🇮🇸
Iceland vs United Kingdom Military Ranks
The Icelandic Army has 10 ranks — 6 officer and 4 enlisted — from óbreyttur up to Ofursti. Below: all 26 ranks across 2 branches (Army, Navy), aligned tier by tier with their British equivalents.
Branches
2
Ranks documented
26
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 8 of 10 matched
| 🇮🇸 Iceland · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Ofursti
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Undirofursti
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Majór
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Höfuðsmaður
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Liðsforingi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Undirliðsforingi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Flokkstjóri 1.
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Flokkstjóri 2.
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Korporáll
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Corporal
|
óbreyttur
|
OR-1 Private | – |
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 13 of 16 matched
| 🇮🇸 Iceland · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Forstjóri Landhelgisgæslunnar
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Framkvæmdastjóri aðgerðasviðs
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Commodore
|
Framkvæmdastjóri siglingasviðs / Framkvæmdastjóri varnarmálasviðs
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Flugrekstrarstjóri / Flaggskipherra / Yfirflugstjóri / Tæknistjóri
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Skipherrar / Flugstjórar / Deildarstjórar
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Næstráðandi / Yfirstýrimaður / Flugmaður / Yfirvélstjóri
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Yfirmaður eftir 6 ár / Stýrimaður / Vélstjóri / Flugmaður
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Yfirmaður eftir 2 ár / Stýrimaður / Vélstjóri / Flugmaður
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Sub lieutenant
Midshipman
|
Byrjandi í yfirmannastöðu
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Sub lieutenant
Midshipman
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Yfir Bátsmaður MS-3
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Bátsmaður MS-2
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Bátsmaður MS-1
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
AS-4
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class | – |
AS-3
|
OR-2 Private |
Able rate
|
Háseti AS-2
|
OR-2 Private |
Able rate
|
AS-1
|
OR-1 Private | – |
Overview
Iceland does not maintain a traditional standing army or armed forces. Instead, it relies on a unique defense arrangement:
- Icelandic Coast Guard (Landhelgisgæsla Íslands): Iceland's defense primarily revolves around its Coast Guard, which is responsible for maritime defense and security. It operates various vessels, including patrol ships and aircraft, to safeguard Iceland's extensive coastline and maritime interests in the North Atlantic.
Iceland's unique defense arrangement involves a bilateral defense agreement with the United States, known as the Iceland Defense Force (IDF). Under this agreement, the U.S. has provided for Iceland's defense, including the monitoring of its airspace.
Iceland Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Ofursti, Undirofursti, Majór, Höfuðsmaður, Liðsforingi, Undirliðsforingi, Flokkstjóri 1., Flokkstjóri 2., Korporáll, óbreyttur, Forstjóri Landhelgisgæslunnar, Framkvæmdastjóri aðgerðasviðs, Framkvæmdastjóri siglingasviðs / Framkvæmdastjóri varnarmálasviðs, Flugrekstrarstjóri / Flaggskipherra / Yfirflugstjóri / Tæknistjóri, Skipherrar / Flugstjórar / Deildarstjórar, Næstráðandi / Yfirstýrimaður / Flugmaður / Yfirvélstjóri, Yfirmaður eftir 6 ár / Stýrimaður / Vélstjóri / Flugmaður, Yfirmaður eftir 2 ár / Stýrimaður / Vélstjóri / Flugmaður, Byrjandi í yfirmannastöðu, Yfir Bátsmaður MS-3, Bátsmaður MS-2, Bátsmaður MS-1, AS-4, AS-3, Háseti AS-2, AS-1