🇮🇸
Icelandic 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), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.
Branches
2
Ranks documented
26
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 10 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 |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Undirliðsforingi
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Flokkstjóri 1.
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Flokkstjóri 2.
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Korporáll
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Specialist
Corporal
|
óbreyttur
|
OR-1 Private | Private |
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 16 of 16 matched
| 🇮🇸 Iceland · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Forstjóri Landhelgisgæslunnar
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Framkvæmdastjóri aðgerðasviðs
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Rear admiral (lower half)
|
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 |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Byrjandi í yfirmannastöðu
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Yfir Bátsmaður MS-3
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Bátsmaður MS-2
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Bátsmaður MS-1
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Petty officer second class
|
AS-4
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Seaman
|
AS-3
|
OR-2 Private |
Seaman apprentice
|
Háseti AS-2
|
OR-2 Private |
Seaman apprentice
|
AS-1
|
OR-1 Private | Seaman recruit |
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