Belgian military ranks

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The Belgian military ranks are the military insignia used by the Belgian Armed Forces.[1]

## Commissioned officer ranks

[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1

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Rank group (NL)  | Opperofficieren | Hoofdofficieren | Lagere officieren
Rank group (FR)  | Officiers généraux | Officiers supérieurs | Officiers subalternes
Rank group (DE)  | Generäle | Stabsoffiziere | Subalternoffiziere
Belgian Land Component[2]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Generaal | Luitenant-generaal | Generaal-majoor | Brigadegeneraal | Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein-commandant | Kapitein | Luitenant | Onderluitenant
Général | Lieutenant général | Général-major | Général de Brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Capitaine-commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant
General | General­leutnant | General­major | Brigade­general | Oberst | Oberst­leutnant | Major | Stabs­hauptmann | Hauptmann | Leutnant | Unter­leutnant
Belgian Navy[3]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Admiraal | Vice-admiraal | Divisieadmiraal | Flottieljeadmiraal | Kapitein-ter-zee | Fregatkapitein | Korvetkapitein | Luitenant-ter-zee 1ste klasse | Luitenant-ter-zee | Vaandrig-ter-zee | Vaandrig-ter-zee 2de klasse
Amiral | Vice-amiral | Amiral de division | Amiral de flottille | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant de vaisseau de 1re classe | Lieutenant de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Divisionsadmiral | Flotillenadmiral | Kapitän zur See | Fregattenkapitän | Korvettenkapitän | Linienschiffsleutnant 1. klasse | Linienschiffsleutnant | Seefahnrich | Seefahnrich 2. klasse
Belgian Air Component[4]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Generaal | Luitenant-generaal | Generaal-majoor | Brigadegeneraal | Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein-commandant | Kapitein | Luitenant | Onderluitenant
Général | Lieutenant général | Général-major | Général de Brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Capitaine-commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant
General | Generalleutnant | Generalmajor | Brigadegeneral | Oberst | Oberstleutnant | Major | Stabshauptmann | Hauptmann | Leutnant | Unterleutnant
Belgian Medical Component[5]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Generaal | Luitenant-generaal | Generaal-majoor | Brigadegeneraal | Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein-commandant | Kapitein | Luitenant | Onderluitenant
Général | Lieutenant général | Général-major | Général de Brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Capitaine-commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant
General | Generalleutnant | Generalmajor | Brigadegeneral | Oberst | Oberstleutnant | Major | Stabshauptmann | Hauptmann | Leutnant | Unterleutnant
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1

### Ranks at the Royal Military Academy

[edit]

Main article: Royal Military Academy (Belgium)

Rank group | Officer-Students (Master) | Student-Officers (Bachelor)

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Year | 5th and 4th | 3rd and 2nd | 1st
Belgian Land Component |  |  |  |  |
Onderluitenant KBO | Adjudant KBO | Sergeant KBO | Korporaal KBO | Soldaat KBO
Sous-lieutenant COC | Adjudant COC | Sergent COC | Caporal COC | Soldat COC
Unterleutnant | Adjudant | Sergeant | Korporal | Soldat
Belgian Navy |  |  |  |  |
Vaandrig-ter-zee 2e klasse KBO | 1e meester-chef KBO | Sergeant KBO | Korporaal KBO | Soldaat KBO
Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe COC | Premier maître-chef COC | Sergent COC | Caporal COC | Soldat COC
Seefahnrich 2. klasse | Erster Chefmeister | Sergeant | Korporal | Soldat
Belgian Air Component |  |  |  |  |
Onderluitenant KBO | Adjudant KBO | Sergeant KBO | Korporaal KBO | Soldaat KBO
Sous-lieutenant COC | Adjudant COC | Sergent COC | Caporal COC | Soldat COC
Unterleutnant | Adjudant | Sergeant | Korporal | Soldat
Belgian Medical Component |  |  |  |  |
Onderluitenant KBO | Adjudant KBO | Sergeant KBO | Korporaal KBO | Soldaat KBO
Sous-lieutenant COC | Adjudant COC | Sergent COC | Caporal COC | Soldat COC
Unterleutnant | Adjudant | Sergeant | Korporal | Soldat

Notes:

* Student-Officers attain the rank of Corporal, CCO after completing their military initiation phase ("MIP" ).
* Student-Officers attain the rank of Sergeant, CCO after the first winter camp when they complete the training at the 'individual' level and start their training at the 'team' and 'squad' level.
* Student-Officers take an oath after they receive their bachelor's degree and successfully complete their 'second native language' exam, thus becoming Officer-Students and attaining the rank of Lieutenant, CCO or branch equivalent.

## Enlisted ranks

[edit]

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1

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Rank group (NL)  | Hoofdonderofficieren | Keuronderofficieren | Lagere onderofficieren | Keurvrijwilligers | Lagere vrijwilligers
Rank group (FR)  | Sous-officiers supérieurs | Sous-officiers d'élite | Sous-officiers subalternes | Volontaires d'élite | Volontaires subalternes
Rank group (DE)  | Hochrangigeunteroffiziere | Eliteunteroffiziere | Niedriger Unteroffiziere | Elitefreiwillige | Niedriger Freiwillige
Belgian Land Component[2]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjudant-majoor | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | 1ste sergeant-majoor | 1ste sergeant-chef | 1ste sergeant | Sergeant | 1ste korporaal-chef | Korporaal-chef | Korporaal | 1ste soldaat | Soldaat
Adjudant-major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | 1e sergent-major | 1e sergent-chef | 1e sergent | Sergent | 1e caporal-chef | Caporal-chef | Caporal | 1 soldat | Soldat
Majoradjutant | Chefadjudant | Adjudant | 1er Sergeant major | 1er Sergeant chef | 1er Sergeant | Sergeant | 1er Korporal chef | Korporal chef | Korporal | 1er soldat | Soldat
Belgian Navy[3]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Oppermeester-chef | Oppermeester | Eerste meesterchef | Eerste meester | Meester-chef | Meester | Tweede meester | Eerste kwartiermeester-chef | Kwartiermeester-chef | Kwartiermeester | Eerste matroos | Matroos
Maître principal-chef | Maître-principal | Premier-maître chef | Premier maître | Maître-chef | Maître | Second-maître | Premier quartier-maître-chef | Quartier-maître-chef | Quartier maître | Premier matelot | Matelot
Chefhauptmeister | Hauptmeister | Erster chefmeister | Erster meister | Meister-chef | Meister | Zweiter meister | Erster oberquartiermeister | Oberquartiermeister | Quartiermeister | Erster matrose | Matrose
Belgian Air Component[4]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjudant-Majoor | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | 1ste sergeant-majoor | 1ste sergeant-chef | 1ste sergeant | Sergeant | 1ste korporaal-chef | Korporaal-chef | Korporaal | 1ste soldaat | Soldaat
Adjudant-Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Premier sergent-major | Premier sergent-chef | Premier sergent | Sergent | Premier caporal-chef | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Premier soldat | Soldat
Majoradjutant | Chefadjudant | Adjudant | 1er Sergeant Major | 1er Sergeant Chef | 1er Sergeant | Sergeant | 1er Korporal Chef | Korporal Chef | Korporal | 1er soldat | Soldat
Belgian Medical Component[5]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjudant-Majoor | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | 1ste sergeant-majoor | 1ste sergeant-chef | 1ste sergeant | Sergeant | 1ste korporaal-chef | Korporaal-chef | Korporaal | 1ste soldaat | Soldaat
Adjudant-Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | 1e sergent-major | 1e sergent-chef | 1e sergent | sergent | 1e caporal-chef | Caporal-chef | Caporal | 1e soldat | Soldat
Majoradjutant | Chefadjudant | Adjudant | 1er Sergeant Major | 1er Sergeant Chef | 1er Sergeant | Sergeant | 1er Korporal Chef | Korporal Chef | Korporal | 1er soldat | Soldat
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1

### Notes

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Belgian military ranks" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

* CSM is an appointment at the Company level for individuals with the rank of First Sergeant or higher. Its insignia is that of the normal rank with a small crown at the top.
* RSM (Adjudant de corps/korpsadjudant) is an appointment at the Corps level for individuals with the rank of Warrant Officer or higher, this is the most senior NCO in the corps. Its insignia is that of the normal rank with a big crown at the top.
* Corps Corporal (Caporal de corps/korpskorporaal) is an appointment at the Corps level for individuals with the rank of 1st master corporal, its insignia is that of the 1st master corporal with a crown at the top.
* The rank names relating to corporal and sergeant are replaced with "brigadier" and "maréchal des logis/wachtmeester" in application to personnel of units whose traditions are related to or descend from horse units. These include the cavalry, artillery, and logistics units. Similarly, in the cavalry units, the lowest rank is named "cavalier/ruiter", they are addressed the title "Monsieur/Mijnheer", a remnant of the aristocratic origins of horse mounted units; it was sought to remove these names in March 2013, retaining only the generic rank names.

* Caporal de corps / Korpskorporaal of korpsbrigadier

## Medical Component rank variations

[edit]

* Dentist Ranks of the medical component.

* Doctor Ranks of the medical component.

* Pharmacist Ranks of the medical component.

* Veterinarian Ranks of the medical component.

* Medical Support Corps Ranks of the medical component.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "28 FEVRIER 2007. — Loi fixant le statut des militaires du cadre actif des Forces armées". Moniteur Belge (in French). 177 (108): 19814–19816\. 10 April 2007.
2. ^ a b "IPR Landcomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
3. ^ a b "Marinecomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
4. ^ a b "IPR Luchtcomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
5. ^ a b "IPR Medische component". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* "Belgium". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 25 November 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Military ranks and insignia by country

* List of comparative military ranks

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* DR Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with
limited recognition|

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Former|

* People's Republic of Angola
* Biafra
* Bophuthatswana
* Ciskei
* Kingdom of Egypt
* Ethiopian Empire
* Katanga
* People's Republic of Mozambique
* Rhodesia
* South West Africa
* Transkei
* Venda
* Zaire

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Apartheid States in Southern Africa

Americas|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Enlisted:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Other:
* Marine Corps
* Space Force
* Warrant officer
* Opposing forces
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Former|

* Canada (pre-Unification)
* Confederate States of America
* Union
* Army
* Navy
* Costa Rica
* Republic of Cuba
* Empire of Brazil
* Panama
* Republic of Texas
* Army
* Navy
* United States Army enlisted
* World War I
* World War II

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Asia|

* Afghanistan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* PR of China
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Rocket Force
* Armed Police
* India
* Army
* Air Force
* Navy
* Coast Guard
* Border Roads Organisation
* Paramilitary forces
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Korea
* North
* South
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Marines
* Civil Armed Forces
* Maritime Security Agency
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan (Republic of China)

Former|

* Artsakh
* China
* Empire
* Republic (1912–1949)
* Dutch East Indies
* East Turkestan (Second Republic)
* People's Republic of Kampuchea
* Imperial Iran
* Imperial Japan
* Army
* Navy
* Korea
* Empire
* Liberation Army
* Kingdom of Laos
* Manchukuo
* Mengjiang
* Mongolian People's Republic
* Vietnam
* State
* South
* South Yemen
* Tibet
* Tuva

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Europe|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Home Guard
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Army
* Navy
* Gendarmerie
* Air and Space Force
* Foresters
* Germany
* Georgia
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Land Forces
* Coast Guard
* Ireland
* Italy
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Carabinieri
* Finance Guard
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* North Macedonia
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Cossacks
* Between 1994 and 2010
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Other:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Vatican

States with
limited recognition|

* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* Transnistria

Former|

* Albania
* Kingdom
* People's Socialist Republic
* Austria–Hungary
* Army
* Navy
* Bulgaria
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Independent State of Croatia
* Czechoslovakia
* German Empire
* Weimar Republic
* Nazi Germany
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* East Germany
* Kingdom of Greece
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* France
* Napoleonic Grand Army
* Hungary
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Italy
* Kingdom
* Social Republic
* Ottoman Empire
* Polish People's Republic
* Republika Srpska
* Romania
* Kingdom
* Socialist Republic
* Russian Empire
* White Movement
* Slovakia (First Republic)
* Soviet Union
* 1918–35
* 1935–40
* 1940–43
* 1943–55
* 1955–91
* Spain
* 2nd Republic
* State
* Yugoslavia
* Kingdom
* Socialist Federal Republic
* Federal Republic

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Oceania|

* Australia
* Fiji
* New Zealand
* Papua New Guinea
* Tonga
* Vanuatu

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Language|

| Anglophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

|

Arabophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Francophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Gendarmerie
* Officers
* Enlisted

Hispanophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Lusophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Military police
* Officers
* Enlisted

Post-Soviet states|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Commonwealth of Nations|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

European Union|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

NATO|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air Force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Comparative ranks of

* Star ranking
* WWI
* Officers
* WWII
* Officers
* Women's services
* Marine forces
* Space forces
* Gendarmeries
* UK and US

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