Military ranks of Portugal

The military ranks of Portugal form the system of hierarchical relationships in the Portuguese Armed Forces.

There are two basic systems of ranks. The first one is used in the Portuguese Army (Exército) and in the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea), consisting of traditional land military ranks. This system is also used in the National Republican Guard (GNR, Guarda Nacional Republicana), a gendarmerie force that can be put under the command of the Armed Forces in case of war. The second system is used by the Portuguese Navy (Marinha), consisting of traditional naval ranks.

In the Armed Forces of Portugal, the hierarchy of ranks divides them in three large categories: Officers (oficiais), Sergeants (sargentos) and Enlisted (praças). The officers category is, in turn, subdivided into three subcategories: General officers (oficiais generais), Senior officers (oficiais superiores) and Junior officers (oficiais subalternos).

The insignia of rank used in all branches of the Armed Forces is generally similar, despite some particular details existing in each branch.^[1][2]

Navy

Officers

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Portugal (Edit)
	Almirante da Armada[note 1]		Almirante		Vice-almirante		Contra-almirante		Comodoro		Capitão de Mar e Guerra		Capitão de Fragata		Capitão-tenente		Primeiro-tenente		Segundo-tenente			Guarda-marinha and Subtenente			Aspirante (Naval School)			Aspirante (others)			Cadete
Equivalent in English	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice Admiral	Rear Admiral	Commodore	Captain of Sea and War	Commander	Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)	Ensign	Aspirant Officer						Naval Cadet

Non-commissioned officers and enlisted ratings

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5		OR-4				OR-3		OR-2		OR-1
Rank insignia																										No insignia
Rating in Portuguese	Sargento-mor						Sargento-chefe		Sargento-ajudante		Primeiro sargento			Segundo sargento			Primeiro subsargento	Segundo subsargento		Cabo		Primeiro marinheiro		Segundo marinheiro		Segundo Grumete
Ratings in English	Warrant Officer Class 1						Warrant Officer Class 2		Master Chief Petty Officer		Senior Chief Petty Officer			Chief Petty Officer			Petty Officer 1st class	Petty Officer 2nd class		Master Seaman		Able Seaman		Seaman		Seaman Apprentice

Army

Both the Portuguese Army and the National Republican Guard use the same rank system but the NRG has different ranks for enlisted personnel, NCOs and general officers.

Officers

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Portugal (Edit)
	Marechal[3]		General		Tenente-general		Major-general		Brigadeiro-general		Coronel-tirocinado	Coronel	Tenente-coronel		Major		Capitão		Tenente			Alferes			Aspirante-a-Oficial-Aluno						Cadete-Aluno

Non-commissioned officers and enlisted

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4		OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Portugal (Edit)
	Sargento-mor						Sargento-chefe		Sargento-ajudante		Primeiro-sargento						Segundo-sargento		Furriel		Segundo-furriel		Cabo-adjunto		Primeiro-cabo		Segundo-cabo						Soldado

Air Force

Officers

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Portugal (Edit)																															Various
	Marechal1		General		Tenente General		Major General		Brigadeiro General		Coronel		Tenente Coronel		Major		Capitão		Tenente			Alferes			Aspirante-a-Oficial						Cadete Aluno
Ranks in English	Marshal of the Air Force		General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant			Aspirant						Officer cadet

Non-commissioned officers and enlisted

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6		OR-5		OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Rank insignia
Rank in Portuguese	Sargento- -Mor						Sargento- -Chefe		Sargento- -Ajudante		Primeiro- -Sargento						Segundo- -Sargento		Furriel		Segundo- -Furriel		Cabo- -Adjunto		Primeiro- -Cabo	Segundo- -Cabo	Soldado						Soldado- -Recruta
Rank in English	Command Chief Master Sergeant						Chief Master Sergeant		Senior Master Sergeant		Master Sergeant						Technical Sergeant		Staff Sergeant		Sergeant		Corporal		Senior Airman	Airman First Class	Airman						Airman Basic

References