🇵🇹
Portugal vs Spain 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), aligned tier by tier with their Spanish 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 |
Capitán general
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
General de ejército
|
Tenente-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Teniente general
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
General de división
|
Brigadeiro-general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
General de brigada
|
Coronel-tirocinado
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Coronel
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Coronel
|
Tenente-coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Teniente coronel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Comandante
|
Capitão
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitán
|
Tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Teniente
Alférez
|
Alferes
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Teniente
Alférez
|
Aspirante-a-oficial
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Caballero alférez cadete
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Suboficial mayor
Subteniente
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Suboficial mayor
Subteniente
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Brigada
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sargento primero
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sargento
|
Furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Cabo mayor
|
Segundo-furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Cabo mayor
|
Cabo de secção
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Cabo primero
|
Cabo-adjunto
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Cabo
|
Primeiro-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Soldado de primera
|
Segundo-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Soldado de primera
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private |
Soldado
|
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 |
Capitán general
|
Almirante
|
OF-9 General |
Almirante general
|
Vice-almirante
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Almirante
|
Contra-almirante
|
OF-7 Major General |
Vicealmirante
|
Comodoro
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Contralmirante
|
Capitão de mar e guerra
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Capitán de navío
|
Capitão de fragata
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Capitán de fragata
|
Capitão-tenente
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Capitán de corbeta
|
Primeiro-tenente
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Teniente de navío
|
Segundo-tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Alférez de navío
Alférez de fragata
|
Guarda-marinha / Subtenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Alférez de navío
Alférez de fragata
|
Aspirante (Naval school)
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Guardiamarina de 2º
Guardiamarina de 1º
Alumno de 2º
Alumno de 1º
|
Aspirante (others)
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Guardiamarina de 2º
Guardiamarina de 1º
Alumno de 2º
Alumno de 1º
|
| Cadete | OF-D Student Officer |
Guardiamarina de 2º
Guardiamarina de 1º
Alumno de 2º
Alumno de 1º
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Suboficial mayor
Subteniente
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Suboficial mayor
Subteniente
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Brigada
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sargento primero
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sargento
|
Subsargento
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Cabo mayor
|
Cabo-mor
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Cabo primero
|
Cabo
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Cabo primero
|
Primeiro-marinheiro
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Cabo
|
Segundo-marinheiro
|
OR-2 Private |
Marinero de primera
|
| Primeiro-grumete | OR-2 Private |
Marinero de primera
|
| Segundo-grumete | OR-1 Private |
Marinero
|
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 |
Capitán general
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
General del aire
|
Tenente-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Teniente general
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
General de división
|
Brigadeiro-general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
General de brigada
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Coronel
|
Tenente-coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Teniente coronel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Comandante
|
Capitão
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitán
|
Tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Teniente
Alférez
|
Alferes
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Teniente
Alférez
|
Aspirante-a-oficial
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Oficial cadete
Alumno
|
| Cadete aluno | OF-D Student Officer |
Oficial cadete
Alumno
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Suboficial mayor
Subteniente
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Suboficial mayor
Subteniente
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Brigada
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sargento primero
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sargento
|
Furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Cabo mayor
|
Segundo-furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Cabo mayor
|
| Cabo-de-secção | OR-4 Corporal |
Cabo primero
|
Cabo-adjunto
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Cabo
|
Primeiro-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Soldado de primera
|
Segundo-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Soldado de primera
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private |
Soldado
|
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