Chilean Military Ranks
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- Army (Ejército de Chile): Conducts land operations, territorial defense, and border security. Headquartered in Santiago, the force is organized into six divisions, a special operations brigade, and an aviation brigade. It operates armored, motorized, mechanized, and mountain units suited to regional geographic conditions.
- Navy (Armada de Chile): Executes naval warfare, maritime patrol, and search and rescue operations across the Pacific coastline. Headquartered in Valparaíso, it manages the surface fleet, submarine force, and naval aviation assets. The branch also exercises administrative authority over national maritime territories, including Antarctic claims.
- Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile): Executes air defense, combat operations, and aerial transport. Headquartered in Santiago, the force is organized into five air brigades and operates fighter squadrons, transport aircraft, and utility helicopters. It maintains logistics corridors and supports facilities at the Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Station in Antarctica.
- Marine Corps (Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina): Functions as an amphibious assault and coastal defense force organized under the Navy. Headquartered in Concón, it consists of four detachments deployed across the national naval zones. The force conducts expeditionary warfare, beachhead landings, and military security operations.
- Coast Guard (Dirección General del Territorio Marítimo y de Marina Mercante): Serves as the maritime authority and coast guard, operating as a specialized military directorate under the Navy. It enforces maritime laws, conducts search and rescue, and regulates merchant shipping. The force operates patrol vessels, coastal radar stations, and aviation assets to police the exclusive economic zone.
- Carabineros (Carabineros de Chile): Operates as a national gendarmerie and militarized police force under the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, with transfer provisions to the Ministry of Defense during wartime. It conducts public order maintenance, border patrol, and law enforcement operations nationwide. The force maintains military ranks, discipline, and training structures.
| Rank name |
Insignia |
NATO code |
US Army equivalent |
| General de aire |
|
OF-9 |
General |
| General de aviación |
|
OF-8 |
Lieutenant General |
| General de brigada aérea |
|
OF-7 |
Major General |
| Comodoro |
|
OF-6 |
Brigadier General |
| Coronel de aviación |
|
OF-5 |
Colonel |
| Comandante de grupo |
|
OF-4 |
Lieutenant Colonel |
| Comandante de escuadrilla |
|
OF-3 |
Major / Commandant |
| Capitán de bandada |
|
OF-2 |
Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| Teniente |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| Subteniente |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| Alférez |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| Suboficial mayor |
|
OR-9 |
Sergeant Major |
| Suboficial |
|
OR-8 |
1st Sergeant |
| Sargento primero |
|
OR-7 |
Sergeant 1st Class |
| Sargento segundo |
|
OR-6 |
Staff Sergeant |
| Cabo primero |
|
OR-5 |
Sergeant |
| Cabo segundo |
|
OR-4 |
Corporal |
| Cabo |
|
OR-3 |
Private 1st Class |
| Soldado de tropa profesional |
|
OR-2 |
Private |
| Alumno |
|
OR-1 |
Private |
| Rank name |
Insignia |
NATO code |
US Army equivalent |
| General de ejército |
|
OF-9 |
General |
| General de división |
|
OF-8 |
Lieutenant General |
| General de brigada |
|
OF-7 |
Major General |
| Brigadier |
|
OF-6 |
Brigadier General |
| Coronel |
|
OF-5 |
Colonel |
| Teniente coronel |
|
OF-4 |
Lieutenant Colonel |
| Mayor |
|
OF-3 |
Major / Commandant |
| Capitán |
|
OF-2 |
Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| Teniente |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| Subteniente |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| Alférez |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| Suboficial mayor |
|
OR-9 |
Sergeant Major |
| Suboficial |
|
OR-8 |
1st Sergeant |
| Sargento primero |
|
OR-7 |
Sergeant 1st Class |
| Sargento segundo |
|
OR-6 |
Staff Sergeant |
| Cabo primero |
|
OR-5 |
Sergeant |
| Cabo segundo |
|
OR-4 |
Corporal |
| Cabo |
|
OR-3 |
Private 1st Class |
| Soldado de tropa profesional |
|
OR-1 |
Private |
| Rank name |
Insignia |
NATO code |
US Army equivalent |
| Almirante |
|
OF-9 |
General |
| Vicealmirante |
|
OF-8 |
Lieutenant General |
| Contraalmirante |
|
OF-7 |
Major General |
| Comodoro |
|
OF-6 |
Brigadier General |
| Capitán de navío |
|
OF-5 |
Colonel |
| Capitán de fragata |
|
OF-4 |
Lieutenant Colonel |
| Capitán de corbeta |
|
OF-3 |
Major / Commandant |
| Teniente 1° |
|
OF-2 |
Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| Teniente 2° |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| Subteniente |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| Guardiamarina |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| Suboficial mayor |
|
OR-9 |
Sergeant Major |
| Suboficial |
|
OR-8 |
1st Sergeant |
| Sargento primero |
|
OR-7 |
Sergeant 1st Class |
| Sargento segundo |
|
OR-6 |
Staff Sergeant |
| Cabo primero |
|
OR-5 |
Sergeant |
| Cabo segundo |
|
OR-4 |
Corporal |
| Marinero primero |
|
OR-3 |
Private 1st Class |
| Marinero segundo |
|
OR-1 |
Private |
