A new law approved in July 2008 changed the military ranks of Venezuela. The law was sanctioned by Venezuela's National Assembly, in terms of names, functions and commanding regulation of the armed forces.
The main changes are for the General Officer Ranks, with the incorporation of the “Comandante en Jefe” rank, the upgrading of the “General en Jefe/Almirante en Jefe” Rank, and the creation of the “Mayor General/Almirante” Rank.
Even before these legal changes, the Venezuelan Military ranks system were always notably complex and differs a lot from other armies in Latin America. It has 3 types of Non Commissioned Officers: Technical NCO's and Warrant Officers, Professional NCO's and Enlisted NCO's, the largest ever in any military force worldwide.
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The office of the Venezuelan military supreme commander has always been held by the President of Venezuela as per constitutional requirements, however with the new law sanctioned in 2008, the “Comandante en Jefe” is not only a function attributed to the executive branch, but is now set to be a military rank equivalent to a Five Stars General or a Marshall. Anybody who gets elected President of Venezuela is incorporated to the military with a full commissioned officer status and will have a uniform.
Chávez retired as Lieutenant Colonel in the Army in 1992, but with this new responsibility he is reinstated in the army and has the right to wear a uniform and distinctive shoulder badge and sleeve insignia. He was also given a sword. This rank holds the direct operational control and command over all armed forces, and is held while he is in the presidential role.
The position is a copy of the one used by Fidel Castro in Cuba, and the design of the shoulder patch are very similar, but not in the shoulder board since Venzuelan military ranks are inspired by German (especially Prussian) military influence.
For the Army, National Guard, Air Force and the new Bolivarian National Militia, these are the ranks:
Army officers' rank insignia are in shoulder boards similar to the German Army, especially its Prussian predecessor. Since 2009 there are also technical officers who graduate and are commisioned from the Military Technical Academy, and hold the same ranks with the addition of the tecnico (technician) title from Lieutenants to Colonels.
For the Navy, these are the ranks for officers (note that the Venezuelan Marine Corps uses naval ranks instead of army-style ranks):
Like Cuba, the Venezuelan Navy's basic officer rank is that of an Ensign, similar to the United States Navy. All officer rank insignia (save for Admirals) use the Executive curl similar to those used in the Commonwealth and some other countries both on the shoulder boards and on the sleeve.
These are technical high-ranking non-commissioned personnel and warrant officers, with a technical and professional degree, which are usually assigned to technical positions inside the National Armed Forces and as warrant officers in the different service arms.
Army, National Guard, Air Force and Militia:
Navy:
These are the enlisted and NCO ranks and rates of the National Armed Forces.
Professional NCO's and Petty Officers (Army/Navy/National Guard/National Militia):
Professional NCO's (Air Force):
Enlisted Ranks(Army/Air Force/National Guard/Militia):
Enlisted Rates (Navy):
In the 5 military schools of Venezuela, special military ranks are used by officer candidates and aspirants.
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