Venezuelan 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), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.
Army
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
General en Jefe
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Mayor General
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
General de División
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
General de Brigada
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Teniente Coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Mayor
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Capitán
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Primer Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento Supervisor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Sargento Ayudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Sargento Mayor de Primera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergeant first class
|
Sargento Mayor de Segunda
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergeant first class
|
Sargento Mayor de Tercera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergeant first class
|
Sargento Primero
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Sargento Segundo
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Cabo Primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Specialist
Corporal
|
Cabo Segundo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Private first class
|
Distinguido
|
OR-2 Private |
Private
|
Soldado raso
|
OR-1 Private | Private |
Navy
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Almirante en Jefe
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
Almirante
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice admiral
|
Vicealmirante
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Contralmirante
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Rear admiral (lower half)
|
Capitán de Navío
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Capitán de Fragata
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Capitán de Corbeta
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Teniente de Navío
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Teniente de Fragata
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Teniente de Corbeta
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento Supervisor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Sargento Ayudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Command senior chief petty officer
Senior chief petty officer
|
Sargento Mayor de Primera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Sargento Mayor de Segunda
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Sargento Mayor de Tercera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Sargento Primero
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer first class
|
Sargento Segundo
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Petty officer second class
|
Cabo Primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Petty officer third class
|
Cabo Segundo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Seaman
|
Distinguido
|
OR-2 Private |
Seaman apprentice
|
Marinero
|
OR-1 Private | Seaman recruit |
Air Force
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
General en Jefe
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Mayor General
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
General de División
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
General de Brigada
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Coronel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Teniente Coronel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Mayor
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Capitán
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Primer Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Teniente
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Sargento Supervisor
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Sargento Ayudante
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Senior master sergeant
|
Sargento Mayor de Primera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Sargento Mayor de Segunda
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Sargento Mayor de Tercera
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Sargento Primero
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Technical sergeant
|
Sargento Segundo
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Cabo Primero
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Senior airman
|
Cabo Segundo
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Airman first class
|
Distinguido
|
OR-2 Private |
Airman
|
Aviador
|
OR-1 Private | Airman basic |
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 (Infantería 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.
