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
Rank insignia	(Sleeve insignia, 4 gold stars on shoulder)	(Sleeve insignia, 4 silver stars on shoulder)	(Sleeve insignia, 3 silver stars on shoulder)	(Sleeve insignia, 2 silver stars on shoulder)	(Sleeve insignia, 1 silver star on shoulder)	(Sleeve and shoulder insignia)	(Sleeve and shoulder insignia)	(Sleeve and shoulder insignia)	(Sleeve and shoulder insignia)	(Sleeve and shoulder insignia)	(Sleeve and shoulder insignia)	(Naval School) (Others) (Sleeve and shoulder insignia)
Ranks in Portuguese	Almirante da Armada	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	Cadete
Ranks in English	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice Admiral	Rear Admiral	Commodore	Captain of Sea and War	Commander	Lieutenant Commander	First Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Midshipman, Sub-lieutenant	Aspirant Officer	Naval Cadet

Sergeants 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
Rank insignia													Various
Ranks in Portuguese	Marechal do Exército(Army only)	General (Army only)	Tenente-general	Major-general	Brigadeiro-general (Army only)	Coronel	Tenente-coronel	Major	Capitão	Tenente	Alferes	Aspirante an oficial	Cadete aluno
Ranks in English	Marshal (Army only)	General (Army only)	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General (Army only)	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Officer Candidate	Officer Cadet

Sergeants and enlisted

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4		OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Rank insignia																																	No insignia
Ranks in Portuguese	Sargento-mor						Sargento-chefe		Sargento-ajudante		Primeiro-sargento			Segundo-sargento			Furriel			Segundo-furriel (Army only)			Cabo-adjunto (Army), Cabo-mor (NRG)		Primeiro-cabo (Army), Cabo-chefe (NRG)		Segundo-cabo (Army), Cabo (NRG)						Soldado (Army), Guarda (NRG)
Ranks in English	Sergeant Major						First sergeant		Master Sergeant		Sergeant First Class			Staff Sergeant			Sergeant			Lance Sergeant			Master Corporal		Corporal		Lance Corporal						Private (Army), Guardsman (NRG)

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
Rank insignia													Various
Ranks in Portuguese	Marechal da Força Aérea	General	Tenente- -general	Major- -general	Brigadeiro- -general	Coronel	Tenente- -Coronel	Major	Capitão	Tenente	Alferes	Aspirante an 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

Sergeants 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

1. Statute of the Military Personnel of the Armed Forces of Portugal
2. Statute of the Military Personnel of the National Republican Guard