🇦🇺
Australia vs United Kingdom Military Ranks
The Australian Army has 17 ranks — 11 officer and 6 enlisted — from Private (or equivalent) up to Field marshal. Below: all 51 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their British equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
51
Active personnel
58K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 16 of 17 matched
| 🇦🇺 Australia · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Field marshal
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Field marshal
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Lieutenant general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant-general
|
Major general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major-general
|
Brigadier
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier
|
Colonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Lieutenant colonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Captain
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Second lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Warrant officer class 2
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Corporal
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Lance corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Corporal
|
| Private (or equivalent) | OR-2 Private | Private |
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 15 of 17 matched
| 🇦🇺 Australia · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Admiral of the fleet
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Admiral of the Fleet
|
Admiral
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
Vice admiral
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice admiral
|
Rear admiral
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Commodore
|
Captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Lieutenant commander
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Sub lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Sub lieutenant
Midshipman
|
Acting sub lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Sub lieutenant
Midshipman
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Chief petty officer
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Warrant officer class 2
|
Petty officer
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer
|
Leading seaman
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Able seaman
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class | – |
Seaman
|
OR-2 Private |
Able rate
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 15 of 17 matched
| 🇦🇺 Australia · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marshal of the RAAF
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Marshal of the RAF
|
Air chief marshal
|
OF-9 General |
Air chief marshal
|
Air marshal
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Air marshal
|
Air vice-marshal
|
OF-7 Major General |
Air vice-marshal
|
Air commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Air commodore
|
Group captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Group captain
|
Wing commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Wing commander
|
Squadron leader
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Squadron leader
|
Flight lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Flight lieutenant
|
Flying officer
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Flying officer
Pilot officer / acting pilot officer
|
Pilot officer
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Flying officer
Pilot officer / acting pilot officer
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer
|
Flight sergeant
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant | – |
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Corporal
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Leading aircraftman/aircraftwoman
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Lance corporal ( RAF Regiment only)
|
Aircraftman/aircraftwoman
|
OR-2 Private |
Air specialist (class 1) technician
Air specialist (class 1)
Air specialist (class 2)
|
Overview
- Royal Australian Navy (RAN): Conducts maritime warfare, sea patrol, and amphibious operations. Headquartered in Canberra, with its operational Fleet Command based at HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney. Its primary elements include the Surface Force, Submarine Force, Fleet Air Arm, and the Information Warfare Force.
- Australian Army: Conducts land warfare and special operations. Headquartered in Canberra, with operational commands including Forces Command, Special Operations Command, and Army Aviation Command. Primary field formations include the 1st Division and the 2nd Division, which organize regular and reserve combat brigades.
- Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF): Operates combat, transport, and surveillance aircraft. Headquartered in Canberra, with its operational Air Command located at RAAF Base Glenbrook. Capabilities are structured across six Force Element Groups, which include the Air Combat Group, Air Mobility Group, and the Surveillance and Response Group.
- Joint Capabilities Group (JCG): Administers and generates joint warfighting capabilities across cyber, space, logistics, and training domains. Headquartered in Canberra, it commands Space Command and Cyber Command to integrate multidomain operations. This organizational structure consolidates space and cyber operations under a single joint military command rather than maintaining separate military services.
Australia Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Captain, Commander, Lieutenant commander, Lieutenant, Sub lieutenant, Marshal of the RAAF, Air chief marshal, Air marshal, Air vice-marshal, Air commodore, Group captain, Wing commander, Squadron leader, Flight lieutenant, Flying officer, Pilot officer
- Sodacan — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Warrant officer class 1, Warrant officer class 2, Sergeant, Corporal, Lance corporal, Admiral of the fleet, Admiral, Vice admiral, Rear admiral, Commodore, Warrant officer, Chief petty officer, Petty officer, Leading seaman, Able seaman, Seaman
- Nford24 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Field marshal, General, Lieutenant general, Major general, Brigadier, Colonel, Lieutenant colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Second lieutenant
- KarmaKangaroo — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Warrant officer, Flight sergeant, Sergeant, Corporal, Leading aircraftman/aircraftwoman, Aircraftman/aircraftwoman