🇵🇹
Portugal vs United Kingdom 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 British equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
76
Active personnel
27K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 22 of 25 matched
| 🇵🇹 Portugal · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marechal do exército
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Field marshal
|
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
|
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 |
Lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Alferes
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Aspirante-a-oficial
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer cadet
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Warrant officer class 2
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Staff
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Segundo-furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Cabo de secção
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Corporal
|
Cabo-adjunto
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Lance corporal
|
Primeiro-cabo
|
OR-2 Private | Private |
Segundo-cabo
|
OR-2 Private | Private |
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private | – |
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 23 of 26 matched
| 🇵🇹 Portugal · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Almirante da Armada
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Admiral of the Fleet
|
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 |
Commodore
|
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 |
Sub lieutenant
Midshipman
|
Guarda-marinha / Subtenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Sub lieutenant
Midshipman
|
Aspirante (Naval school)
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer Cadet
|
Aspirante (others)
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer Cadet
|
| Cadete | OF-D Student Officer |
Officer Cadet
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer class 1
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Warrant officer class 2
|
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer
|
Subsargento
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Cabo-mor
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Leading rate
|
Cabo
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Leading rate
|
Primeiro-marinheiro
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class | – |
Segundo-marinheiro
|
OR-2 Private |
Able rate
|
| Primeiro-grumete | OR-2 Private |
Able rate
|
| Segundo-grumete | OR-1 Private | – |
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 22 of 25 matched
| 🇵🇹 Portugal · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marechal da força aérea
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army |
Marshal of the RAF
|
General
|
OF-9 General |
Air chief marshal
|
Tenente-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Air marshal
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Air vice-marshal
|
Brigadeiro-general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Air commodore
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Group captain
|
Tenente-coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Wing commander
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Squadron leader
|
Capitão
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Flight lieutenant
|
Tenente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Flying officer
Pilot officer / acting pilot officer
|
Alferes
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Flying officer
Pilot officer / acting pilot officer
|
Aspirante-a-oficial
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Officer cadet
|
| Cadete aluno | OF-D Student Officer |
Officer cadet
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento-mor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer
|
Sargento-chefe
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Warrant officer
|
Sargento-ajudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant | – |
Primeiro-sargento
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Flight sergeant
Chief technician
|
Segundo-sargento
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
Segundo-furriel
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
| Cabo-de-secção | OR-4 Corporal |
Corporal
|
Cabo-adjunto
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Lance corporal ( RAF Regiment only)
|
Primeiro-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Air specialist (class 1) technician
Air specialist (class 1)
Air specialist (class 2)
|
Segundo-cabo
|
OR-2 Private |
Air specialist (class 1) technician
Air specialist (class 1)
Air specialist (class 2)
|
Soldado
|
OR-1 Private | Air recruit |
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