Belgian military ranks

The Belgian military ranks are the military insignia used by the Belgian Armed Forces.[1]

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Rank group Opperofficieren - Officiers généraux Hoofdofficieren - Officiers supérieurs Lagere officieren - Officiers subalternes
 Belgian Land Component[2]
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadegeneraal Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kapitein-commandant Kapitein Luitenant Onderluitenant
Général Lieutenant général Général-major Général de Brigade Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine-commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant
General Generalleutnant Generalmajor Brigadegeneral Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Stabshauptmann Hauptmann Leutnant Unterleutnant
 Belgian Navy[3]
Admiraal Vice-admiraal Divisieadmiraal Flottieljeadmiraal Kapitein-ter-zee Fregatkapitein Korvetkapitein Luitenant-ter-zee 1ste klasse Luitenant-ter-zee Vaandrig-ter-zee Vaandrig-ter-zee 2de klasse
Amiral Vice-amiral Amiral de division Amiral de flottille Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau de 1re classe Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
Admiral Vizeadmiral Divisionsadmiral Flotillenadmiral Kapitän zur See Fregattenkapitän Korvettenkapitän Linienschiffsleutnant 1. klasse Linienschiffsleutnant Seefahnrich Seefahnrich 2. klasse
 Belgian Air Component[4]
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadegeneraal Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kapitein-commandant Kapitein Luitenant Onderluitenant
Général Lieutenant général Général-major Général de Brigade Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine-commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant
General Generalleutnant Generalmajor Brigadegeneral Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Stabshauptmann Hauptmann Leutnant Unterleutnant
Belgium Belgian Medical Component[5]
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadegeneraal Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kapitein-commandant Kapitein Luitenant Onderluitenant
Général Lieutenant général Général-major Général de Brigade Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine-commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant
General Generalleutnant Generalmajor Brigadegeneral Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Stabshauptmann Hauptmann Leutnant Unterleutnant
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1

Ranks at the Royal Military Academy

Main article: Royal Military Academy (Belgium)
Rank group Officer-Students (Master) Student-Officers (Bachelor)
Year 5th and 4th 3rd and 2nd 1st
 Belgian Land Component
Onderluitenant KBO Adjudant KBO Sergeant KBO Korporaal KBO Soldaat KBO
Sous-lieutenant COC Adjudant COC Sergent COC Caporal COC Soldat COC
Unterleutnant Adjudant Sergeant Korporal Soldat
 Belgian Navy
Vaandrig-ter-zee 2e klasse KBO 1e meester-chef KBO Sergeant KBO Korporaal KBO Soldaat KBO
Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe COC Premier maître-chef COC Sergent COC Caporal COC Soldat COC
Seefahnrich 2. klasse Erster Chefmeister Sergeant Korporal Soldat
 Belgian Air Component
Onderluitenant KBO Adjudant KBO Sergeant KBO Korporaal KBO Soldaat KBO
Sous-lieutenant COC Adjudant COC Sergent COC Caporal COC Soldat COC
Unterleutnant Adjudant Sergeant Korporal Soldat
Belgium Belgian Medical Component
Onderluitenant KBO Adjudant KBO Sergeant KBO Korporaal KBO Soldaat KBO
Sous-lieutenant COC Adjudant COC Sergent COC Caporal COC Soldat COC
Unterleutnant Adjudant Sergeant Korporal Soldat

Notes:

  • Student-Officers attain the rank of Corporal, CCO after completing their military initiation phase ("MIP" ).
  • Student-Officers attain the rank of Sergeant, CCO after the first winter camp when they complete the training at the 'individual' level and start their training at the 'team' and 'squad' level.
  • Student-Officers take an oath after they receive their bachelor's degree and successfully complete their 'second native language' exam, thus becoming Officer-Students and attaining the rank of Lieutenant, CCO or branch equivalent.

Enlisted ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Hoofdonderofficieren - Sous-officiers supérieurs - Hochrangigeunteroffiziere Keuronderofficieren - Sous-officiers d'élite - Eliteunteroffiziere Lagere onderofficieren - Sous-officiers subalternes - Niedriger Unteroffiziere Keurvrijwilligers - Volontaires d'élite - Elitefreiwillige Lagere vrijwilligers - Volontaires subalternes - Niedriger Freiwillige
 Belgian Land Component[2]
Adjudant-majoor Adjudant-chef Adjudant 1ste sergeant-majoor 1ste sergeant-chef 1ste sergeant Sergeant 1ste korporaal-chef Korporaal-chef Korporaal 1ste soldaat Soldaat
Adjudant-major Adjudant-chef Adjudant Premier sergent-major Premier sergent-chef Premier sergent Sergent Premier caporal-chef Caporal-chef Caporal Premier soldat Soldat
Majoradjutant Chefadjudant Adjudant 1er Sergeant major 1er Sergeant chef 1er Sergeant Sergeant 1er Korporal chef Korporal chef Korporal 1er soldat Soldat
 Belgian Navy[3]
Oppermeester-chef Oppermeester Eerste meesterchef Eerste meester Meester-chef Meester Tweede meester Eerste kwartiermeester-chef Kwartiermeester-chef Kwartiermeester Eerste matroos Matroos
Maître principal-chef Maître-principal Premier-maître chef Premier maître Maître-chef Maître Second-maître Premier quartier-maître-chef Quartier-maître-chef Quartier maître Premier matelot Matelot
Chefhauptmeister Hauptmeister Erster chefmeister Erster meister Meister-chef Meister Zweiter meister Erster oberquartiermeister Oberquartiermeister Quartiermeister Erster matrose Matrose
 Belgian Air Component[4]
 No insignia
Adjudant-Majoor Adjudant-chef Adjudant 1ste sergeant-majoor 1ste sergeant-chef 1ste sergeant Sergeant 1ste korporaal-chef Korporaal-chef Korporaal 1ste soldaat Soldaat
Adjudant-Major Adjudant-chef Adjudant Premier sergent-major Premier sergent-chef Premier sergent Sergent Premier caporal-chef Caporal-chef Caporal Premier soldat Soldat
Majoradjutant Chefadjudant Adjudant 1er Sergeant Major 1er Sergeant Chef 1er Sergeant Sergeant 1er Korporal Chef Korporal Chef Korporal 1er soldat Soldat
Belgium Belgian Medical Component[5]
Adjudant-Majoor Adjudant-chef Adjudant 1ste sergeant-majoor 1ste sergeant-chef 1ste sergeant Sergeant 1ste korporaal-chef Korporaal-chef Korporaal 1ste soldaat Soldaat
Adjudant-Major Adjudant-chef Adjudant Premier sergent-major Premier sergent-chef Premier sergent Sergent Premier caporal-chef Caporal-chef Caporal Premier soldat Soldat
Majoradjutant Chefadjudant Adjudant 1er Sergeant Major 1er Sergeant Chef 1er Sergeant Sergeant 1er Korporal Chef Korporal Chef Korporal 1er soldat Soldat
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1

Notes

  • CSM is an appointment at the Company level for individuals with the rank of First Sergeant or higher. Its insignia is that of the normal rank with a small crown at the top.
  • RSM (Adjudant de corps/korpsadjudant) is an appointment at the Corps level for individuals with the rank of Warrant Officer or higher, this is the most senior NCO in the corps. Its insignia is that of the normal rank with a big crown at the top.
  • Corps Corporal (Caporal de corps/korpskorporaal) is an appointment at the Corps level for individuals with the rank of 1st master corporal, its insignia is that of the 1st master corporal with a crown at the top.
  • The rank names relating to corporal and sergeant are replaced with "brigadier" and "maréchal des logis/wachtmeester" in application to personnel of units whose traditions are related to or descend from horse units. These include the cavalry, artillery, and logistics units. Similarly, in the cavalry units, the lowest rank is named "cavalier/ruiter", they are addressed the title "Monsieur/Mijnheer", a remnant of the aristocratic origins of horse mounted units; it was sought to remove these names in March 2013, retaining only the generic rank names.
  • Caporal de corps / Korpskorporaal of korpsbrigadier
    Caporal de corps / Korpskorporaal of korpsbrigadier

Medical Component rank variations

  • Dentist Ranks of the medical component.
    Dentist Ranks of the medical component.
  • Doctor Ranks of the medical component.
    Doctor Ranks of the medical component.
  • Pharmacist Ranks of the medical component.
    Pharmacist Ranks of the medical component.
  • Veterinarian Ranks of the medical component.
    Veterinarian Ranks of the medical component.
  • Medical Support Corps Ranks of the medical component.
    Medical Support Corps Ranks of the medical component.

References

  1. ^ "28 FEVRIER 2007. — Loi fixant le statut des militaires du cadre actif des Forces armées". Moniteur Belge (in French). 177 (108): 19814–19816. 10 April 2007.
  2. ^ a b "IPR Landcomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Marinecomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b "IPR Luchtcomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "IPR Medische component". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  • "Belgium". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 25 November 2021.