Belgian military ranks

The Belgian military ranks are the military insignia used by the Belgian Armed Forces.[1]

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
Opperofficieren - Officiers généraux Hoofdofficieren - Officiers supérieurs Lagere officieren - Officiers subalternes
 Belgian Land Component[2]
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadegeneraal Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kapitein-commandant Kapitein Luitenant Onderluitenant Aspirant
Général Lieutenant général Général-major Général de Brigade Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine-commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant Aspirant
General Generalleutnant Generalmajor Brigadegeneral Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Stabshauptmann Hauptmann Leutnant Unterleutnant Aspirant
 Belgian Navy[3]
Admiraal Vice-admiraal Divisieadmiraal Flottieljeadmiraal Kapitein-ter-zee Fregatkapitein Korvetkapitein Luitenant-ter-zee 1ste klasse Luitenant-ter-zee Vaandrig-ter-zee Vaandrig-ter-zee 2de klasse Aspirant der marine
Amiral Vice-amiral Amiral de division Amiral de flottille Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau de 1re classe Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe Aspirant de marine
Admiral Vizeadmiral Divisionsadmiral Flotillenadmiral Kapitän zur See Fregattenkapitän Korvettenkapitän Linienschiffsleutnant 1. klasse Linienschiffsleutnant Seefahnrich Seefahnrich 2. klasse Aspirant von marine
 Belgian Air Component[4]
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadegeneraal Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kapitein-commandant Kapitein Luitenant Onderluitenant Aspirant
Général Lieutenant général Général-major Général de Brigade Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine-commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant Aspirant
General Generalleutnant Generalmajor Brigadegeneral Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Stabshauptmann Hauptmann Leutnant Unterleutnant Aspirant
Belgium Belgian Medical Component[5]
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadegeneraal Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kapitein-commandant Kapitein Luitenant Onderluitenant Aspirant
Général Lieutenant général Général-major Général de Brigade Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine-commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant Aspirant
General Generalleutnant Generalmajor Brigadegeneral Oberst Oberstleutnant Major Stabshauptmann Hauptmann Leutnant Unterleutnant Aspirant
NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer

Notes
  • Officer-cadets at the Royal Military Academy wear the ranks of Second Lieutenant (or Ensign at sea, 2nd class) with the insignia of the Academy above the rank insignia.
  • Cadet-Officers at the Royal Military Academy wear the ranks of Soldier during their first year, and Warrant officer (or 1st master chief) during their second and third year. Both with the insignia of the Academy above the rank insignia.
  • The ranks of Admiral and Air Force General were created in 2002.
  • The ranks of Lieutenant general and General of the Medical component were introduced in April 2021 alongside the new unified 'tactical' rank insignia.

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Hoofdonderofficieren - Sous-officiers supérieurs - Hochrangigeunteroffiziere Keuronderofficieren - Sous-officiers d'élite - Eliteunteroffiziere Lagere onderofficieren - Sous-officiers subalternes - Niedriger Unteroffiziere Keurvrijwilligers - Volontaires d'élite - Elitefreiwillige Lagere vrijwilligers - Volontaires subalternes - Niedriger Freiwillige
 Belgian Land Component[2]
Adjudant-majoor Adjudant-chef Adjudant 1ste sergeant-majoor 1ste sergeant-chef 1ste sergeant Sergeant 1ste korporaal-chef Korporaal-chef Korporaal 1ste soldaat Soldaat
Adjudant-major Adjudant-chef Adjudant 1er sergeant-major 1er sergeant-chef 1er sergeant Sergeant 1er caporal-chef Caporal-chef Caporal 1er soldat Soldat
Majoradjutant Chefadjudant Adjudant 1er Sergeant major 1er Sergeant chef 1er Sergeant Sergeant 1er Korporal chef Korporal chef Korporal 1er soldat Soldat
 Belgian Navy[3]
Oppermeester-Chef Oppermeester Eerste meesterchef Eerste meester Meester-chef Meester Tweede meester Eerste kwartiermeester-chef Kwartiermeester-chef Kwartiermeester Eerste matroos Matroos
Maître principal-Chef Maître-principal Premier-maître chef Premier maître Maître-chef Maître Second-maître 1er Quartier-maître-chef Quartier-maître-chef Quartier maître Premier matelot Matelot
Chefhauptmeister Hauptmeister Erster Chefmeister Erster Meister Meister-Chef Meister Zweiter Meister 1er Oberquartiermeister Oberquartiermeister Quartiermeister 1er Matrose Matrose
 Belgian Air Component[4]
 No insignia
Adjudant-Majoor Adjudant-chef Adjudant 1ste sergeant-majoor 1ste sergeant-chef 1ste sergeant Sergeant 1ste korporaal-chef Korporaal-chef Korporaal 1ste soldaat Soldaat
Adjudant-Major Adjudant-chef Adjudant 1er sergeant-major 1er sergeant-chef 1er sergeant Sergeant 1er caporal-chef Caporal-chef Caporal 1er soldat Soldat
Majoradjutant Chefadjudant Adjudant 1er Sergeant Major 1er Sergeant Chef 1er Sergeant Sergeant 1er Korporal Chef Korporal Chef Korporal 1er soldat Soldat
Belgium Belgian Medical Component[5]
Adjudant-Majoor Adjudant-chef Adjudant 1ste sergeant-majoor 1ste sergeant-chef 1ste sergeant Sergeant 1ste korporaal-chef Korporaal-chef Korporaal 1ste soldaat Soldaat
Adjudant-Major Adjudant-chef Adjudant 1er sergeant-major 1er sergeant-chef 1er sergeant Sergeant 1er caporal-chef Caporal-chef Caporal 1er soldat Soldat
Majoradjutant Chefadjudant Adjudant 1er Sergeant Major 1er Sergeant Chef 1er Sergeant Sergeant 1er Korporal Chef Korporal Chef Korporal 1er soldat Soldat
NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1

Notes
  • CSM is an appointment at the Company level for individuals with the rank of First Sergeant or higher. Its insignia is that of the normal rank with a small crown at the top.
  • RSM (Adjudant de corps/korpsadjudant) is an appointment at the Corps level for individuals with the rank of Warrant Officer or higher, this is the most senior NCO in the corps. Its insignia is that of the normal rank with a big crown at the top.
  • Corps Corporal (Caporal de corps/korpskorporaal) is an appointment at the Corps level for individuals with the rank of 1st master corporal, its insignia is that of the 1st master corporal with a crown at the top.
  • The rank names relating to corporal and sergeant are replaced with "brigadier" and "maréchal des logis/wachtmeester" in application to personnel of units whose traditions are related to or descend from horse units. These include the cavalry, artillery, and logistics units. Similarly, in the cavalry units, the lowest rank is named "cavalier/ruiter", they are addressed the title "Monsieur/Mijnheer", a remnant of the aristocratic origins of horse mounted units; it was sought to remove these names in March 2013, retaining only the generic rank names.
  • Caporal de corps / Korpskorporaal of korpsbrigadier
    Caporal de corps / Korpskorporaal of korpsbrigadier

Ranks at the Royal Military Academy
Main article: Royal Military Academy (Belgium)
Year Land component Medical component Air component / Airforce Maritime component / Navy
Officer-Students (Master)
4th and 5th Onderluitenant KBO
Sous-lieutenant COC
Unterleutnant		 Onderluitenant KBO
Sous-lieutenant COC
Unterleutnant		 Onderluitenant KBO
Sous-lieutenant COC
Unterleutnant		 Vaandrig-ter-zee 2e klasse KBO
Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe COC>
Seefahnrich 2. klasse
Student-Officers (Bachelor)
2nd and 3rd Adjudant KBO
Adjudant COC
Adjudant		 Adjudant KBO
Adjudant COC
Adjudant		 Adjudant KBO
Adjudant COC
Adjudant		 1e meester-chef KBO
Premier maître-chef COC
Erster Chefmeister
1st Soldaat / Korporaal / Sergeant KBO
Soldat / Caporal / Sergent COC
Soldat / Korporal / Sergeant		 Soldaat / Korporaal / Sergeant KBO
Soldat / Caporal / Sergent COC
Soldat / Korporal / Sergeant		 Soldaat / Korporaal / Sergeant KBO
Soldat / Caporal / Sergent COC
Soldat / Korporal / Sergeant		 Soldaat / Korporaal / Sergeant KBO
Soldat / Caporal / Sergent COC
Soldat / Korporal / Sergeant

Notes:

  • Student-Officers attain the rank of Corporal, CCO after completing their military initiation phase ("MIP" ).
  • Student-Officers attain the rank of Sergeant, CCO after the first winter camp when they complete the training at the 'individual' level and start their training at the 'team' and 'squad' level.
  • Student-Officers take an oath after they receive their bachelor's degree and successfully complete their 'second native language' exam, thus becoming Officer-Students and attaining the rank of Lieutenant, CCO or branch equivalent.

Medical Component rank variations
  • Dentist Ranks of the medical component.
    Dentist Ranks of the medical component.
  • Doctor Ranks of the medical component.
    Doctor Ranks of the medical component.
  • Pharmacist Ranks of the medical component.
    Pharmacist Ranks of the medical component.
  • Veterinarian Ranks of the medical component.
    Veterinarian Ranks of the medical component.
  • Medical Support Corps Ranks of the medical component.
    Medical Support Corps Ranks of the medical component.

References
  1. "28 FEVRIER 2007. — Loi fixant le statut des militaires du cadre actif des Forces armées". Moniteur Belge (in French). 177 (108): 19814–19816. 10 April 2007.
  2. "IPR Landcomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  3. "Marinecomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  4. "IPR Luchtcomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  5. "IPR Medische component". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  • "Belgium". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
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