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m i wanted to make it clear it was referring to the ranks and insignia of nations affiliated with NATO and not NATO’s ranks and insignia. NATO does not have ranks and does not have insignia for each affiliated nation.
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{{Military ranks|state=uncollapsed}}
{{Military ranks|state=uncollapsed}}


'''Ranks and insignia of NATO affiliated nations''' are combined military insignia used by the member countries of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]].
'''Ranks and insignia of NATO affiliated nations''' are combined military ranks and insignia used by the member countries (and other affiliated nations) of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]].


The rank scale is used for specifying posts within NATO.
The rank scale is used for specifying posts within NATO.


== Ranks codes ==
== Rank codes ==
NATO maintains a "standard rank scale" which is also know as a "standardized reference system" in an attempt to match every member country's military rank to corresponding ranks used by the other members.{{sfn|NATO|2021|p=1-1}} The NATO rank reference code categories were established in a 1978 document entitled [[STANAG]] 2116 (formally titled ''NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel'').
NATO maintains a "standard rank scale" which is also known as a "standardized reference system" in an attempt to match every member country's military ranks to corresponding ranks used by the other members.{{sfn|NATO|2021|p=1-1}} The NATO rank reference code categories were established in a 1978 document entitled [[STANAG]] 2116 (formally titled ''NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel'').

NATO rank codes are not the same as military ranks (US Army examples: Private, Corporal, Warrant Officer 1, Chief Warrant Officer 5, Captain, Major, Colonel, etc.) and military pay grades (US military examples: E-1, W-1, CW-5, O-1, O-1e, O-10, etc.). They are rank codes that allow for interoperability among NATO member nations.


=== Officer rank codes ===
=== Officer rank codes ===
OF-1 – OF-10 (lowest rank code to highest) are used for [[commissioned officer]]s:{{sfn|NATO|2021|p=1-1}}
OF-1 – OF-10 (lowest rank code to highest) are used for [[commissioned officer]]s:{{sfn|NATO|2021|p=1-1}}
* OF-6 – OF-10: [[General officer]]s
* OF-6 – OF-10: [[Flag officer]]s, [[general officer]]s, or [[air officer]]s
* OF-3 – OF-5: [[Field officer|Senior officer]]s
* OF-3 – OF-5: [[Field officer|Senior officer]]s
* OF-1 – OF-2: [[Junior officer]]s
* OF-1 – OF-2: [[Junior officer]]s

In [[US Forces]] the [[Warrant Officer]] is a separate and distinct category of officers. This officer rank and precedence is below those of officer personnel, but above that of non-officer personnel. Warrant Officer grades are as follows:{{sfn|NATO|2022|p=А-10}}
* W-5: Chief Warrant Officer 5 ([[US Army]], [[US Marine Corps]], [[US Navy]])
* W-4: Chief Warrant Officer 4 ([[US Army]], [[US Marine Corps]], [[US Navy]])
* W-3: Chief Warrant Officer 3 ([[US Army]], [[US Marine Corps]], [[US Navy]])
* W-2: Chief Warrant Officer 2 ([[US Army]], [[US Marine Corps]], [[US Navy]])
* W-1: Warrant Officer 1 ([[US Army]], [[US Marine Corps]]; no longer used in [[US Navy]])

The [[warrant officer]]s are the highest other ranks in [[British Armed Forces]] and [[Canadian Armed Forces]].{{sfn|NATO|2022|p=D-1, D-3}}


=== Other rank codes ===<!-- Other ranks (NATO) redirects here -->
=== Other rank codes ===<!-- Other ranks (NATO) redirects here -->
OR1–OR9 (lowest rank code to highest) are used for other ranks:{{sfn|NATO|2021|p=1-1}}
OR1–OR9 (lowest rank code to highest) are used for other ranks:{{sfn|NATO|2021|p=1-1}}
* OR-5 – OR-9: [[Non-commissioned officer]]s
* OR-5 – OR-9: [[Non-commissioned officer]]s (for NATO purposes)
* OR-1 – OR-4: [[Enlisted rank]]s
* OR-1 – OR-4: [[Enlisted rank]]s (usually)

At the same time, there are exceptions, for example:
* Non-Commissioned officers in [[British Armed Forces]] are called Senior Non-Commissioned Officers in OR-5 to OR-7 inclusive and Junior Non-Commissioned Officers in OR-3 and OR-4.{{sfn|NATO|2022|p=D-8, Е-7, F-7}}

This is not a new feature: it was present in previous editions of STANAG 2116, but was sometimes overlooked.


== Comparison to US system ==
== Comparison to US system ==
Line 51: Line 67:


'''Navy'''
'''Navy'''
* [[Ranks and insignia of NATO navies officers|Ranks and insignia of NATO member navy officers]]
* [[Ranks and insignia of NATO navies' officers|Ranks and insignia of NATO member navy officers]]
* [[Ranks and insignia of NATO navies enlisted|Ranks and insignia of NATO member navy enlisted]]
* [[Ranks and insignia of NATO navies enlisted|Ranks and insignia of NATO member navy enlisted]]


Line 63: Line 79:
=== Sources ===
=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |author1=NATO |title=STANAG 2116 NATO |date=2021 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |edition=7th |location=Brussels, Belgium}}
* {{cite book |author1=NATO |title=STANAG 2116 |date=13 January 2021 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |edition=7th |location=Brussels, Belgium}}
* {{cite book |author1=NATO |title=APersP-01 Еd.A Ver.3 |date=16 June 2022 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |location=Brussels, Belgium}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/documents/reference-library/br-2/BRd%202%20-%20Book/an03a.pdf |title=NATO CODES FOR GRADES OF MILITARY PERSONNEL. STANAG 2116. (Edition No. 4) NAVY/ARMY/AIR |publisher=[[Royal Navy]] |access-date=2017-11-08}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.militaria.lv/stanag.htm |title=STANAG 2116 (Edition 5) |publisher=[[Latvian National Armed Forces]] |access-date=2017-11-08}}
* {{cite book |author1=NATO |title=APP-06 Еd.E Ver.1 |date=11 October 2023 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |location=Brussels, Belgium}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mip-site.org/publicsite/04-Baseline_3.0/JC3IEDM-Joint_C3_Information_Exchange_Data_Model/HTML-Browser/domains/person-type-rank-code.html |title=person-type-rank-code |publisher=[[Multilateral Interoperability Programme]] |date=13 December 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727085908/http://www.mip-site.org/publicsite/04-Baseline_3.0/JC3IEDM-Joint_C3_Information_Exchange_Data_Model/HTML-Browser/domains/person-type-rank-code.html |access-date=2015-05-13 |archive-date=2011-07-27}}
* {{cite web |url=http://army.ca/wiki/index.php/NATO_Rank_Comparison |title=NATO Rank Comparison |publisher=[[Canadian Forces]] |access-date=2009-06-24}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{cite web |author1=NATO |title=APersP-01 |url=https://nso.nato.int/nso/nsdd/main/standards/ap-details/3319/EN |website=nso.nato.int |access-date=23 September 2022}}
* {{cite web |url=https://nso.nato.int/nso/nsdd/main/standards/ap-details/3319/EN |title=NATO Standard STANAG 2116 / APersP-01, NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel |website=nso.nato.int |access-date=2024-06-24 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://nso.nato.int/nso/nsdd/main/standards/ap-details/3169/EN |title=NATO Standard STANAG 2019 / APP-06, NATO Joint Military Symbology |website=nso.nato.int |access-date=2024-06-24 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://shape.nato.int/resources/site7234/General/BISCD040-002%20NATO%20NCO_JO%20Employment%20and%20Development%20Strat.pdf |title=Bi-SC Directive 040-002, NATO Non-Commissioned Officer and Junior Officer Bi-Strategic Command Employment and Development Strategy |website=shape.nato.int |date=19 December 2023 |access-date=2024-06-24 }}


{{-}}
{{-}}

Revision as of 22:05, 29 June 2024

Comparative military ranks
Armies,
air forces
(non-Commonwealth)		 Navies,
coast guards		 Air forces
(Commonwealth system)
Flag commissioned officers
Field marshal or Marshal Admiral of the fleet Marshal of the air force
General or
colonel general or
army general		 Admiral Air chief marshal
Lieutenant general or
army corps general		 Vice admiral Air marshal
Major general or
divisional general		 Rear admiral or
Counter admiral		 Air vice-marshal
Brigadier or
brigadier general		 Commodore or
flotilla admiral		 Air commodore
Senior commissioned officers
Colonel (Ship-of-the-line)
Captain		 Group captain
Lieutenant colonel Frigate captain or
Commander		 Wing commander
Major or
commandant		 Corvette captain or Lieutenant
commander		 Squadron leader
Junior commissioned officers
Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant
First lieutenant or
lieutenant		 Lieutenant
junior grade or
sub-lieutenant		 Flying officer
Second lieutenant or
junior lieutenant		 Ensign or
midshipman		 Pilot officer
Officer cadet Officer cadet Flight cadet
Non-commissioned officers
Warrant officer or
sergeant major		 Warrant officer or
chief petty officer		 Warrant officer
Sergeant Petty officer Sergeant
Enlisted ranks
Corporal or
bombardier		 Leading seaman Corporal
Lance corporal or
Lance bombardier or
Specialist		 Able seaman Leading aircraftman
Private or
gunner or
trooper or
sapper		 Seaman Aircraftman or
airman or
aviator

Ranks and insignia of NATO affiliated nations are combined military ranks and insignia used by the member countries (and other affiliated nations) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The rank scale is used for specifying posts within NATO.

Rank codes

NATO maintains a "standard rank scale" which is also known as a "standardized reference system" in an attempt to match every member country's military ranks to corresponding ranks used by the other members.[1] The NATO rank reference code categories were established in a 1978 document entitled STANAG 2116 (formally titled NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel).

NATO rank codes are not the same as military ranks (US Army examples: Private, Corporal, Warrant Officer 1, Chief Warrant Officer 5, Captain, Major, Colonel, etc.) and military pay grades (US military examples: E-1, W-1, CW-5, O-1, O-1e, O-10, etc.). They are rank codes that allow for interoperability among NATO member nations.

Officer rank codes

OF-1 – OF-10 (lowest rank code to highest) are used for commissioned officers:[1]

In US Forces the Warrant Officer is a separate and distinct category of officers. This officer rank and precedence is below those of officer personnel, but above that of non-officer personnel. Warrant Officer grades are as follows:[2]

The warrant officers are the highest other ranks in British Armed Forces and Canadian Armed Forces.[3]

Other rank codes

OR1–OR9 (lowest rank code to highest) are used for other ranks:[1]

At the same time, there are exceptions, for example:

  • Non-Commissioned officers in British Armed Forces are called Senior Non-Commissioned Officers in OR-5 to OR-7 inclusive and Junior Non-Commissioned Officers in OR-3 and OR-4.[4]

This is not a new feature: it was present in previous editions of STANAG 2116, but was sometimes overlooked.

Comparison to US system

The numbers in the system broadly correspond to the U.S. uniformed services pay grades, with OR-x replacing E-x. The main difference is in the commissioned officer ranks, where the US system recognises two ranks at OF-1 level (O-1 and O-2), meaning that all O-x numbers after O-1 are one point higher on the US scale than they are on the NATO scale (e.g. a major is OF-3 on the NATO scale and O-4 on the US scale).

Officer ranks
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) Student officer
Uniformed services pay grade Special grade O-10 O-9 O-8 O-7 O-6 O-5 O-4 O-3 O-2 O-1 Officer candidate/Cadet
Other ranks
Rank group Non-commissioned officers Enlisted
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Uniformed services pay grade Special E-9 E-8 E-7 E-6 E-5 E-4 E-3 E-2 E-1

Ranks and insignia of member armed forces

Army

Air Force

Navy

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c NATO 2021, p. 1-1.
  2. ^ NATO 2022, p. А-10.
  3. ^ NATO 2022, p. D-1, D-3.
  4. ^ NATO 2022, p. D-8, Е-7, F-7.

Sources

  • NATO (13 January 2021). STANAG 2116 (7th ed.). Brussels, Belgium: NATO Standardization Agency.
  • NATO (16 June 2022). APersP-01 Еd.A Ver.3. Brussels, Belgium: NATO Standardization Agency.
  • NATO (11 October 2023). APP-06 Еd.E Ver.1. Brussels, Belgium: NATO Standardization Agency.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO&oldid=1231723072"