Lieutenant-general (Canada)

Please see "Lieutenant General" for other countries which use this rank

Canadian Air Force and Army lieutenant-generals shaking hands

In the Canadian Forces, the rank of lieutenant-general (LGen) (lieutenant-général or Lgén in French) is an Army or Air Force rank equal to a vice-admiral of the Navy. A lieutenant-general is a general officer, the equivalent of a Naval flag officer. A lieutenant-general is senior to a major general or rear-admiral, and junior to a general or admiral. Prior to 1968, Canadian Air Force officers held the equivalent rank of air marshal, which was abandoned with the unification of the Canadian Forces.

Insignia

The rank insignia for a lieutenant-general is 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, and on slip-ons on other uniforms. The service dress tunic also features a wide strip of gold braid around the cuff. On the visor of the service cap are two rows of gold oak leaves.

Army uniform variations

Dress uniform tunic - shoulder

Dress uniform tunic - sleeve

Army slip-on LGen.png

Uniform shirts

CA-Army-OF8.gif

CADPAT temperate LGen.png

CADPAT uniform

CADPAT arid LGen.png

arid-region CADPAT uniform

Air Force uniform variations

Dress uniform tunic - shoulder

Dress uniform tunic - sleeve

Air Force slip-on LGen.png

Uniform shirts

Air Force olive LGen.png

CADPAT uniform

Forms of address

Lieutenant-generals are addressed verbally as "general" and 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

A lieutenant-general generally holds only the most senior command or administrative appointments, barring only Chief of the Defence Staff, which is held by a full admiral or general. 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 and Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

In November 2009, Prince Charles became an honorary lieutenant-general of the Canadian Forces Land and Air Command.

See also

• Canadian Forces ranks and insignia