The ranks of junior officers, beginning from the lowest to the highest rank are as follows:
SECOND LIEUTENANT (2LT)
The Second Lieutenant is commissioned after successfully undergoing the Officer Cadet training within the prescribed period.
LIEUTENANT (LTA)
The Lieutenant rank obtained after completing four years of satisfactory service as a Second Lieutenant. For full-time officers, the service duration is calculated from the time he begins his officer training. For short-term officers, the period of time is calculated from the date he is commissioned.
CAPTAIN (CPT)
Officers with the rank of CAPTAIN assumes greater responsibility and trust. This rank is acquired after passing the LIEUTENANT to CAPTAIN Exams, and having served four years of satisfactory service as a LIEUTENANT.
Field Officer Group
The Field Officer group comprises officers in the rank of MAJOR (MAJ):
MAJOR (MAJ)
To obtain the rank of MAJOR, an officer with the rank of CAPTAIN needs to pass the MAJOR upgrading test and having completed five years of excellent service as CAPTAIN. He must also have the support for upgrading to MAJOR.
Senior Officer Group
The ranks of senior officers, beginning from the lowest to the highest rank are as follows:
LIEUTENANT COLONEL (LTC)
Lieutenant Colonels have completed six years of satisfactory service as a Major and he or she must attend either the local Malaysia Armed Forces Staff College or a similar course overseas. Officers in this rank are recognised as Senior Officers.
COLONEL (COL)
The rank of Colonel can be awarded to a Lieutenant Colonel after he or she has completed two years of service with excellence. However, it is dependent on existing vacancies. Normally, officers with the rank of Colonel are appointed as Director of a Corps or Regiment, Deputy Commander of a Brigade, Head of Department at the Division-level and other existing Colonel posts.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL (BG)
Brigadier-General is the beginning of a series of General ranks. It is also sometimes referred to as a One-star General. Officers in this rank are crucial in the success of a deployment. The success or failure of a plan is determined by the wisdom and knowledge of the BG-ranked officer.
MAJOR-GENERAL (MG)
The Major-Generals are amongst the most senior group of officers in the Malaysian Army. Anyone in this rank has been specially chosen based on his excellent military competency.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL (LG)
This is the second most senior officer rank in the Malaysian Army.
GENERAL (GEN)
The General rank is the highest rank in the Malaysian Army. Currently, only the Chief of Army is awarded the rank of General.
