Belgian military ranks

The following are the ranks and insignia of the Belgian Armed Forces.

The ranks are given in English, Dutch, and French (the two main official languages of Belgium).

Officers

NATO Code	Land component		Air component		Marine component		Medical component
General officers - Opperofficieren - Officiers généraux
OF-9	General Dutch: Generaal French: Général		General Dutch: Generaal French: Général		Admiral Dutch: Admiraal French: Amiral		No equivalent in the medical component
OF-8	Lieutenant-general Dutch: Luitenant-generaal French: Lieutenant-général		Lieutenant-general Dutch: Luitenant-generaal French: Lieutenant-général		Vice-admiral Dutch: Vice-admiraal French: Vice-amiral		No equivalent in the medical component
OF-7	Major-general Dutch: Generaal-majoor French: Général-major		Major-general Dutch: Generaal-majoor French: Général-major		Divisional admiral Dutch: Divisieadmiraal French: Amiral de division		Major-general Dutch: Generaal-majoor French: Général-major
OF-6	Brigade general Dutch: Brigade-generaal French: Général de brigade		Brigade general Dutch: Brigade-generaal French: Général de brigade		Flotilla admiral Dutch: Flottieljeadmiraal French: Amiral de flottille		Brigade general Dutch: Brigade-generaal French: Général de brigade
Senior officers - Hoofdofficieren - Officiers supérieurs
OF-5	Colonel Dutch: Kolonel French: Colonel		Colonel Dutch: Kolonel French: Colonel		Captain at sea/ship-of-the-line captain Dutch: Kapitein-ter-zee French: Capitaine de vaisseau		Colonel Dutch: Kolonel French: Colonel
OF-4	Lieutenant-colonel Dutch: Luitenant-kolonel French: Lieutenant-colonel		Lieutenant-colonel Dutch: Luitenant-kolonel French: Lieutenant-colonel		Frigate captain Dutch: Fregatkapitein French: Capitaine de frégate		Lieutenant-colonel Dutch: Luitenant-kolonel French: Lieutenant-colonel
OF-3	Major Dutch: Majoor French: Major		Major Dutch: Majoor French: Major		Corvette captain Dutch: Korvetkapitein French: Capitaine de corvette		Major Dutch: Majoor French: Major
Junior officers - Lagere officieren - Officiers subalternes
OF-3	Captain-commandant Dutch: Kapitein-commandant French: Capitaine-commandant		Captain-commandant Dutch: Kapitein-commandant French: Capitaine-commandant		Ship-of-the-line lieutenant, first class Dutch: Luitenant-ter-zee 1ste klasse French: Lieutenant de vaisseau de 1ère classe		Captain-commandant Dutch: Kapitein-commandant French: Capitaine-commandant
OF-2	Captain Dutch: Kapitein French: Capitaine		Captain Dutch: Kapitein French: Capitaine		Ship-of-the-line lieutenant Dutch: Luitenant-ter-zee French: Lieutenant de vaisseau		Captain Dutch: Kapitein French: Capitaine
OF-1	Lieutenant Dutch: Luitenant French: Lieutenant		Lieutenant Dutch: Luitenant French: Lieutenant		Ship-of-the-line ensign Dutch: Vaandrig-ter-zee French: Enseigne de vaisseau		Lieutenant Dutch: Luitenant French: Lieutenant
OF-1	Sub-lieutenant Dutch: Onderluitenant French: Sous-lieutenant		Sub-lieutenant Dutch: Onderluitenant French: Sous-lieutenant		Ship-of-the-line ensign, second class Dutch: Vaandrig-ter-zee 2de klasse French: Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe		Sub-lieutenant Dutch: Onderluitenant French: Sous-lieutenant

Note:

• 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