Greek military ranks

Modern Greek military ranks are based on Ancient Greek and Byzantine terminology.

In the army and air force, these names are often based on the unit or post that a holder of each rank usual commands. For example, a tagmatarchis is in charge of a tagma, which is derived from an Ancient Greek word translatable as "command", "order", or "class", and in modern Greek is a unit equivalent to a battalion in other armies; hence a modern tagmatarchis is a rank equivalent to major in other armies. Similarly, a lochagos normally commands a lochos (a word that originally meant "warband"), which in Ancient Greece was a 100-strong hoplite unit, but in modern Greek usage is equivalent to an infantry company. Hence a lochagos is the equivalent of a captain in other armies, and the modern Greek equivalent of an army first lieutenant is the modern neologism ypolochagos: literally, "sub-captain". Likewise, the modern Greek equivalent of a sergeant is a lochias.

The suffixes -agos and -archos (or -arches), which are often found in Greek rank names, are derived from the roots agein "to lead" and archein "to rule", respectively.

Air Force

The Hellenic Air Force, is the youngest of the three services (founded in 1930). Its insignia are based on the British Royal Air Force, while it uses Army rank titles when translated to English.[1]

Officer ranks

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
 Hellenic Air Force[2]
Πτέραρχος
Pterarchos
Αντιπτέραρχος
Antipterarchos
Υποπτέραρχος
Ypopterarchos
Ταξίαρχος
Taxiarchos
Σμήναρχος
Sminarchos
Αντισμήναρχος
Antisminarchos
Επισμηναγός
Episminagos
Σμηναγός
Sminagos
Υποσμηναγός
Yposminagos
Ανθυποσμηναγός
Anthyposminagos

NCO and other ranks

NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Hellenic Air Force[2]
Ανθυπασπιστής[lower-alpha 1]
Anthypaspistis
Αρχισμηνίας
Archisminias
Επισμηνίας
Episminias
Σμηνίας
Sminias
Υποσμηνίας
Yposminias
Σμηνίτης
Sminitis
Greece Greece
(Conscripts)
No equivalent
No insignia
Κληρωτός Σμηνίας
Klirotos Sminias
Σμηνίτης
Sminitis

Army

Officer ranks

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
 Hellenic Army[3]
Στρατηγός
Stratigos
Αντιστράτηγος
Antistratigos
Υποστράτηγος
Ypostratigos
Ταξίαρχος
Taxiarchos
Συνταγματάρχης
Syntagmatarchis
Αντισυνταγματάρχης
Antisyntagmatarchis
Ταγματάρχης
Tagmatarchis
Λοχαγός
Lochagos
Υπολοχαγός
Ypolochagos
Ανθυπολοχαγός
Anthypolochagos
Δόκιμος Έφεδρος Αξιωματικός
Dokimos efedros aksio­matikos

NCO and other ranks

NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Hellenic Army[4]
Arm/corps insignia only
Ανθυπασπιστής[lower-alpha 1]
Anthypaspistis
Αρχιλοχίας
Archilochias
Επιλοχίας
Epilochias
Λοχίας
Lochias
Δεκανέας
Dekaneas
Υποδεκανέας
Ypodekaneas
Στρατιώτης
Stratiotis
 Greece
(Conscripts)
No equivalent
No insignia
Δόκιμος Έφεδρος Αξιωματικός
Dokimos Efedros Axiomatikos[lower-alpha 1]
Λοχίας
Lochias
Δεκανέας
Dekaneas
Υποδεκανέας
Ypodekaneas
Υποψήφιος Έφεδρος Βαθμοφόρος
Ypopsifios Efedros Bathmoforos
Στρατιώτης
Stratiotis

Officer ranks

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
 Hellenic Navy[5]
Ναύαρχος
Navarchos
Αντιναύαρχος
Antinavarchos
Υποναύαρχος
Yponavarchos
Αρχιπλοίαρχος
Archiploiarchos
Πλοίαρχος
Ploiarchos
Αντιπλοίαρχος
Antiploiarchos
Πλωτάρχης
Plotarchis
Υποπλοίαρχος
Ypoploiarchos
Ανθυποπλοίαρχος
Anthypoploiarchos
Σημαιοφόρος
Simaioforos
Σημαιοφόρος Επίκουρος Αξιωματικός
Simaioforos epikouros axiomatikos

NCO and other ranks

NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Hellenic Navy[5]

male

female

male

female
Ανθυπασπιστής[lower-alpha 1]
Anthypaspistis
Αρχικελευστής
Archikelefstis
Επικελευστής
Epikelefstis
Κελευστής
Kelefstis
Δίοπος
Diopos
Ναύτης
Naftis
Greece Greece
(Conscripts)
No equivalent
Σημαιοφόρος Επίκουρος Αξιωματικός
Simaioforos Epikouros Axiomatikos
Κελευστής
Kelefstis
Δίοπος
Diopos
Ναύτης
Naftis

See also

Notes

  1. Greece has only one level of Warrant Officer. According to the current issue (2021) of STANAG 2116, the Greek Warrant Officers are included in OR-9, however they are afforded the privileges of an officer. See STANAG 2116 note 29, page D-9

References

  1. "Hellenic Airforce Ranks".
  2. "Διακριτικά" [Ranks]. haf.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Air Force. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  3. "Επωμίδες Φ/Π Στολών" [Shoulders for PV Uniforms]. army.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Army. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  4. "Διακριτικά Φ/Π Στολών Υπαξιωματικών Αποφοίτων ΣΜΥ" [Badges F / P Uniforms of Non-Commissioned Officer Graduates]. army.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Army. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  5. "Διακριτικά Βαθμών Προσωπικού ΠΝ" [Insignia of Personnel Degrees]. hellenicnavy.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Navy. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
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