An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.
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Imperial Russia
In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant (Russian: Генерал-адъютант) was a Court officer, who was usually an army General. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the Svita. The Table of Ranks included a similarly titled army officer, with the rank of Colonel, who acted as a general's adjutant.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the Adjutant-General to the Forces (AG) is the head of the British Army's infrastructure and administration and is the second most senior staff general in the Army after the Chief of the General Staff. He used to generally hold the rank of General, but is now usually a Lieutenant-General. Chief administrative officers in other formations are entitled Deputy Adjutant-General (DAG), Assistant Adjutant-General (AAG), or Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General (DAAG), depending on the size of the formation. The Adjutant General's Corps is tasked with personnel management, financial management, general administration, military education, legal services, and provost (military policing and prison) services.
United States
In the United States, there are three definitions for this term:
- The chief administrative officer of the Army of the United States with the rank of Lieutenant General, who is subordinated to the Army Chief of Staff, and is known as the ACS, G-1. He is head of the Adjutant General's Corps, and is responsible for the procedures affecting personnel procurement and for the administration and preservation of records of all army personnel.
- The chief administrative officer of a major military unit, such as a division, corps, or army. This officer is normally subordinated to the unit Chief of Staff, and is known as the G-1.
- The senior military officer and de facto commander of a state's military forces, including the National Guard, the Naval Militia, and any State Defense Forces. He is known as TAG, and is subordinated to the Chief Executive. In 48 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands, the Adjutant General is appointed by the Governor. The exceptions are Vermont, where the Adjutant General is appointed by the legislature, South Carolina, where they are elected by the voters, and the District of Columbia, where a commanding general is appointed by the President of the United States.
Netherlands
The Adjutant General is the chief of the Queen's Military Household. Usually the Adjutant General holds the rank of a Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral. The Adjutant General heads the staff of aides-de-camp, who prepare public appearances by members of the Royal House and assist with major events. The aides-de-camp are members of the armed forces or the Royal Military Constabulary who have attained the rank of commander or lieutenant colonel. The various branches of the armed forces second these officers to the Court for a period of three years. The Queen can appoint aides-de-camp extraordinary from among aides-de-camp who have completed their term of service. This means they can be recalled for temporary service in special circumstances. The letter B The Adjutant General and the aides-de-camp wear a gold aiguillette (a decoration consisting of intertwined cords) on the right shoulder of their uniforms. On their lapels is the letter B (for Beatrix) and above it a crown.
Jesuits
In the Jesuit order, an adjutant general is a senior official, each of whom has at least one province (group of countries) assigned to his care. The adjutants general reside in Rome with the General of the order.
