Venezuela vs Colombia Military Ranks
The Venezuelan Army has 21 ranks — 10 officer and 11 enlisted — from Soldado raso up to General en Jefe. Below: all 63 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their Colombian equivalents.
Army
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
General en Jefe
|
OF-9 General |
General de ejército
|
Mayor General
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General | – |
General de División
|
OF-7 Major General |
Mayor general
|
General de Brigada
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Coronel
|
Teniente Coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Teniente coronel
|
Mayor
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Mayor
|
Capitán
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitán
|
Primer Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Teniente
Subteniente
|
Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Teniente
Subteniente
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento Supervisor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Sargento mayor de comando conjunto
Sargento mayor de ejército
Sargento mayor de comando
|
Sargento Ayudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Sargento mayor
|
Sargento Mayor de Primera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sargento primero
|
Sargento Mayor de Segunda
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sargento primero
|
Sargento Mayor de Tercera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sargento primero
|
Sargento Primero
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Sargento viceprimero
|
Sargento Segundo
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sargento segundo
|
Cabo Primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Cabo primero
|
Cabo Segundo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Cabo segundo
|
Distinguido
|
OR-2 Private |
Cabo tercero
|
Soldado raso
|
OR-1 Private |
Soldado profesional
Soldado
|
Navy
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Almirante en Jefe
|
OF-9 General |
Almirante
|
Almirante
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General | – |
Vicealmirante
|
OF-7 Major General |
Vicealmirante
|
Contralmirante
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Contralmirante
|
Capitán de NavÃo
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Capitán de navÃo
|
Capitán de Fragata
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Capitán de fragata
|
Capitán de Corbeta
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Capitán de corbeta
|
Teniente de NavÃo
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Teniente de navÃo
|
Teniente de Fragata
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Teniente de fragata
Teniente de corbeta
|
Teniente de Corbeta
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Teniente de fragata
Teniente de corbeta
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento Supervisor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Suboficial jefe técnico de comando conjunto
Suboficial jefe técnico de comando
|
Sargento Ayudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Suboficial jefe técnico
|
Sargento Mayor de Primera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Suboficial jefe
|
Sargento Mayor de Segunda
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Suboficial jefe
|
Sargento Mayor de Tercera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Suboficial jefe
|
Sargento Primero
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Suboficial primero
|
Sargento Segundo
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Suboficial segundo
|
Cabo Primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Suboficial tercero
|
Cabo Segundo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Marinero primero
|
Distinguido
|
OR-2 Private |
Marinero segundo
|
Marinero
|
OR-1 Private | – |
Air Force
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
General en Jefe
|
OF-9 General |
General del aire
|
Mayor General
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General | – |
General de División
|
OF-7 Major General |
Mayor general del aire
|
General de Brigada
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general del aire
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Coronel
|
Teniente Coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Teniente coronel
|
Mayor
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Mayor
|
Capitán
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Capitán
|
Primer Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Teniente
Subteniente
|
Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Teniente
Subteniente
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento Supervisor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Técnico jefe de comando conjunto
Técnico jefe de comando
|
Sargento Ayudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Técnico jefe
|
Sargento Mayor de Primera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Técnico subjefe
|
Sargento Mayor de Segunda
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Técnico subjefe
|
Sargento Mayor de Tercera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Técnico subjefe
|
Sargento Primero
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Técnico primero
|
Sargento Segundo
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Técnico segundo
|
Cabo Primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Técnico tercero
|
Cabo Segundo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Técnico cuarto
|
Distinguido
|
OR-2 Private |
Aerotécnico
|
Aviador
|
OR-1 Private | – |
Overview
The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, FANB) are organized into five main service branches, under the overall authority of the President of Venezuela, who serves as Commander-in-Chief, and the Ministry of Defense.
-
Army (Ejército Bolivariano): The largest branch, responsible for land-based operations and defense of national territory. It includes infantry, armored, artillery, engineer, and special operations units.
-
Navy (Armada Bolivariana): Tasked with maritime defense and coastal security. It operates surface ships, submarines, naval aviation, and a Marine Corps (InfanterÃa de Marina).
-
Air Force (Aviación Militar Bolivariana): Focused on air defense, strike operations, and support missions. It includes combat aircraft, transport, training, and air defense units.
-
National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivariana): A gendarmerie-style force with dual military and policing roles. It handles internal security, border control, counter-narcotics, and riot control.
-
Bolivarian Militia (Milicia Bolivariana): A large reserve and auxiliary component, composed of civilian volunteers and retired personnel. It supports the regular forces and is heavily tied to Venezuela’s political structure.
