Greek military ranks

Modern Greek military ranks are based on Ancient Greek & Byzantine terminology, even though the ranks correspond to those of other Western armies. For example, ancient hoplite unit of approximately 100 men, the lochos, is today the name for a company of soldiers; its commander, as in ancient times, is a lochagos, while his lieutenants are called ypolochagoi — literally, "sub-captains" — a modern neologism. A sergeant is known as a lochias. A tagmatarchis (major) commands a tagma (battalion) and so forth. Thus, every officer or non-commissioned officer is in the land and air forces is generally named after the type of unit he commands, with the suffix -agos (from agein, "to lead") or -archos / arches (from archein, "to rule").

Air Force

The Hellenic Air Force, is the youngest of the three services (founded in 1930). Its rank structure and insignia are based on the British Royal Air Force.

Officer ranks

Category Greek rank Transliteration English Equivalent NATO Insignia
General Officers
Πτέραρχος Pterarchos Air Chief Marshal OF-9
Αντιπτέραρχος Antipterarchos Air Marshal OF-8
Υποπτέραρχος Ypopterarchos Air Vice-Marshal OF-7
Ταξίαρχος Αεροπορίας Taxiarchos Aeroporias Air Commodore OF-6
Senior Officers
Σμήναρχος Sminarchos Group Captain OF-5
Αντισμήναρχος Antisminarchos Wing Commander OF-4
Επισμηναγός Episminagos Squadron Leader OF-3
Junior Officers
Σμηναγός Sminagos Flight Lieutenant OF-2
Υποσμηναγός Yposminagos Flying Officer OF-1
Ανθυποσμηναγός Anthyposminagos Pilot Officer OF-1

NCO and other ranks

Category Greek rank Transliteration English Equivalent NATO Insignia
Warrant Officers
Ανθυπασπιστής Anthypaspistis Warrant Officer OR-9
Non-commissioned Officers
(Professional NCOs)
Αρχισμηνίας Archisminias Chief Master Sergeant OR-8
Επισμηνίας Episminias Master Sergeant OR-7
Σμηνίας Sminias Staff Sergeant OR-6
Υποσμηνίας Yposminias Corporal OR-4
Σμηνίτης ΕΠΟΠ Sminitis EPOP Aircraftman Professional OR-1
Other ranks
(draftee soldiers)
Κληρωτός Σμηνίας Klirotos Sminias Conscript Sergeant OR-5
Σμηνίτης Sminitis Aircraftman OR-1

Army

Officer ranks

Category Greek Rank Transliteration English Equivalent NATO Insignia
General Officers
Στρατηγός Stratigos General OF-9
Αντιστράτηγος Antistratigos Lieutenant General OF-8
Υποστράτηγος Ypostratigos Major General OF-7
Ταξίαρχος Taxiarchos Brigadier OF-6
Field Grade Officers
Συνταγματάρχης Syntagmatarchis Colonel OF-5
Αντισυνταγματάρχης Antisyntagmatarchis Lieutenant Colonel OF-4
Ταγματάρχης Tagmatarchis Major OF-3
Company Grade Officers
Λοχαγός Lochagos Captain OF-2
Υπολοχαγός Ypolochagos Lieutenant OF-1
Ανθυπολοχαγός Anthypolochagos Second Lieutenant OF-1
Officer Designate
Δόκιμος Έφεδρος Αξιωματικός Dokimos Efedros Axiomatikos Officer Designate OF(D)

NCO and other ranks

Category Greek rank Transliteration English Equivalent NATO Insignia
Warrant Officers
Ανθυπασπιστής Anthypaspistis Warrant Officer OR-9
Non-commissioned Officers
(Professional NCOs)
Αρχιλοχίας Archilochias Chief Master Sergeant OR-8
Επιλοχίας Epilochias Master Sergeant OR-7
Λοχίας Lochias Staff Sergeant OR-6
Δεκανέας Dekaneas Corporal OR-4
Υποδεκανέας Ypodekaneas Lance Corporal OR-3
Στρατιώτης Stratiotis Soldier Professional OR-1
Other ranks
(draftee soldiers)
Λοχίας Lochias Staff Sergeant OR-6
Δεκανέας Dekaneas Corporal OR-4
Υποδεκανέας Ypodekaneas Lance Corporal OR-3
Υποψήφιος Έφεδρος Βαθμοφόρος Ypopsifios Efedros Bathmoforos Candidate Reservist Rank OR-1
Στρατιώτης Stratiotis Soldier OR-1

Officer ranks

Category Greek Rank Transliteration English Equivalent NATO
Flag Officers
Ναύαρχος Navarchos Admiral OF-9
Αντιναύαρχος Antinavarchos Vice Admiral OF-8
Υποναύαρχος Yponavarchos Rear Admiral OF-7
Αρχιπλοίαρχος Archiploiarchos Commodore OF-6
Senior Officers
Πλοίαρχος Ploiarchos Captain OF-5
Αντιπλοίαρχος Antiploiarchos Commander OF-4
Πλωτάρχης Plotarchis Lieutenant Commander OF-3
Junior Officers
Υποπλοίαρχος Ypoploiarchos Lieutenant OF-2
Ανθυποπλοίαρχος Anthypoploiarchos Sub-Lieutenant OF-1
Σημαιοφόρος Simaioforos Ensign OF-1
Officer Designate
Σημαιοφόρος Επίκουρος Αξιωματικός Simaioforos Epikouros Axiomatikos Officer Designate OF(D)

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.