🇪🇸
Spanish 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), with insignia and NATO-code 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 |
General of the Army
|
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 general
|
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 |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Alférez
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Caballero alférez cadete
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer candidate |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergeant first class
|
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Specialist
Corporal
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Private first class
|
Soldado de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Private
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private | Private |
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 |
Fleet admiral
|
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 |
Rear admiral (lower half)
|
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 |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Alférez de fragata
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Guardiamarina de 2º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
Guardiamarina de 1º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
Alumno de 2º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
Alumno de 1º
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Command senior chief petty officer
Senior chief petty officer
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer first class
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Petty officer second class
|
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Petty officer third class
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Seaman
|
Marinero de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Seaman apprentice
|
Marinero
|
OR-1 Private | Seaman recruit |
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 |
General of the Air Force
|
General del aire
|
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 general
|
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 |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Alférez
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Oficial cadete
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer trainee |
Alumno
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer trainee |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Suboficial mayor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Subteniente
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Brigada
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Senior master sergeant
|
Sargento primero
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Technical sergeant
|
Cabo mayor
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Cabo primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Senior airman
|
Cabo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Airman first class
|
Soldado de primera
|
OR-2 Private |
Airman
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private | Airman basic |
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