🇪🇸
Spain vs Portugal 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 Portuguese 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 |
Marechal do exército
|
General de ejército
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Teniente general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Tenente-general
|
General de división
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major-general
|
General de brigada
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadeiro-general
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Coronel-tirocinado
Coronel
|
Teniente coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Tenente-coronel
|
Comandante
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Capitán
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitão
|
Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Tenente
Alferes
|
Alférez
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Tenente
Alferes
|
Caballero alférez cadete
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirante-a-oficial
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Sargento-mor
Sargento-chefe
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Sargento-mor
Sargento-chefe
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Sargento-ajudante
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Primeiro-sargento
|
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Segundo-sargento
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Furriel
Segundo-furriel
|
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Cabo de secção
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Cabo-adjunto
|
Soldado de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Primeiro-cabo
Segundo-cabo
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private |
Soldado
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 25 of 25 matched
| 🇪🇸 Spain · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Capitán general
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Almirante da Armada
|
Almirante general
|
OF-9 General |
Almirante
|
Almirante
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice-almirante
|
Vicealmirante
|
OF-7 Major General |
Contra-almirante
|
Contralmirante
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Comodoro
|
Capitán de navío
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Capitão de mar e guerra
|
Capitán de fragata
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Capitão de fragata
|
Capitán de corbeta
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Capitão-tenente
|
Teniente de navío
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Primeiro-tenente
|
Alférez de navío
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Segundo-tenente
Guarda-marinha / Subtenente
|
Alférez de fragata
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Segundo-tenente
Guarda-marinha / Subtenente
|
Guardiamarina de 2º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirante (Naval school)
Aspirante (others)
Cadete
|
Guardiamarina de 1º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirante (Naval school)
Aspirante (others)
Cadete
|
Alumno de 2º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirante (Naval school)
Aspirante (others)
Cadete
|
Alumno de 1º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirante (Naval school)
Aspirante (others)
Cadete
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Sargento-mor
Sargento-chefe
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Sargento-mor
Sargento-chefe
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Sargento-ajudante
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Primeiro-sargento
|
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Segundo-sargento
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Subsargento
|
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Cabo-mor
Cabo
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Primeiro-marinheiro
|
Marinero de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Segundo-marinheiro
Primeiro-grumete
|
Marinero
|
OR-1 Private | Segundo-grumete |
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 23 of 23 matched
| 🇪🇸 Spain · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Capitán general
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Marechal da força aérea
|
General del aire
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Teniente general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Tenente-general
|
General de división
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major-general
|
General de brigada
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadeiro-general
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Coronel
|
Teniente coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Tenente-coronel
|
Comandante
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Capitán
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitão
|
Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Tenente
Alferes
|
Alférez
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Tenente
Alferes
|
Oficial cadete
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirante-a-oficial
Cadete aluno
|
Alumno
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirante-a-oficial
Cadete aluno
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Sargento-mor
Sargento-chefe
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Sargento-mor
Sargento-chefe
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Sargento-ajudante
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Primeiro-sargento
|
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Segundo-sargento
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Furriel
Segundo-furriel
|
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal | Cabo-de-secção |
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Cabo-adjunto
|
Soldado de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Primeiro-cabo
Segundo-cabo
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private |
Soldado
|
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