be addressed verbally as ''general'' 'name'' as are all general officer ranks; thereafter by subordinates as ''sir'' or ''ma'am'', as applicable. In French, subordinates thereafter use the expression ''mon général''. Lieutenant-generals are normally entitled to staff cars.

Appointments

Lieutenant-generals usually hold senior command or administrative appointments. Appointments held by lieutenant-generals may include vice chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS); Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (DCDS);

commander of the Canadian Army The commander of the Canadian Army (french: commandant de l'Armée canadienne) is the institutional head of the Canadian Army. This appointment also includes the title Chief of the Army Staff (french: links=no, chef de l'état-major de l'Armée) ...

and

commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force The Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (French: ''commandant de l'Aviation royale canadienne'') is the institutional head of the Royal Canadian Air Force. This appointment also includes the title Chief of the Air Force Staff and is based a ...

. In November 2009,

Charles, Prince of Wales Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to a ...

became an honorary lieutenant-general of the Canadian Forces. In June 2015,

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

veteran

Richard Rohmer Richard Heath Rohmer (born 24 January 1924) is a Canadian aviator, lawyer, adviser, author and historian. Rohmer was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and spent some of his early youth in Pasadena, California, as well as in western Ontario at Windsor ...

was promoted to the rank of honorary lieutenant-general in his capacity as honorary advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff.

References

{{Canadian officer ranks Military of Canada Military ranks of Canada Military insignia Canada

Insignia

Forms of address

Appointments

See also

References