🇵🇹
Portuguese Military Ranks
The Portuguese Army has 25 ranks — 13 officer and 12 enlisted — from Soldado up to Marechal do exército. Below: all 76 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
76
Active personnel
27K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 25 of 25 matched
| 🇵🇹 Portugal · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marechal do exército
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
General of the Army
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Tenente-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Brigadeiro-general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Coronel-tirocinado
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Tenente-coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Capitão
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Alferes
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Aspirante-a-oficial
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer candidate |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergeant first class
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Segundo-furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Cabo de secção
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Specialist
Corporal
|
Cabo-adjunto
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Private first class
|
Primeiro-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Private
|
Segundo-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Private
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private | Private |
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 26 of 26 matched
| 🇵🇹 Portugal · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Almirante da Armada
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Fleet admiral
|
Almirante
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
Vice-almirante
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice admiral
|
Contra-almirante
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Comodoro
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Rear admiral (lower half)
|
Capitão de mar e guerra
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Capitão de fragata
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Capitão-tenente
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Primeiro-tenente
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Segundo-tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Guarda-marinha / Subtenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Aspirante (Naval school)
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
Aspirante (others)
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
| Cadete | OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Command senior chief petty officer
Senior chief petty officer
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer first class
|
Subsargento
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Petty officer second class
|
Cabo-mor
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Petty officer third class
|
Cabo
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Petty officer third class
|
Primeiro-marinheiro
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Seaman
|
Segundo-marinheiro
|
OR-2 Private |
Seaman apprentice
|
| Primeiro-grumete | OR-2 Private |
Seaman apprentice
|
| Segundo-grumete | OR-1 Private | Seaman recruit |
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 25 of 25 matched
| 🇵🇹 Portugal · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marechal da força aérea
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
General of the Air Force
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Tenente-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Brigadeiro-general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Tenente-coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Capitão
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Alferes
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Aspirante-a-oficial
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer trainee |
| Cadete aluno | OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer trainee |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Senior master sergeant
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Technical sergeant
|
Furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Segundo-furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
| Cabo-de-secção | OR-4 Corporal |
Senior airman
|
Cabo-adjunto
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Airman first class
|
Primeiro-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Airman
|
Segundo-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Airman
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private | Airman basic |
Overview
The armed forces of Portugal, known as the "Portuguese Armed Forces" or "Forças Armadas Portuguesas," consist of three main branches, each with specific responsibilities:
- Portuguese Army (Exército Português): The Portuguese 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.
- Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa): The Portuguese Navy focuses on maritime defense and security, operating various vessels, including frigates, submarines, patrol boats, and coastal defense ships, to protect Portugal's extensive coastline and maritime interests.
- Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa): The Portuguese Air Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations, with fighter aircraft, transport planes, helicopters, and air defense systems ensuring air superiority and national defense.
Portugal Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Marechal do exército, General (Army), Tenente-general (Army), Major-general (Army), Brigadeiro-general (Army), Coronel-tirocinado, Coronel (Army), Tenente-coronel (Army), Major (Army), Capitão (Army), Tenente (Army), Alferes (Army), Sargento-mor (Army), Sargento-chefe (Army), Sargento-ajudante (Army), Primeiro-sargento (Army), Segundo-sargento (Army), Furriel (Army), Segundo-furriel (Army), Capitão de mar e guerra, Capitão de fragata, Capitão-tenente, Primeiro-tenente, Segundo-tenente, Guarda-marinha / Subtenente, Aspirante (others), Cabo-mor, Cabo, Primeiro-marinheiro, Segundo-marinheiro, Marechal da força aérea, General (Air Force), Tenente-general (Air Force), Major-general (Air Force), Brigadeiro-general (Air Force), Coronel (Air Force), Tenente-coronel (Air Force), Major (Air Force), Capitão (Air Force), Tenente (Air Force), Alferes (Air Force), Aspirante-a-oficial, Sargento-mor (Air Force), Sargento-chefe (Air Force), Sargento-ajudante (Air Force), Primeiro-sargento (Air Force), Segundo-sargento (Air Force), Furriel (Air Force), Segundo-furriel (Air Force), Cabo-adjunto, Primeiro-cabo, Segundo-cabo, Soldado
- Arturolorioli — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Aspirante-a-oficial, Cabo de secção, Cabo-adjunto, Primeiro-cabo, Segundo-cabo, Soldado
- Jsobral — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Almirante da Armada, Almirante, Vice-almirante, Contra-almirante, Comodoro, Aspirante (Naval school)
- Portuguese Navy — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Sargento-mor, Sargento-chefe, Sargento-ajudante