🇬🇧
United Kingdom vs France Military Ranks
The British Army has 19 ranks — 12 officer and 7 enlisted — from Private up to Field marshal. Below: all 78 ranks across 4 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines), aligned tier by tier with their French equivalents.
Branches
4
Ranks documented
78
Active personnel
144K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 19 of 19 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Field marshal
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Maréchal de France
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
Général d'armée
|
Lieutenant-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Général de corps d'armée
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Général de division
|
Brigadier
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Général de brigade
|
Colonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Lieutenant colonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant-colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Commandant
|
Captain
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitaine
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Second lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Officer cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Adjudant
|
Staff
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergent-chef BM2
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergent-chef
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Caporal-chef de 1re classe
Caporal-chef
|
Lance corporal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Caporal
|
| Private | OR-2 Private |
Soldat de 1re classe
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 18 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Admiral of the Fleet
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Amiral de France
|
Admiral
|
OF-9 General |
Amiral
|
Vice admiral
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice-amiral d'escadre
|
Rear admiral
|
OF-7 Major General |
Vice-amiral
|
Commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Contre-amiral
|
Captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Capitaine de vaisseau
|
Commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Capitaine de frégate
|
Lieutenant commander
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Capitaine de corvette
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant de vaisseau
|
Sub lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe
Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
|
Midshipman
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe
Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
|
Officer Cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Maître principal
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Premier maître
|
Chief petty officer
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class | – |
Petty officer
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Maître
|
Leading rate
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Quartier-maître de 1 ère classe
|
Able rate
|
OR-2 Private |
Matelot breveté
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 19 of 22 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marshal of the RAF
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
Air chief marshal
|
OF-9 General |
Général d'armée aérienne
|
Air marshal
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Général de corps aérien
|
Air vice-marshal
|
OF-7 Major General |
Général de division aérienne
|
Air commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Général de brigade aérienne
|
Group captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Wing commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant-colonel
|
Squadron leader
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Commandant
|
Flight lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitaine
|
Flying officer
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Pilot officer / acting pilot officer
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Officer cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
Élève-officier
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Flight sergeant
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class | – |
Chief technician
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class | – |
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergent-chef
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Caporal-chef
|
Lance corporal ( RAF Regiment only)
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Caporal
|
Air specialist (class 1) technician
|
OR-2 Private |
Aviateur 1 e classe
|
Air specialist (class 1)
|
OR-2 Private |
Aviateur 1 e classe
|
Air specialist (class 2)
|
OR-2 Private |
Aviateur 1 e classe
|
| Air recruit | OR-1 Private |
Aviateur 2e classe
|
Marines
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 19 of 19 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Marines | NATO code |
Equivalent in
France has no Marines — equivalents from its Army.
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Captain General Royal Marines
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Maréchal de France
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
Général d'armée
|
Lieutenant-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Général de corps d'armée
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Général de division
|
Brigadier
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Général de brigade
|
Colonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Lieutenant colonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant-colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Commandant
|
Captain
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitaine
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Second lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Officer cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Adjudant
|
Colour sergeant
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergent-chef BM2
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergent-chef
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Caporal-chef de 1re classe
Caporal-chef
|
Lance corporal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Caporal
|
| Marine | OR-2 Private |
Soldat de 1re classe
|
Overview
The armed forces of the United Kingdom, collectively known as the "British Armed Forces," comprise several branches, each with specific roles and responsibilities:
- British Army: The British Army is the land-based military branch responsible for ground operations. It includes infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. The Army plays a vital role in both national defense and international peacekeeping missions.
- Royal Navy: The Royal Navy is responsible for maritime defense and security. It operates a wide range of vessels, including aircraft carriers, submarines, and surface ships, ensuring the protection of the UK's maritime interests.
- Royal Air Force (RAF): The Royal Air Force is responsible for aerial operations, with a diverse fleet of fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters. It plays a critical role in air defense and global mobility.
- Royal Marines: The Royal Marines are a specialized branch known for amphibious warfare and rapid response capabilities. They serve as the UK's elite naval infantry.
- British Special Forces: The UK has various elite special forces units, including the SAS (Special Air Service) and SBS (Special Boat Service), known for their covert and special operations expertise.
United Kingdom Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Sodacan — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Field marshal, General (Army), Lieutenant-general (Army), Major-general (Army), Brigadier (Army), Colonel (Army), Lieutenant colonel (Army), Major (Army), Captain (Army), Lieutenant (Army), Second lieutenant (Army), Officer cadet, Warrant officer class 1 (Army), Warrant officer class 2 (Army), Staff, Sergeant (Army), Corporal (Army), Lance corporal (Army), Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral, Vice admiral, Rear admiral, Warrant officer class 1 (Navy), Warrant officer class 2 (Navy), Chief petty officer, Petty officer, Leading rate, Able rate, Marshal of the RAF, Air chief marshal, Air marshal, Air vice-marshal, Air commodore, Group captain, Wing commander, Squadron leader, Flight lieutenant, Flying officer, Pilot officer / acting pilot officer, Flight sergeant, Chief technician, Sergeant (Air Force), Corporal (Air Force), Lance corporal ( RAF Regiment only), Air specialist (class 1) technician, Air specialist (class 1), Air specialist (class 2), General (Marines), Lieutenant-general (Marines), Major-general (Marines), Brigadier (Marines), Colonel (Marines), Lieutenant colonel (Marines), Major (Marines), Captain (Marines), Lieutenant (Marines), Second lieutenant (Marines), Colour sergeant, Sergeant (Marines), Corporal (Marines), Lance corporal (Marines)
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Commodore, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant commander, Lieutenant, Sub lieutenant, Officer cadet (Air Force), Captain General Royal Marines, Officer cadet (Marines)
- Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Midshipman, Officer Cadet
- Cdjp1 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Warrant officer, Warrant officer class 1
- Dgp4004 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Warrant officer class 2