Greek military ranks

Modern Greek military ranks are based on Ancient Greek and Byzantine terminology.

In the army and air force, these names are often based on the unit or post that a holder of each rank usual commands. For example, a tagmatarchis is in charge of a tagma, which is derived from an Ancient Greek word translatable as "command", "order", or "class", and in modern Greek is a unit equivalent to a battalion in other armies; hence a modern tagmatarchis is a rank equivalent to major in other armies. Similarly, a lochagos normally commands a lochos (a word that originally meant "warband"), which in Ancient Greece was a 100-strong hoplite unit, but in modern Greek usage is equivalent to an infantry company. Hence a lochagos is the equivalent of a captain in other armies, and the modern Greek equivalent of an army first lieutenant is the modern neologism ypolochagos: literally, "sub-captain". Likewise, the modern Greek equivalent of a sergeant is a lochias.

The suffixes -agos and -archos (or -arches), which are often found in Greek rank names, are derived from the roots agein "to lead" and archein "to rule", respectively.

## Air Force

[edit]

The Hellenic Air Force, is the youngest of the three services (founded in 1930). Its insignia are based on the British Royal Air Force, while it uses Army rank titles when translated to English.[1]

### Officer ranks

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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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Hellenic Air Force[2]

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Πτέραρχος
Pterarchos | Αντιπτέραρχος
Antipterarchos | Υποπτέραρχος
Ypopterarchos | Ταξίαρχος
Taxiarchos | Σμήναρχος
Sminarchos | Αντισμήναρχος
Antisminarchos | Επισμηναγός
Episminagos | Σμηναγός
Sminagos | Υποσμηναγός
Yposminagos | Ανθυποσμηναγός
Anthyposminagos |

### NCO and other ranks

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

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Hellenic Air Force[2]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ανθυπασπιστής[a]
Anthypaspistis | Αρχισμηνίας
Archisminias | Επισμηνίας
Episminias | Σμηνίας
Sminias | Υποσμηνίας
Yposminias | Σμηνίτης
Sminitis
Greece
(Conscripts) | No equivalent

* * *

|  |  | No insignia
Κληρωτός Σμηνίας
Klirotos Sminias | Σμηνίτης
Sminitis

## Army

[edit]

Officer ranks retain the style introduced in 1970, with the flaming grenade replacing (since 1975) the phoenix introduced by the Regime of the Colonels in 1973.

### Officer ranks

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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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Hellenic Army[3]

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Στρατηγός
Stratigos | Αντιστράτηγος
Antistratigos | Υποστράτηγος
Ypostratigos | Ταξίαρχος
Taxiarchos | Συνταγματάρχης
Syntagmatarchis | Αντισυνταγματάρχης
Antisyntagmatarchis | Ταγματάρχης
Tagmatarchis | Λοχαγός
Lochagos | Υπολοχαγός
Ypolochagos | Ανθυπολοχαγός
Anthypolochagos

### NCO and other ranks

[edit]

NCO ranks (excl. OR-9 and conscript ranks) have undergone some changes through the years, the latest being in 2004.[4]

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

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Hellenic Army[5]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Arm/corps insignia only
Ανθυπασπιστής[a]
Anthypaspistis | Αρχιλοχίας
Archilochias | Επιλοχίας
Epilochias | Λοχίας
Lochias | Δεκανέας
Dekaneas | Υποδεκανέας
Ypodekaneas | Στρατιώτης
Stratiotis
Greece
(Conscripts) |  | No equivalent

* * *

|  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
Δόκιμος Έφεδρος Αξιωματικός
Dokimos Efedros Axiomatikos[a] | Λοχίας
Lochias | Δεκανέας
Dekaneas | Υποδεκανέας
Ypodekaneas | Υποψήφιος Έφεδρος Βαθμοφόρος
Ypopsifios Efedros Bathmoforos | Στρατιώτης
Stratiotis

## Navy

[edit]

Officer ranks retain the structure introduced in 1936, whilst NCO ranks have undergone changes after 1975.

### Officer ranks

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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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Hellenic Navy[6]

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Ναύαρχος
Navarchos | Αντιναύαρχος
Antinavarchos | Υποναύαρχος
Yponavarchos | Αρχιπλοίαρχος
Archiploiarchos | Πλοίαρχος
Ploiarchos | Αντιπλοίαρχος
Antiploiarchos | Πλωτάρχης
Plotarchis | Υποπλοίαρχος
Ypoploiarchos | Ανθυποπλοίαρχος
Anthypoploiarchos | Σημαιοφόρος
Simaioforos

### NCO and other ranks

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

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Hellenic Navy[7]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
male |
female |  |
male |
female
Ανθυπασπιστής[a]
Anthypaspistis | Αρχικελευστής
Archikelefstis | Επικελευστής
Epikelefstis | Κελευστής
Kelefstis | Δίοπος
Diopos | Ναύτης
Naftis
Greece
(Conscripts) |  | No equivalent

* * *

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Σημαιοφόρος Επίκουρος Αξιωματικός
Simaioforos Epikouros Axiomatikos | Κελευστής
Kelefstis | Δίοπος
Diopos | Ναύτης
Naftis

## See also

[edit]

* Military of Greece
* Kingdom of Greece Army Ranks
* Royal Hellenic Navy rank insignia
* Royal Hellenic Air Force ranks

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Greece has only one level of Warrant Officer. According to the current issue (2021) of STANAG 2116, the Greek Warrant Officers are included in OR-9, however they are afforded the privileges of an officer. See STANAG 2116 note 29, page D-9

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Hellenic Airforce Ranks".
2. ^ a b "Διακριτικά" [Ranks]. haf.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Air Force. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
3. ^ "Επωμίδες Φ/Π Στολών" [Shoulders for PV Uniforms]. army.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Army. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
4. ^ tanea.gr (2004-10-11). "Aλλάζουν το εθνόσημο και οι «σαρδέλες»". ΤΑ ΝΕΑ (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-06-10.
5. ^ "Διακριτικά Φ/Π Στολών Υπαξιωματικών Αποφοίτων ΣΜΥ" [Badges F / P Uniforms of Non-Commissioned Officer Graduates]. army.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Army. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
6. ^ "Διακριτικά Βαθμών Προσωπικού ΠΝ" [Insignia of Personnel Ranks]. hellenicnavy.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Navy. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
7. ^ "Διακριτικά Βαθμών Προσωπικού ΠΝ" [Insignia of Personnel Degrees]. hellenicnavy.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Navy. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Hellenic Airforce Ranks, Hellenic Air Force website
* Διακριτικά Ελληνικού Στρατού (Hellenic Army Insignia), Hellenic Army website
* Διακριτικά Βαθμών Προσωπικού ΠΝ (Hellenic Navy Personnel Rank Insignia), Hellenic Navy website

* v
* t
* e

Hellenic Armed Forces

Governing bodies|

* Ministry of National Defence
* Hellenic National Defence General Staff
* KYSEA
* National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister
* Council of General Staff Chiefs
* Council of Defence
* Supreme Military Councils
* Supreme Army Council
* Supreme Naval Council
* Supreme Air Force Council

Branches|

* Hellenic Navy
* Chief
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* Chief
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* Chief
* General Staff

Equipment|

* Hellenic Navy
* Current
* Historical
* Hellenic Army
* Current
* Historical
* Hellenic Air Force
* Current
* Historical

Academies
and schools|

| Officer academies|

* Hellenic Military Academy
* Hellenic Air Force Academy
* Hellenic Naval Academy
* Hellenic Corps Officers Military Academy
* Nursing Officer School

|

NCO academies|

* Hellenic Army Non-Commissioned Officers Academy
* Hellenic Navy Petty Οfficers Academy
* Hellenic Air Force Administrative Non-Commissioned Officers Academy
* Hellenic Air Force Radio Navigators Academy
* Hellenic Air Force Technical Non-Commissioned Officers Academy

Staff academies|

* Hellenic National Defence College (HNDC)
* Hellenic Supreme Joint War College (HSJWC)
* Hellenic Army War College (HAWC)
* Hellenic Naval War College (HNWC)
* Hellenic Air Force War College (HAFWC)

Related|

* Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Athens)
* National Guard
* Defence Battalions
* Military Police
* Special Forces
* NATO
* Balkan Battlegroup
* SEEBRIG
* ELDYK
* Presidential Guard

Other|

* Bases
* Army uniforms
* Ranks
* Military awards and decorations
* Military history
* Conscription
* Defence industry
* MOMA
* Football team

Greece portal

* v
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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
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* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
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* 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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