🇧🇷
Brazilian Military Ranks
The Brazilian Army has 21 ranks — 12 officer and 9 enlisted — from Soldado up to Marechal. Below: all 78 ranks across 4 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.
Branches
4
Ranks documented
78
Active personnel
366K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 21 of 21 matched
| 🇧🇷 Brazil · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marechal
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
General of the Army
|
General de exército
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
General de divisão
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
General de brigada
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Tenente-coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Capitão
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Primeiro tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Segundo tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Aspirante a oficial
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer candidate |
Cadete / Aluno
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer candidate |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Subtenente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergeant first class
|
Terceiro-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Taifeiro-mor
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Cabo
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Specialist
Corporal
|
Taifeiro primeira classe
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Private first class
|
Taifeiro segunda classe
|
OR-1 Private | Private |
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private | Private |
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 18 of 18 matched
| 🇧🇷 Brazil · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Almirante
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Fleet admiral
|
Almirante de esquadra
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
Vice-almirante
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice admiral
|
Contra-almirante
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Capitão de mar e guerra
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Capitão de fragata
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Capitão de corveta
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Capitão-tenente
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Primeiro-tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Segundo-tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Guarda-marinha
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
| Aspirante | OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Command senior chief petty officer
Senior chief petty officer
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Terceiro-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer first class
|
Cabo
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Petty officer second class
|
Marinheiro
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Seaman
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 22 of 22 matched
| 🇧🇷 Brazil · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marechal-do-ar
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
General of the Air Force
|
Tenente-brigadeiro do Ar
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Major-brigadeiro
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Brigadeiro
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
| Tenente-coronel | OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
| Major | OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Capitão
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
| Primeiro-tenente | OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
| Segundo-tenente | OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Aspirante
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer trainee |
Cadete
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer trainee |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Primeiro-Sargento
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Senior master sergeant
|
Segundo-Sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Terceiro-Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Technical sergeant
|
Cabo
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Taifeiro-mor
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Senior airman
|
Soldado
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Airman first class
|
Taifeiro primeira classe
|
OR-2 Private |
Airman
|
Soldado segunda classe
|
OR-1 Private | Airman basic |
Taifeiro segunda classe
|
OR-1 Private | Airman basic |
Marines
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 17 matched
| 🇧🇷 Brazil · Marines | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Almirante-de-esquadra fuzileiro naval
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Vice-almirante fuzileiro naval
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Contra-almirante fuzileiro naval
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Capitão-de-Mar-e-Guerra fuzileiro naval
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Capitão-de-Fragata fuzileiro naval
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Capitão-de-corveta fuzileiro naval
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Capitão-tenente fuzileiro naval
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Primeiro-tenente fuzileiro naval
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Segundo-tenente fuzileiro naval
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Guarda-marinha
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
| Aspirante | OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial fuzileiro naval
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Sergeant major
Master gunnery sergeant
|
Primeiro-sargento fuzileiro naval
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Segundo-sargento fuzileiro naval
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Gunnery sergeant
|
Terceiro-sargento fuzileiro naval
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Cabo fuzileiro naval
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Soldado fuzileiro naval
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Lance corporal
|
Overview
The armed forces of Brazil, known as the "Forças Armadas Brasileiras," consist of three main branches, each with specific roles and responsibilities:
- Brazilian Army (Exército Brasileiro): The Brazilian Army is responsible for land-based military operations, including infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. It plays a crucial role in national defense and internal security.
- Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil): The Brazilian Navy focuses on maritime defense and security, operating a variety of vessels, including frigates, submarines, and patrol boats, to protect Brazil's extensive coastline and maritime interests.
- Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira): The Brazilian Air Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations, with fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters ensuring air superiority and national defense.
Brazil Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Cleberson Carlos — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Primeiro-sargento (Army), Segundo-sargento (Army), Terceiro-sargento (Army), Taifeiro-mor (Army), Cabo (Army), Taifeiro primeira classe (Army), Taifeiro segunda classe (Army), Soldado (Army), Primeiro-sargento (Navy), Segundo-sargento (Navy), Terceiro-sargento (Navy), Cabo (Navy), Marinheiro, Primeiro-Sargento, Segundo-Sargento, Terceiro-Sargento, Cabo (Air Force), Taifeiro-mor (Air Force), Soldado (Air Force), Taifeiro primeira classe (Air Force), Soldado segunda classe, Taifeiro segunda classe (Air Force)
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Marechal, General de exército, General de divisão, General de brigada, Coronel, Tenente-coronel, Major, Capitão, Primeiro tenente, Segundo tenente, Aspirante a oficial, Capitão de mar e guerra, Capitão de fragata, Capitão de corveta, Capitão-tenente, Primeiro-tenente, Segundo-tenente, Guarda-marinha
- Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Cadete / Aluno, Almirante, Almirante de esquadra, Vice-almirante, Contra-almirante, Marechal-do-ar, Tenente-brigadeiro do Ar, Major-brigadeiro, Brigadeiro, Cadete, Suboficial
- Blackcloud11 — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Subtenente, Capitão, Primeiro-sargento fuzileiro naval, Segundo-sargento fuzileiro naval, Terceiro-sargento fuzileiro naval, Cabo fuzileiro naval, Soldado fuzileiro naval
- Carlosvicini — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Coronel, Aspirante
- Cdjp1 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Suboficial