Israel Defense Forces ranks

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Video clips showing IDF soldiers with their ranks' insignias, from the archive of the Israeli News Company of Israel's Channel 2

The ranks in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reflect an individual's level in the military.

IDF ranks are divided into three groups: enlisted ranks, from Private to First Sergeant; non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks, from Staff Sergeant to Chief Warrant Officer; and officer ranks, from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant General. The rank insignia for enlisted personnel are worn on the arm, between the elbow and the shoulder, while the ranks of NCOs and officers are worn on the shoulder epaulettes of the shirt.[1]

Because the IDF is an integrated force, ranks are the same in all branches (there is no differentiation between army, navy, air force, etc.) The ranks are derived from those in the paramilitary Haganah, which operated during the Mandate period in order to protect the Yishuv.[2]

## Commissioned officer ranks

[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers are listed below, in descending order.

Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

|
|
|

Native name[3] | רב-אלוף
Rav aluf | אלוף
Aluf | תת-אלוף
Tat aluf | אלוף משנה
Aluf mishne | סגן-אלוף
Sgan aluf | רב סרן
Rav séren | סרן
Séren | סגן
Segen | סגן-משנה
Segen mishne
Literal translation  | Master champion  | Champion  | Sub-champion  | Second champion  | Deputy champion  | Master lord  | Lord  | Deputy  | Second deputy
Official translation[4] | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant
Army
(service)  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Navy
(service)  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Navy
(sleeve)  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Air force
(service)  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Native name[3] | רב-אלוף
Rav aluf | אלוף
Aluf | תת-אלוף
Tat aluf | אלוף משנה
Aluf mishne | סגן-אלוף
Sgan aluf | רב סרן
Rav séren | סרן
Séren | סגן
Segen | סגן-משנה
Segen mishne
Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

Officers (ktzinim): Volunteers who have completed the officer's course. Officers serve for at least 36 months (3 years) for women in non-combat positions and 44 months (3 years, 8 months) for men. Positions in specialized units require their officers to serve for more than this (for example, seven years for pilots). Promotions are based on ability and time served. It takes about a year to be promoted from 2nd lieutenant to lieutenant and three years to be promoted from lieutenant to captain. Officers without a university education can be promoted to a maximum of Rav Seren (Major), with the IDF often sponsoring the studies for their majors.

Officer insignia varies by service: army officers have bronze-metal insignia (replaced with subdued black-metal insignia in 2002); navy officers gold-metal insignia or gold braid bars; and air force officers silver-metal insignia.

### Student officer ranks

[edit]

Academic officers (ktzinim akademaim): Special rank given to soldiers who have not completed officers' training after completing a professional education (usually in engineering, medicine, or law) and returning to service. A kama is equivalent to a lieutenant, and a ka'ab is equivalent to a captain. Officers of these ranks are considered professional manpower and rarely take posts of command. Upon finally completing officers' training, an academic officer is immediately awarded the corresponding "real" rank due to their experience in grade. Their insignia bars are embossed with scrolls (megilot) rather than laurel branches (aronot).

Rank group  |  | Officer cadet

|
|

Native name[3] | קצין אקדמאי מיוחד
Katzín akademai meyuchad | קצין אקדמאי בכיר
Katzín akademai bakhír | קצין מקצועי אקדמאי
Katzín miktsoí akademai
Literal translation  | Officer academic special  | Officer academic senior  | Officer professional academic
Official translation[4] | Special academic officer  | Senior academic officer  | Professional academic officer
Army
(service)  |  |  |
Navy
(service)  |  |  |
Air force
(service)  |  |  |
Native name[3] | קצין אקדמאי מיוחד
Katzín akademai meyuchad | קצין אקדמאי בכיר
Katzín akademai bakhír | קצין מקצועי אקדמאי
Katzín miktsoí akademai

## Enlisted ranks

[edit]

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, in descending order.

Rank group  | Non-commissioned officer  | Enlisted

|
|

Native name[3] | רב-נגד
Rav nagad | רב-סמל בכיר
Rav samal bakhír | רב-סמל מתקדם
Rav samal mitkadem | רב-סמל ראשון
Rav samal rishon | רב-סמל
Rav samal | סמל ראשון
Samal rishon | סמל
Samal | רב טוראי
Rav turai | טוראי
Turai
Literal translation  | Master non-commissioned officer  | Senior master sergeant  | Advanced master sergeant  | First master sergeant  | Master sergeant  | First sergeant  | Supernumerary lieutenant (acronym)  | Master of the line  | Of the line
Official translation[4] | Chief warrant officer | Warrant officer | Sergeant major | Master sergeant | Sergeant first class | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Private
Army  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
Navy  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
Air force  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
Rank group  | Non-commissioned officer  | Enlisted

Non-commissioned officers (nagadim): The professional non-commissioned and warrant ranks, drawn from volunteers who signed on for military service after completing conscription. They usually are assigned to head-up the headquarters staff of a unit. Samal is a Hebrew abbreviation for segen mi-khutz la-minyan, which translates as "supernumerary lieutenant"; it is a Field NCO rank equivalent to a British or Commonwealth "Lance Corporal." Rav samal translates as "chief sergeant"; it is a career NCO rank equivalent to a British or Commonwealth "Corporal" with successive ranks moving up to "Warrant Officer." Nagad is a variant of the biblical word nagid, which means "ruler" or "leader". Rav nagad is a senior staff NCO rank equivalent to the American E-9 ranks of "Sergeant Major" or "Chief Master Sergeant" or "Master Chief Petty Officer."

Enlisted (hogrim): The conscript and field NCO ranks. All Jewish, Druze and Circassian conscripts must start their compulsory service at 18 (unless they receive a deferment); Christians, Muslims, and Circassians may volunteer at 17 or older. Enlisted male conscripts serve for 32 months (2 years and 8 months) and female conscripts serve for 24 months (2 years). In the IDF enlisted ranks are earned by means of time in service (pazam), rather than by a particular post or assignment. After 4 to 12 months the conscript is promoted to rav turai, after 18 to 20 months promoted to samal, and after 24 to 32 months is promoted to samal rishon. (This means that female conscripts reach no higher than samal during their compulsory service, unless they serve in combat positions or volunteer for longer terms.)

Field NCOs (samal and samal rishon) who command sub-units (fire team or squad, respectively) are called mashak. This is an abbreviation that translates into English literally as "non-commissioned officer". It is a term of respect like the French Army's chef ("chief").

Recruits (tironim): Upon enlistment to military service in Israel, all soldiers begin a basic training course and undergo several weeks or months of 'integration' from citizens to soldiers. This course is called tironut ("recruit training") and the soldier being trained on this course is called a tiron (or "recruit"). This is often erroneously interpreted as a rank, similar to the US Army's private (E-1); tironim are ranked as turai (private), the same rank and paygrade as newly trained conscripts.[5]

Both officers and enlisted personnel have an obligation to serve in the Reserves after completing their active military service. Male personnel serve until 41–51 years old while female personnel serve until 24 years old.

## Obsolete ranks

[edit]

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|

Rank name, rank equivalent  | Insignia

|

ממלא מקום קצין (ממ״ק)
Memale makom katzín (initials: Mamak)
(Acting officer or aspirant; A brevet officer ranking below a junior lieutenant)

(Memale makom translates as "substitute", and katzin means "officer")
(Memale makom literally translates as "filling in the place")
[Existed from the 1960s until 1994]  |
רב-נגד משנה (רנ״ם)
Rav nagad mishne (initials: Ranam)

(Warrant officer, senior specialist professional)
(it translates as "junior chief warrant officer" or "junior chief NCO")
In practice the rank is not used |
Army  |
Air Force  |
Navy
סמל בכיר (סמ״ב)
Samal bakhír (initials: Samab)

(First Sergeant, it translates as "Senior Sergeant")
[Existed 1948–1952; no longer in use. (See comments in notes in the bottom)]  |
רב טוראי ראשון (רט״ר)
Rav turái rishón (initials: Ratár)

(First corporal, it translates as "chief private first class")
[Existed 1972–1982; no longer in use. (See comments in notes in the bottom)]  |
טוראי ראשון (טר״ש)
Turai rishon (initials: Tarash)

(Private E-3 or private first class)
[Existed until 1999; no longer in use. (See comments in notes in the bottom)]  |

The rank of memale makom katzín, initials: Mamak (ממלא מקום קצין) or "substitute officer", was created in the 1960s. The rank was considered below a 2nd lieutenant (initials: sagam). It indicated a cadet in the Israeli army who had finished the basic preparation for an officer rank (קורס קצינים בסיסי), but for some reason abandoned their studies, failed to complete the professional officer preparation (השלמה חיילית), or completed it with a minimal passing grade but was still found worthy of command. They occupied the lowest officer posts until a normal officer rank was found for the position. Those who finished the officer preparation with a minimal passing grade and were substituting in a command position were eligible for promotion to normal officer rank after a set period. It was discontinued in 1994.

The rank of Samal Bakhír, initials: Samab ("Senior Sergeant") was used from 1948 to 1952. It was the equivalent of a US Army First Sergeant. It was replaced by the rank of Rav Samal Yekhidati ("Unit Senior Sergeant"), similar to a British or Commonwealth Army Warrant Officer II (Company Sergeant Major).

The rank of rav turái rishón, initials: Ratash, or "chief private first class", was used from 1972 to 1982. There was an expansion of staff NCO ranks during this period and the higher rank was offered to conscripts who planned to enlist after completing their national service.

The rank of turai rishon, initials: Tarash, or "private first class", was disestablished in the Regular IDF in 1990. It still continued to be used in the Reserves until it was finally discontinued in 1999. Privates now retain their rank until promoted to corporal, usually after 10 months of peacetime service or 6 months for support roles or 4 months for combatants during hostilities. Corporals in combat units traditionally do not wear their rank insignia, remaining without insignia until they are promoted to the rank of sergeant.

## Insignia

[edit]

Aiguillettes, Srochim in Hebrew are worn on the left shoulder of the uniform to indicate a soldier's specific role in a unit:[6]

* Azure: Ceremony Unit, Combat Hummer Operators, Military School student instructors in the Air Force
* Azure/Green: Combat Hummer Operator instructors
* Azure/Purple: Reserves Coordinators
* Black: Instructors in Bahad 1 (Officer School)/Instructors in the Flight Academy/Instructors in the Naval Academy/Instructors in Paramedic course
* Black/Creme: Military Rabbinate attacheś
* Black/Green: Commanders in the Squad Commanders’ Course in the Artillery Corps, Magal Unit [he], Combat Engineering Corps, Armored Aid, Infantry Corps, Reserves Instructors at Bahad 7 [he], Commanders and Instructors in School for Computer Professions [he], Tank Commander course instructors, Instructors in Bahad 20 [he], Platoon Sergeants in Bahad 13 [he], Senior Instructors in Bahad 11 [he]
* Black/Orange: Combat Engineering course graduates
* Black/White: "Scientific Teaching" Officers
* Black/Yellow: Chemical Warfare officers, instructors and NCOs
* Blue/Red: Military Police
* Blue/White: Chief NCOs of a Base
* Burgundy: Courseware Developers
* Burgundy/Grey: Special-needs inclusion tutors in the Titkadmu [he] program
* Brown: Behavioral sciences diagnostics, "Return to regular service" diagnostics (Military Police), Weekly trainee squad commanders (Air Force), Quartermaster NCOs in the Combat Engineering Corps and Magal Unit [he] Bases
* Dark Blue: Air Force Intelligence Instructors, Psychotechnical diagnostics, Navy Instructors, Platoon Sergeants at Bahad 7 [he].
* Green: Section/Squad Commanders
* Green/Blue: Soldiers responsible for the recruitement process
* Green/Purple: Service Rights Attaché instructors
* Green/Red: Emergency population instructors
* Green/White: Instructors in the Military Intelligence Directorate
* Grey: Educators/Teachers (in the Education and Youth Corps)
* Orange/Azure: Search and Rescue officers, instructors and NCOs
* Purple: Service Rights Attaché
* Red: IDF Orchestra (right shoulder), Navy Instructor (left shoulder), Apprentice-Responsible (left shoulder, only during training)
* Red/White: Ram 2 [he] NCOs
* White: Security Guards, Discipline Attaché (Navy)
* Yellow/White: Field Intelligence Instructors

(Only in Shocarim Cadet Schools in the IAF)

* Light Blue: Commander of a class
* Dark Blue:  Senior Commander of a class/Commander of a grade
* Grey:  Private Teachers

(Only in Shocarim Navy Cadet Schools in the IN)

* Red: Commander of a class
* Green: Household officer
* Red/Yellow: Base Chief
* Red/Black: Base Chief's right hand
* Red/Green: Adjutant
* Dark Blue: Class Instructor
* Red/White: head of the Cadet's council
* Dark Green/Black: Chief of security

## History

[edit]

When the IDF was created in 1948, there were 7 enlisted and NCO ranks, and 8 officer ranks. The ranks were as follows:[7]

Enlisted | Insignia | Officer | Insignia

|
|
|

Rav samal (ras) [1948–1951]
("Chief sergeant", master sergeant)
Rav samal rishon (rasar) [1951–1955] ("chief sergeant first class", master sergeant)  | An oak leaf within a laurel wreath on a red cloth circle (sleeve) [1948]
An oak leaf over a sword within a laurel wreath (cuff) [1951]
A vertical entwined sword and olive branch in a Star of David within a laurel wreath (cuff) [1968]
2 chevrons (epaulet) [1990–1998]  | Rav aluf ("chief general", lieutenant general)  | An oak leaf within a laurel wreath [1948]
An oak leaf over an oak leaf within a laurel wreath [1950]
2 oak leaves over a crossed sword and olive branch [1950]
Rav samal (ras) [1951–1967]
("chief sergeant", master sergeant)
Rav Samal (ras) [1968–Present]
("chief sergeant", master sergeant)  | An oak leaf within a laurel wreath (cuff) [1951]
An oak leaf in a Star of David within a laurel wreath (cuff) [1968]
1 chevron (epaulet) [1990–1998]  | Aluf ("general", major general) [1950–present]  | 1 oak leaf over a crossed sword and olive branch [1950]
Samal bakhír [1948–1951]
("senior sergeant", first sergeant)  | A small oak leaf within a laurel wreath on 3 half chevrons  | Aluf [1948–1950]
aluf-mishneh ("junior general", colonel) [1951–present]  | 3 oak leaves
Samal rishon
("sergeant first class", staff sergeant)  | A small oak leaf on 3 half chevrons  | Sgan aluf ("deputy general", lieutenant colonel)  | 2 oak leaves
Samal (sergeant)  | 3 half chevrons  | Rav seren ("chief captain", major)  | 1 oak leaf
Rav turai ("chief private", corporal)  | 2 half chevrons  | Seren (captain)  | 3 bars
Turai rishon (private first class) [1948–1999]  | 1 half chevron  | Segen rishon (Lieutenant 1st class) [1948–1951]
Segen (lieutenant) [1951–present]  | 2 bars
Turai (private)  | No insignia  | Segen (lieutenant) [1948–1951]
Segen mishne (junior lieutenant) [1951–present]  | 1 bar
IDF Ranks in 1949

IDF Ranks and their insignia were initially influenced by the British / Commonwealth model. This was due to the average Israeli servicemen's experience in the Commonwealth forces during World War Two.[dubious - discuss] This was later reformed when the IDF started to adopt a rank system similar to the United States armed forces in 1973 and the 1990s.

Rank insignia were originally cut from cloth or embroidered onto cloth patches. Bronze-metal officer's rank insignia worn on a red cloth backing were introduced for the army in 1949. Enlisted stripes for all arms were originally individual white half-chevrons with space between them. In an economy move, senior NCOs were distinguished by using the same bronze insignia (an oak-leaf or oak-leaf-in-a-wreath) as senior officers pinned to their sleeve insignia. In 1951 the Navy adopted golden-yellow half-chevrons and the Air Force adopted blue half chevrons.

A samal rishon was equal to a British Army staff sergeant / colour sergeant or a US Army technical sergeant (sergeant first class) / platoon sergeant. For the other services, the bronze-metal oak-leaf on the army's samal rishon rank insignia was replaced with a yellow anchor in a white hexagon for the Navy and a blue Star of David on a white circle for the Air Force. This was later replaced in 1951 with a gold-metal oak leaf for the Navy and a silver-metal oak leaf for the Air Force.

A Samal Bakhír (1948–1951) was equivalent to a US Army First Sergeant. The rank insignia was a small bronze oak leaf in a wreath on 3 white half-chevrons for the Army; a yellow anchor in a yellow-bordered (1948) or solid-yellow (1950) hexagon on 3 white half-chevrons for the Navy; and a blue Star of David in a blue-bordered circle on 3 white half-chevrons for the Air Force. It was replaced by the reorganized Rav Samal rank in 1951 and the new Rav Samal Yehidati rank by 1955.

A Rav Samal (1951–1967) was equivalent to a British Army Warrant Officer II (Company Sergeant Major). The rank insignia was an Oak Leaf in a Laurel Wreath. It came in bronze-metal on a red enamel backing for the Army, gold-metal for the Navy, and silver-metal for the Air Force. It was worn on the lower right sleeve of the shirt or jacket or on a leather wrist strap when wearing short-sleeve order. It was divided into Rav-Samal Miktzoi ("Specialist Chief Sergeant"; a technical NCO) and Rav Samal Yekhidati ("Unit Chief Sergeant"; a command NCO) from 1955 to 1958.

A Rav Samal (1948–1951) was equivalent to a US Army Master Sergeant or Sergeant Major. The rank insignia was originally an oak leaf in a laurel wreath for the Army, a large yellow anchor in a yellow-bordered (1948) or solid-yellow (1950) hexagon for the Navy, and a large blue Star of David in a bordered circle for the Air Force. The rank was renamed Rav Samal Rishon (1951–Present) and was equivalent to a British Army Warrant Officer I (Regimental Sergeant Major). The new rank also received new insignia made of metal: an Oak Leaf over a vertical Sword in a Laurel Wreath. It came in bronze-metal on a red enamel backing for the Army, gold-metal for the Navy, and silver-metal for the Air Force. It was worn on the lower right sleeve of the shirt or jacket or on a leather wrist strap when wearing short-sleeve order. It was divided into Rav Samal Rishon Miktzoi ("Specialist Chief Sergeant First Class"; a technical NCO) and Rav Samal Rishon Yekhidati ("Unit Chief Sergeant First Class"; a command NCO) from 1955 to 1958.

### Early ranks of the IDF (1948–1951)

[edit]

From 1948 to 1951, IDF Ranks for each branch of service (the Ground, Sea, and Air Forces) had unique titles and distinct insignia.

US Army Rank  | IDF Army (Kheylot ha-Yabasha)  | IDF Navy (Kheyl ha-Yam)  | IDF Air Force (Kheyl ha-Avir)

|
|
|

Private  | Turai | Malakh ("Crewman") [1948–1951]  | Avirai ("Airman") [1948–1951]
Private First Class  | Turai Rishon | Malakh Rishon ("Crewman First Class") [1948–1951]  | Avirai Rishon ("Airman First Class") [1948–1951]
Corporal  | Rav Turai | Rav Malakh ("Chief Crewman") [1948–1951]  | Avirai Musmakh ("Senior Airman") [1948–1951]
Sergeant  | Samal | Samal ("Petty Officer")  | Samal Avir ("Sergeant") [1948–1951]
Staff Sergeant  | Samal Rishon | Samal Rishon ("Petty Officer First Class")  | Samal Tayas ("Flight Sergeant") [1948–1951]
Sergeant First Class  | Rav-Samal | Rav-Samal ("Chief Petty Officer")  | Samal Teufa ("Technical Sergeant") [1948–1951]
Master Sergeant  | Rav-Samal Rishon | Rav-Samal Rishon
("Chief Petty Officer First Class")  | Katsin Avir ("Acting Aviation Officer") [1948–1951]
Officer Candidate | \-  | Meshit ("Junior Officer" - Midshipman) [1948–1951]  | \-
Second Lieutenant  | Segen | Sgan Khovel ("Deputy Officer" - 'Ensign') [1948–1951]  | Pakkad Avir ("Junior Pilot Officer") [1948–1951]
First Lieutenant  | Segen Rishon | Khovel ("Officer" – Lieutenant) [1948–1951]  | Pakkad Tayas ("Pilot Officer") [1948–1951]
Captain  | Seren | Khovel Rishon ("Officer First Class" - Senior Lieutenant) [1948–1951]  | Pakkad Teufa ("Flying Officer") [1948–1951]
Major  | Rav Seren | Rav Khovel ("Chief Officer" - Lieutenant Commander) [1948–1951]  | Rosh Tayeset ("Squadron Leader") [1948–1951]
Lieutenant-Colonel  | Sgan aluf | Sgan Kabarnit ("Deputy Captain" - Commander) [1948–1951]  | Rosh Kanaf ("Wing Commander") [1948–1951]
Colonel  | Aluf [1948–1950] /
Aluf Mishne [1950–1951]  | Kabarnit ("Captain") [1948–1951]  | Rosh Lahak ("Air Command Leader" – Group captain) [1948–1951]
(Brigadier) General  | Aluf [1950–1951]  | Aluf Yam ("Naval General" - Commodore) [1950–1951]  | Aluf Avir ("Aviation General" - Air Commodore) [1950–1951]
Chief of Staff  | Rav Aluf ("Chief General" - Major General)  | \-  | \-

## See also

[edit]

* Israel Defense Forces insignia
* List of comparative military ranks

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ranks of the Israeli army - Militär Wissen". Retrieved 25 June 2024.
2. ^ Shafrir, Asher. "The Names of Israeli Military Ranks and their linguistic analysis". Academia.
3. ^ a b c d e "עושים לכם סדר בדרגות" [Order of ranks]. idf.il (in Hebrew). Israel Defense Forces. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
4. ^ a b c "Ranks". idf.il. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
5. ^ Laffin, John (1982). The Israeli Army in The Middle East Wars (1948-1973). Men At Arms Series #127. London: Osprey Press. pp. Plate G5 and page 38.
6. ^ "Israeli army ranks and what's what". Arik933.
7. ^ Wallach, Jeuda; Lorekh, Netanel; Yitzhaki, Aryeh (1978). "Battles of the Jordan Valley". In Evyatar Nur (ed.). Carta's Atlas of Israel (in Hebrew). Volume 2: The First Years 1948–1961. Jerusalem, Israel: Carta. p. 91.

* Metz, Helen Chapin (1990). "National Security". Israel: a country study. Area Handbook (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 298\. LCCN 90006119. Retrieved 6 December 2022.

* v
* t
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Israel Defense Forces

Arms / commands / directorates / attachés

| Arms|

* Sea Corps (Navy)
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|

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Directorates|

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|

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Divisions

| Regular|

* 36th Armored
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|

Territorial|

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Reserve|

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Insignia

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Other topics

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* v
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* e

Military ranks and insignia by country

* List of comparative military ranks

Africa|

* Algeria
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States with
limited recognition|

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
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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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