Iraqi Army ranks insignia
This article is about the Iraqi Army ranks insignia.
Iraqi military ranks
Armies use ranks in order to achieve a chain of command, which is in turn responsible for smooth and orderly execution operations. The Iraqi military order uses a standard system of ranking in order to achieve these objectives.
History
The Iraqi military adopted its system of ranking from the British Army. The ranks are very similar of the American counterparts, but differ in insignia.
Officer ranks
| Order | Rank | Insignia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (highest) | Field marshal | مهيب |  |
| 2 | General | فريق أول |  |
| 3 | Lieutenant general | فريق |  |
| 4 | Major general | لواء |  |
| 5 | Brigadier general | عميد |  |
| 6 | Colonel | عقيد |  |
| 7 | Lieutenant colonel | مقدم |  |
| 8 | Major | رائد |  |
| 9 | Captain | نقيب |  |
| 10 | First lieutenant | ملازم أول |  |
| 11 (lowest) | Second lieutenant | ملازم |  |
Lower officer ranks
- 2nd lieutenant Mulazim (ملُازِم) is the junior officer and the first officer rank. It is portrayed by one star on the shoulder.
- 1st lieutenant Mulazim awwal (مُلازِم أوَّل) is the second rank of officer. It is portrayed by two stars on the shoulder.
- Captain Naqeeb (نقيب) is the third rank of officer. It is usually are the start of considerable responsibilities. They are portrayed by three stars on the shoulder.
- Major Rai'd (رائِد) is the fourth of the officer ranks, it is portrayed by the republican eagle.
- Lieutenant colonel Muqaddam (مُقَدَّم) is the junior grade for colonel and usually holds a great deal of responsibility, especially in the military medical field. It is portrayed by the republican eagle and a star.
- Colonel Aqeed (عقيد) is the senior officer for the type of officers listed above. It is portrayed by two stars and the republican eagle.
Senior officer ranks (generals)
- Brigadier general Amid (عميد) is the lowest general rank. They typically command brigades. They take command of the direct field operations and are directors of some corps. e.g. maintenance corps. It is portrayed by three stars in a triangle shape with the republican eagle above them.
- Major general Liwaa (لِواء) is the second but lowest general rank. Typically commands divisions. They are usually responsible in the highest military commands, with considerable authority. It is portrayed by two swords crossing with the republican eagle above them.
- Lieutenant general Fareeq (فَريق) is perhaps the rank with most of the general authority and responsibility. It is usually for direct assistants of the head of joint chiefs of staff of the military. It is portrayed by two crossing swords with a star and the republican eagle above them.
- General or full general Fareeq awwal (فريق أوَّل) is usually the head of joint chiefs of staff. He (after the prime minister who is the commander-in-chief based on the new Iraqi Constitution) has the most authority over the military and is considered to be the most powerful general. It is portrayed by two swords crossing with two stars and the republican eagle above them.
- Field marshal Maheeb (مَهيب) is the highest military rank and was the commander-in-chief of the military until 2003. This rank is reserved for the president. It is portrayed by two crossing swords and two wheat plants around it with the republican eagle above them. However, this rank is no longer in use by the new Iraqi Army, Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, the fourth President of Iraq, was the first president who held this rank during his term in office, followed by Saddam Hussein.
- Staff officer A red strip along the outer edge of the shoulder board indicates the officer is a staff course graduate. Staff officers are elite commanders, selected from those who have successfully completed a six-month entry preparatory course, then successfully completing the two-year staff officers' course in the School of Staff Officers. Prior to the invasion of Iraq by US forces in 2003, it was highly unlikely that any general commanding battle forces, i.e. non-technical or medical, would progress beyond the rank of major general, if he was not already a staff officer.
See also
External links
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