🇪🇸
Spain vs France Military Ranks
The Spanish Army has 22 ranks — 12 officer and 10 enlisted — from Soldado up to Capitán general. Below: all 70 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their French equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
70
Active personnel
120K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 22 of 22 matched
| 🇪🇸 Spain · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Capitán general
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Maréchal de France
|
General de ejército
|
OF-9 General |
Général d'armée
|
Teniente general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Général de corps d'armée
|
General de división
|
OF-7 Major General |
Général de division
|
General de brigada
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Général de brigade
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Teniente coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant-colonel
|
Comandante
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Commandant
|
Capitán
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitaine
|
Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Alférez
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Caballero alférez cadete
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Adjudant
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergent-chef BM2
|
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergent-chef
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergent
|
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Caporal-chef de 1re classe
Caporal-chef
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Caporal
|
Soldado de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Soldat de 1re classe
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private |
Soldat
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 24 of 25 matched
| 🇪🇸 Spain · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Capitán general
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Amiral de France
|
Almirante general
|
OF-9 General |
Amiral
|
Almirante
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice-amiral d'escadre
|
Vicealmirante
|
OF-7 Major General |
Vice-amiral
|
Contralmirante
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Contre-amiral
|
Capitán de navío
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Capitaine de vaisseau
|
Capitán de fragata
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Capitaine de frégate
|
Capitán de corbeta
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Capitaine de corvette
|
Teniente de navío
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant de vaisseau
|
Alférez de navío
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe
Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
|
Alférez de fragata
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe
Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
|
Guardiamarina de 2º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
Guardiamarina de 1º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
Alumno de 2º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
Alumno de 1º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Maître principal
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Maître principal
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Premier maître
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class | – |
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Maître
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Second-maître
|
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Quartier-maître de 1 ère classe
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Quartier-maître de 2 ème classe
|
Marinero de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Matelot breveté
|
Marinero
|
OR-1 Private |
Matelot
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 21 of 23 matched
| 🇪🇸 Spain · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Capitán general
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
General del aire
|
OF-9 General |
Général d'armée aérienne
|
Teniente general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Général de corps aérien
|
General de división
|
OF-7 Major General |
Général de division aérienne
|
General de brigada
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Général de brigade aérienne
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Teniente coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant-colonel
|
Comandante
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Commandant
|
Capitán
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitaine
|
Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Alférez
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Oficial cadete
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
Élève-officier
|
Alumno
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
Élève-officier
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Adjudant
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class | – |
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergent-chef
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergent
|
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Caporal-chef
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Caporal
|
Soldado de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Aviateur 1 e classe
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private |
Aviateur 2e classe
|
Overview
The armed forces of Spain, known as the "Spanish Armed Forces" or "Fuerzas Armadas Españolas," are composed of several branches, each with specific responsibilities:
- Spanish Army (Ejército de Tierra): The Spanish 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 international peacekeeping missions.
- Spanish Navy (Armada Española): The Spanish Navy focuses on maritime defense and security, operating various vessels, including frigates, submarines, and patrol boats, to protect Spain's coastline and maritime interests in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
- Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire): The Spanish Air Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations, with fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters ensuring air superiority and national defense.
Spain Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Capitán general (Army), General de ejército, Teniente general (Army), General de división (Army), General de brigada (Army), Coronel (Army), Teniente coronel (Army), Comandante (Army), Capitán (Army), Teniente (Army), Alférez (Army), Suboficial mayor (Army), Subteniente (Army), Brigada (Army), Sargento primero (Army), Sargento (Army), Cabo mayor (Army), Cabo primero (Army), Cabo (Army), Soldado de primera (Army), Soldado (Army), Suboficial mayor (Navy), Subteniente (Navy), Brigada (Navy), Sargento primero (Navy), Sargento (Navy), Cabo mayor (Navy), Cabo primero (Navy), Cabo (Navy), Marinero de primera, Marinero, Capitán general (Air Force), General del aire, Teniente general (Air Force), General de división (Air Force), General de brigada (Air Force), Coronel (Air Force), Teniente coronel (Air Force), Comandante (Air Force), Capitán (Air Force), Teniente (Air Force), Alférez (Air Force), Suboficial mayor (Air Force), Subteniente (Air Force), Brigada (Air Force), Sargento primero (Air Force), Sargento (Air Force), Cabo mayor (Air Force), Cabo primero (Air Force), Cabo (Air Force), Soldado de primera (Air Force), Soldado (Air Force)
- Wallace CT — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Capitán de navío, Capitán de fragata, Capitán de corbeta, Teniente de navío, Alférez de navío, Alférez de fragata, Guardiamarina de 2º, Guardiamarina de 1º, Alumno de 2º, Alumno de 1º
- Ebnz derivative work: Officer781 — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Capitán general, Almirante general, Almirante, Vicealmirante, Contralmirante
- Cdjp1 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Alumno
- Heralder — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Oficial cadete