🇧🇬
Bulgarian Military Ranks
The Bulgarian Army has 17 ranks — 10 officer and 7 enlisted — from Редник Rednik up to Генерал General. Below: all 51 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
51
Active personnel
36K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 17 matched
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Генерал General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Генерал-лейтенант General-leytenant
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Генерал-майор General-mayor
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Бригаден генерал Brigaden general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Полковник Polkovnik
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Подполковник Podpolkovnik
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Майор Mayor
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Капитан Kapitan
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Старши лейтенант Starshi leytenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Лейтенант Leytenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Офицерски кандидат Ofitserski kandidat
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Старшина Starshyna
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Старши сержант Starshi serzhant
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergeant first class
|
Сержант Serzhant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Младши сержант Mladshi serzhant
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Ефрейтор Efreytor
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Specialist
Corporal
|
Редник Rednik
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Private first class
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 17 matched
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Адмирал Admiral
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
Вицеадмирал Vitseadmiral
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice admiral
|
Контраадмирал Kontraadmiral
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Флотилен адмирал Flotilen admiral
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Rear admiral (lower half)
|
Капитан I ранг Kapitan I rang
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Капитан II ранг Kapitan II rang
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Капитан III ранг Kapitan III rang
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Капитан-лейтенант Kapitan-leytenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Старши лейтенант Starshi leĭtenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Лейтенант Leytenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Офицерски кандидат Ofitserski kandidat
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Мичман Mičman
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Command senior chief petty officer
Senior chief petty officer
|
Главен старшина Glaven starshina
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Старшина 1 степен Starshina 1 stepen
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer first class
|
Старшина 2 степен Starshina 2 stepen
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Petty officer second class
|
Старши матрос Starshi matros
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Petty officer third class
|
Матрос Matros
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Seaman
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 17 matched
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Генерал General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Генерал-лейтенант General-leytenant
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Генерал-майор General-mayor
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Бригаден генерал Brigaden general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Полковник Polkovnik
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Подполковник Podpolkovnik
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Майор Mayor
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Капитан Kapitan
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Старши лейтенант Starshi leytenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Лейтенант Leytenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Офицерски кандидат Ofitserski kandidat
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Старшина Starshyna
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Senior master sergeant
|
Старши сержант Starshi serzhant
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Сержант Serzhant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Technical sergeant
|
Младши сержант Mladshi serzhant
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Ефрейтор Efreytor
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Senior airman
|
Редник Rednik
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Airman first class
|
Overview
The armed forces of Bulgaria, known as the "Bulgarian Armed Forces" or "Българска армия," consist of several branches, each with specific responsibilities:
- Bulgarian Land Forces (Сухопътни войски): The Bulgarian Land Forces are responsible for land-based military operations, including infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. They play a crucial role in national defense and international peacekeeping missions.
- Bulgarian Navy (Военноморски сили на Република България): The Bulgarian Navy focuses on maritime defense and security, operating vessels such as frigates, corvettes, and submarines to protect Bulgaria's Black Sea coastline and maritime interests.
- Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили на Република България): The Bulgarian Air Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations, with fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters ensuring air superiority and national defense.
Bulgaria Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Генерал General (Army), Генерал-лейтенант General-leytenant (Army), Генерал-майор General-mayor (Army), Бригаден генерал Brigaden general (Army), Офицерски кандидат Ofitserski kandidat (Army), Старшина Starshyna (Army), Старши сержант Starshi serzhant (Army), Сержант Serzhant (Army), Младши сержант Mladshi serzhant (Army), Ефрейтор Efreytor (Army), Редник Rednik (Army), Адмирал Admiral, Вицеадмирал Vitseadmiral, Контраадмирал Kontraadmiral, Флотилен адмирал Flotilen admiral, Офицерски кандидат Ofitserski kandidat (Navy), Мичман Mičman, Главен старшина Glaven starshina, Старшина 1 степен Starshina 1 stepen, Старшина 2 степен Starshina 2 stepen, Старши матрос Starshi matros, Матрос Matros, Генерал General (Air Force), Генерал-лейтенант General-leytenant (Air Force), Генерал-майор General-mayor (Air Force), Бригаден генерал Brigaden general (Air Force), Полковник Polkovnik, Подполковник Podpolkovnik, Майор Mayor, Капитан Kapitan, Старши лейтенант Starshi leytenant, Лейтенант Leytenant, Офицерски кандидат Ofitserski kandidat (Air Force), Старшина Starshyna (Air Force), Старши сержант Starshi serzhant (Air Force), Сержант Serzhant (Air Force), Младши сержант Mladshi serzhant (Air Force), Ефрейтор Efreytor (Air Force), Редник Rednik (Air Force)
- Bulldog4eto — CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Полковник Polkovnik, Подполковник Podpolkovnik, Майор Mayor, Капитан Kapitan, Старши лейтенант Starshi leytenant, Лейтенант Leytenant (Army), Капитан I ранг Kapitan I rang, Капитан II ранг Kapitan II rang, Капитан III ранг Kapitan III rang, Капитан-лейтенант Kapitan-leytenant, Старши лейтенант Starshi leĭtenant, Лейтенант Leytenant (Navy)