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 code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
Rank group (NL)	Opperofficieren										Hoofdofficieren					Lagere officieren
Rank group (FR)	Officiers généraux										Officiers supérieurs					Officiers subalternes
Rank group (DE)	Generäle										Stabsoffiziere					Subalternoffiziere
Belgian Land Component [2] v t e
			Generaal		Luitenant-generaal		Generaal-majoor		Brigadegeneraal		Kolonel		Luitenant-kolonel		Majoor	Kapitein-commandant	Kapitein		Luitenant			Onderluitenant
			Général		Lieutenant général		Général-major		Général de Brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major	Capitaine-commandant	Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant
			General		General­leutnant		General­major		Brigade­general		Oberst		Oberst­leutnant		Major	Stabs­hauptmann	Hauptmann		Leutnant			Unter­leutnant
Belgian Navy [3] v t e
			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
			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
			Admiral		Vize­admiral		Divisions­admiral		Flotillen­admiral		Kapitän zur See		Fregatten­kapitän		Korvetten­kapitän	Linienschiffs­leutnant 1. klasse	Linienschiffs­leutnant		Seefahnrich			Seefahnrich 2. klasse
Belgian Air Component [4] v t e
			Generaal		Luitenant-generaal		Generaal-majoor		Brigadegeneraal		Kolonel		Luitenant-kolonel		Majoor	Kapitein-commandant	Kapitein		Luitenant			Onderluitenant
			Général		Lieutenant général		Général-major		Général de Brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major	Capitaine-commandant	Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant
			General		Generalleutnant		Generalmajor		Brigadegeneral		Oberst		Oberstleutnant		Major	Stabshauptmann	Hauptmann		Leutnant			Unterleutnant
Belgian Medical Service [5] v t e
			Generaal		Luitenant-generaal		Generaal-majoor		Brigadegeneraal		Kolonel		Luitenant-kolonel		Majoor	Kapitein-commandant	Kapitein		Luitenant			Onderluitenant
			Général		Lieutenant général		Général-major		Général de Brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major	Capitaine-commandant	Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant
			General		Generalleutnant		Generalmajor		Brigadegeneral		Oberst		Oberstleutnant		Major	Stabshauptmann	Hauptmann		Leutnant			Unterleutnant
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1

Ranks at the Royal Military Academy

Main article: Royal Military Academy (Belgium)

Rank group	Officer-Students (Master)	Student-Officers (Bachelor)
Year	5th and 4th	3rd and 2nd	1st
Belgian Army
	Onderluitenant KBO	Adjudant KBO	Sergeant KBO	Korporaal KBO	Soldaat KBO
	Sous-lieutenant COC	Adjudant COC	Sergent COC	Caporal COC	Soldat COC
	Unterleutnant	Adjudant	Sergeant	Korporal	Soldat
Belgian Navy
	Vaandrig-ter-zee 2e klasse KBO	1e meester-chef KBO	Sergeant KBO	Korporaal KBO	Soldaat KBO
	Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe COC	Premier maître-chef COC	Sergent COC	Caporal COC	Soldat COC
	Seefahnrich 2. klasse	Erster Chefmeister	Sergeant	Korporal	Soldat
Belgian Air Force
	Onderluitenant KBO	Adjudant KBO	Sergeant KBO	Korporaal KBO	Soldaat KBO
	Sous-lieutenant COC	Adjudant COC	Sergent COC	Caporal COC	Soldat COC
	Unterleutnant	Adjudant	Sergeant	Korporal	Soldat
Belgian Medical Service
	Onderluitenant KBO	Adjudant KBO	Sergeant KBO	Korporaal KBO	Soldaat KBO
	Sous-lieutenant COC	Adjudant COC	Sergent COC	Caporal COC	Soldat COC
	Unterleutnant	Adjudant	Sergeant	Korporal	Soldat

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.

Enlisted ranks

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

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Rank group (NL)	Hoofdonderofficieren						Keuronderofficieren				Lagere onderofficieren												Keurvrijwilligers				Lagere vrijwilligers
Rank group (FR)	Sous-officiers supérieurs						Sous-officiers d'élite				Sous-officiers subalternes												Volontaires d'élite				Volontaires subalternes
Rank group (DE)	Hochrangigeunteroffiziere						Eliteunteroffiziere				Niedriger Unteroffiziere												Elitefreiwillige				Niedriger Freiwillige
Belgian Land Component [2] v t e
	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		1e sergent-major		1e sergent-chef			1e sergent			Sergent						1e caporal-chef		Caporal-chef		Caporal		1 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] v t e
	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						Premier quartier-maître-chef		Quartier-maître-chef		Quartier maître		Premier matelot						Matelot
	Chefhauptmeister			Hauptmeister			Erster chefmeister		Erster meister		Meister-chef			Meister			Zweiter meister						Erster oberquartiermeister		Oberquartiermeister		Quartiermeister		Erster matrose						Matrose
Belgian Air Component [4] v t e
	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		Premier sergent-major		Premier sergent-chef			Premier sergent			Sergent						Premier caporal-chef		Caporal-chef		Caporal		Premier soldat						Soldat
	Majoradjutant			Chefadjudant			Adjudant		1er Sergeant Major		1er Sergeant Chef			1er Sergeant			Sergeant						1er Korporal Chef		Korporal Chef		Korporal		1er soldat						Soldat
Belgian Medical Service [5] v t e
	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		1e sergent-major		1e sergent-chef			1e sergent			sergent						1e caporal-chef		Caporal-chef		Caporal		1e soldat						Soldat
	Majoradjutant			Chefadjudant			Adjudant		1er Sergeant Major		1er Sergeant Chef			1er Sergeant			Sergeant						1er Korporal Chef		Korporal Chef		Korporal		1er soldat						Soldat
NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-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

Medical Service rank variations

• 
  Dentist Ranks of the medical component.
• 
  Doctor Ranks of the medical component.
• 
  Pharmacist Ranks of the medical component.
• 
  Veterinarian 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.

External links

• "Belgium". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 25 November 2021.