🇵🇹
Portugal vs France 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 French 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 |
Maréchal de France
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
Général d'armée
|
Tenente-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Général de corps d'armée
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Général de division
|
Brigadeiro-general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Général de brigade
|
Coronel-tirocinado
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Tenente-coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant-colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Commandant
|
Capitão
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitaine
|
Tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Alferes
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Aspirante-a-oficial
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Adjudant
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergent-chef BM2
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergent-chef
|
Furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergent
|
Segundo-furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergent
|
Cabo de secção
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Caporal-chef de 1re classe
Caporal-chef
|
Cabo-adjunto
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Caporal
|
Primeiro-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Soldat de 1re classe
|
Segundo-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Soldat de 1re classe
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private |
Soldat
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 25 of 26 matched
| 🇵🇹 Portugal · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Almirante da Armada
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Amiral de France
|
Almirante
|
OF-9 General |
Amiral
|
Vice-almirante
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice-amiral d'escadre
|
Contra-almirante
|
OF-7 Major General |
Vice-amiral
|
Comodoro
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Contre-amiral
|
Capitão de mar e guerra
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Capitaine de vaisseau
|
Capitão de fragata
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Capitaine de frégate
|
Capitão-tenente
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Capitaine de corvette
|
Primeiro-tenente
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant de vaisseau
|
Segundo-tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe
Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
|
Guarda-marinha / Subtenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe
Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
|
Aspirante (Naval school)
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
Aspirante (others)
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
| Cadete | OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Maître principal
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Maître principal
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Premier maître
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class | – |
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Maître
|
Subsargento
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Second-maître
|
Cabo-mor
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Quartier-maître de 1 ère classe
|
Cabo
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Quartier-maître de 1 ère classe
|
Primeiro-marinheiro
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Quartier-maître de 2 ème classe
|
Segundo-marinheiro
|
OR-2 Private |
Matelot breveté
|
| Primeiro-grumete | OR-2 Private |
Matelot breveté
|
| Segundo-grumete | OR-1 Private |
Matelot
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 23 of 25 matched
| 🇵🇹 Portugal · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marechal da força aérea
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
General
|
OF-9 General |
Général d'armée aérienne
|
Tenente-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Général de corps aérien
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Général de division aérienne
|
Brigadeiro-general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Général de brigade aérienne
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Tenente-coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant-colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Commandant
|
Capitão
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitaine
|
Tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Alferes
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant
|
Aspirante-a-oficial
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
Élève-officier
|
| Cadete aluno | OF-D Student Officer |
Aspirant
Élève-officier
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Major
Adjudant-chef
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Adjudant
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class | – |
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergent-chef
|
Furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergent
|
Segundo-furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergent
|
| Cabo-de-secção | OR-4 Corporal |
Caporal-chef
|
Cabo-adjunto
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Caporal
|
Primeiro-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Aviateur 1 e classe
|
Segundo-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Aviateur 1 e classe
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private |
Aviateur 2e classe
|
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