🇪🇸
Spain vs United Kingdom 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 British equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
70
Active personnel
120K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 20 of 22 matched
| 🇪🇸 Spain · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Capitán general
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Field marshal
|
General de ejército
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Teniente general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant-general
|
General de división
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major-general
|
General de brigada
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Teniente coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Comandante
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Capitán
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Alférez
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Caballero alférez cadete
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer cadet
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Warrant officer class 2
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Staff
|
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Corporal
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Lance corporal
|
Soldado de primera
|
OR-2 Private | Private |
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private | – |
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 22 of 25 matched
| 🇪🇸 Spain · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Capitán general
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Admiral of the Fleet
|
Almirante general
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
Almirante
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice admiral
|
Vicealmirante
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Contralmirante
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Commodore
|
Capitán de navío
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Capitán de fragata
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Capitán de corbeta
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Teniente de navío
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Alférez de navío
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Sub lieutenant
Midshipman
|
Alférez de fragata
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Sub lieutenant
Midshipman
|
Guardiamarina de 2º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer Cadet
|
Guardiamarina de 1º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer Cadet
|
Alumno de 2º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer Cadet
|
Alumno de 1º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer Cadet
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Warrant officer class 2
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Leading rate
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class | – |
Marinero de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Able rate
|
Marinero
|
OR-1 Private | – |
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 |
Marshal of the RAF
|
General del aire
|
OF-9 General |
Air chief marshal
|
Teniente general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Air marshal
|
General de división
|
OF-7 Major General |
Air vice-marshal
|
General de brigada
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Air commodore
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Group captain
|
Teniente coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Wing commander
|
Comandante
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Squadron leader
|
Capitán
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Flight lieutenant
|
Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Flying officer
Pilot officer / acting pilot officer
|
Alférez
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Flying officer
Pilot officer / acting pilot officer
|
Oficial cadete
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer cadet
|
Alumno
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer cadet
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant | – |
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Flight sergeant
Chief technician
|
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Corporal
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Lance corporal ( RAF Regiment only)
|
Soldado de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Air specialist (class 1) technician
Air specialist (class 1)
Air specialist (class 2)
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private | Air recruit |
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