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Yemeni Military Ranks 🇾🇪
Complete officer and enlisted rank insignia across 3 branches — 47 ranks in total — with NATO-code equivalents for cross-country comparison.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
47
Active personnel
40K
Overview
- Yemeni Land Forces (Al-Qūwāt al-Barriyyah / القوات البرية): Conducts land combat operations, armor maneuver, and territorial defense across seven designated military regions. Command is divided between forces aligned with the internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council and Houthi authorities. Subordinate units include mechanized infantry, armored, mountain warfare, and artillery brigades.
- Yemeni Navy and Coastal Defense Forces (Al-Qūwāt al-Baḥriyyah wa-al-Difāʿ al-Sāḥilī / القوات البحرية والدفاع الساحلي): Manages maritime security, coastal artillery defense, and marine infantry operations along the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab el-Mandeb strait. Main operational bases are situated in Aden, Hodeidah, and Mukalla. Fleet inventory consists of patrol craft, coastal anti-ship missile batteries, and light auxiliary vessels.
- Yemeni Air Force and Air Defense (Al-Qūwāt al-Jawwiyyah wa-al-Difāʿ al-Jawwī / القوات الجوية والدفاع الجوي): Operates fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and ground-based air defense systems for transport, reconnaissance, and airspace interception. Controls major airfields including Al-Anad, Sanaa, and Seiyun. Operational command and asset inventories remain split across competing political and military factions.
- Border Guard Forces (Ḥaras al-Ḥudūd / حرس الحدود): Secures land frontiers with Saudi Arabia and Oman against illicit trafficking, smuggling, and unauthorized crossings. Deploys fixed border outposts, motorized patrols, and tactical uncrewed aerial systems. Subordinate formations integrate specialized commando and frontline reconnaissance detachments.
- Strategic Reserve Forces (Al-Iḥṭiyāṭ al-Istrātījī / الاحتياط الاستراتيجي): Directs long-range ballistic missile units, heavy artillery formations, and specialized presidential guard units. Conducts standoff strike operations, missile defense tactics, and strategic strike mission sets. Command structures report directly to executive military leadership.
Yemen Military
Air Force
| Rank name | Insignia | NATO code | US Army equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| مشیر Mushir |
|
OF-10 | Marshal / General of the Army |
| فريق أول Fariq 'awal |
|
OF-9 | General |
| فريق Fariq |
|
OF-8 | Lieutenant General |
| لواء Liwa |
|
OF-7 | Major General |
| عميد Amid |
|
OF-6 | Brigadier General |
| عقيد Aqid |
|
OF-5 | Colonel |
| مقدم Muqaddam |
|
OF-4 | Lieutenant Colonel |
| رائد Ra'id |
|
OF-3 | Major / Commandant |
| نقيب Naqib |
|
OF-2 | Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| ملازم أول Mulazim awwal |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| ملازم ثان Mulazim than |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Warrant officer |
|
OR-8 | 1st Sergeant |
| Flight sergeant |
|
OR-7 | Sergeant 1st Class |
| Sergeant |
|
OR-5 | Sergeant |
| Senior Airman |
|
OR-4 | Corporal |
| Airman First Class |
|
OR-3 | Private 1st Class |
| Airman جندي | OR-1 | Private |
Army
| Rank name | Insignia | NATO code | US Army equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| مشیر Mushir |
|
OF-10 | Marshal / General of the Army |
| فريق أول Fariq 'awal |
|
OF-9 | General |
| فريق Fariq |
|
OF-8 | Lieutenant General |
| لواء Liwa |
|
OF-7 | Major General |
| عميد Amid |
|
OF-6 | Brigadier General |
| عقيد Aqid |
|
OF-5 | Colonel |
| مقدم Muqaddam |
|
OF-4 | Lieutenant Colonel |
| رائد Ra'id |
|
OF-3 | Major / Commandant |
| نقيب Naqib |
|
OF-2 | Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| ملازم أول Mulazim awwal |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| ملازم ثان Mulazim than |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| مساعد أول Musaeid 'awal | OR-9 | Sergeant Major | |
| مساعد ثان Musaeid than | OR-9 | Sergeant Major | |
| مساعد Musaeid |
|
OR-9 | Sergeant Major |
| رقيب أول Raqib 'awal |
|
OR-7 | Sergeant 1st Class |
| رقيب Raqib |
|
OR-6 | Staff Sergeant |
| عريف Earif |
|
OR-4 | Corporal |
| جندي Jundiun |
|
OR-3 | Private 1st Class |
Navy
| Rank name | Insignia | NATO code | US Army equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| عميد Amid |
|
OF-6 | Brigadier General |
| عقيد Aqid |
|
OF-5 | Colonel |
| مقدم Muqaddam |
|
OF-4 | Lieutenant Colonel |
| رائد Ra'id |
|
OF-3 | Major / Commandant |
| نقيب Naqib |
|
OF-2 | Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| ملازم أول Mulazim awwal |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| ملازم ثان Mulazim than |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Warrant officer |
|
OR-8 | 1st Sergeant |
| Petty officer first class |
|
OR-6 | Staff Sergeant |
| Petty officer second class |
|
OR-5 | Sergeant |
| Petty officer third class |
|
OR-4 | Corporal |
| Seaman |
|
OR-1 | Private |
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