Belgian military ranks
The following are the ranks and insignia of the Belgian Armed Forces. [1]
The ranks are given in English, Dutch, and French (the two main official languages of Belgium).
Officers
The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the army, navy, air force and Medical component respectively.
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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Opperofficieren - Officiers généraux | Hoofdofficieren - Officiers supérieurs | Lagere officieren - Officiers subalternes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | Aspirant de marine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | Aspirant de marine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général | Lieutenant général | Général-major | Général de Brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Capitaine-commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Generaal | Luitenant-generaal | Generaal-majoor | Brigadegeneraal | Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein-commandant | Kapitein | Luitenant | Onderluitenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No equivalent |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Generaal-majoor | Brigadegeneraal | Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein-commandant | Kapitein | Luitenant | Onderluitenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général-major | Général de brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Capitaine-commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
Note:
- Officer-cadets at the Royal Military Academy wear the ranks of second lieutenant with the insignia of the Academy above the rank insignia.
- The highest rank in the military police is colonel.
- The ranks of navy admiral and air force general were created in 2002
Non-commissioned officers
NATO code |
Land component | Air component | Marine component | Medical component | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senior non-commissioned officers - Hoofdonderofficieren - Sous-officiers supérieurs | ||||||||
OR-9 | Chief warrant officer Dutch: Adjudant-majoor French: Adjudant-major |
Chief warrant officer Dutch: Adjudant-majoor French: Adjudant-major |
Chief principal master Dutch: Oppermeester-chef French: Maître-principal-chef |
Chief warrant officer Dutch: Adjudant-majoor French: Adjudant-major |
||||
OR-9 | Master warrant officer Dutch: Adjudant-chef French: Adjudant-chef |
Master warrant officer Dutch: Adjudant-chef French: Adjudant-chef |
Principal master Dutch: Oppermeester French: Maître-principal |
Master warrant officer Dutch: Adjudant-chef French: Adjudant-chef |
||||
Elite non-commissioned officers - Keuronderofficieren - Sous-officiers d'élite | ||||||||
OR-8 | Warrant officer Dutch: Adjudant French: Adjudant |
Warrant officer Dutch: Adjudant French: Adjudant |
1st master chief Dutch: 1ste meester-chef French: 1e maître-chef |
Warrant officer Dutch: Adjudant French: Adjudant |
||||
OR-7 | 1st sergeant-major Dutch: 1ste sergeant-majoor French: 1e sergent-major |
1st sergeant-major Dutch: 1ste sergeant-majoor French: 1e sergent-major |
1st master Dutch: 1ste meester French: 1e maître |
1st sergeant major Dutch: 1ste sergeant-majoor French: 1e sergent-major |
||||
Junior non-commissioned officers - Lagere onderofficieren - Sous-officiers subalternes | ||||||||
OR-6 | 1st master sergeant Dutch: 1ste sergeant-chef French: 1e sergent-chef |
1st master sergeant Dutch: 1ste sergeant-chef French: 1e sergent-chef |
Master chief Dutch: Meester-chef French: Maître-chef |
1st master sergeant Dutch: 1ste sergeant-chef French: 1e sergent-chef |
||||
OR-6 | 1st sergeant Dutch: 1ste sergeant French: 1e sergent |
1st sergeant Dutch: 1ste sergeant French: 1e sergent |
Master Dutch: Meester French: Maître |
1st sergeant Dutch: 1ste sergeant French: 1e sergent |
||||
OR-5 | Sergeant Dutch: Sergeant French: Sergent |
Sergeant Dutch: Sergeant French: Sergent |
2nd master Dutch: 2de meester French: 2e maître |
Sergeant Dutch: Sergeant French: Sergent |
Volunteers
NATO code |
Land component | Air component | Marine component | Medical component | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elite volunteers - Keurvrijwilligers - Volontaires d'élite | ||||||||
OR-4 | 1st master corporal Dutch: 1ste korporaal-chef French: 1e caporal-chef |
1st master corporal Dutch: 1ste korporaal-chef French: 1e caporal-chef |
1st chief quartermaster Dutch: 1ste kwartiermeester-chef French: 1er quartier-maître-chef |
1st master corporal Dutch: 1ste korporaal-chef French: 1e caporal-chef |
||||
OR-4 | Master corporal Dutch: Korporaal-chef French: Caporal-chef |
Master corporal Dutch: Korporaal-chef French: Caporal-chef |
Chief quartermaster Dutch: Kwartiermeester-chef French: Quartier-maître-chef |
Master corporal Dutch: Korporaal-chef French: Caporal-chef |
||||
Junior volunteers - Lagere vrijwilligers - Volontaire subalternes | ||||||||
OR-3 | Corporal Dutch: Korporaal French: Caporal |
Corporal Dutch: Korporaal French: Caporal |
Quartermaster Dutch: Kwartiermeester French: Quartier-maître |
Corporal Dutch: Korporaal French: Caporal |
||||
OR-2 | 1st private Dutch: 1ste soldaat French: 1er soldat |
1st private Dutch: 1ste soldaat French: 1er soldat |
1st seaman Dutch: 1ste matroos French: 1er matelot |
1st private Dutch: 1ste soldaat French: 1er soldat |
||||
OR-1 | Private Dutch: Soldaat French: Soldat |
Private Dutch: Soldaat French: Soldat |
Seaman Dutch: Matroos French: Matelot |
Private Dutch: Soldaat French: Soldat |
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.
Corps Corporal (Caporal de corps/Lichaamskorporaal) 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.
- Caporal de corps / Lichaamskorporaal
Medical Component rank variations
- Dentist Ranks of the medical component.
- Doctor Ranks of the medical component.
- Pharmacist Ranks of the medical component.
- Veterinarian Ranks of the medical component.
- Medical Support Corps Ranks of the medical component.