Rank insignia in the Irish Defence Forces are an indication of the wearer's military rank, and worn by officers and enlisted members of Ireland's Defence Forces as an element of their uniform, typically on a single chest tab or as a shoulder board. [1]
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irish Army [3] [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Commandant | Captain | Lieutenant | Second-Lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lefteanant-ghinearál | Maor-ghinearál | Briogáidire-ghinearál | Cornal | Lefteanant-chornal | Ceannfort | Captaen | Lefteanant | Dara-lefteanant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation | Lt Gen | Maj Gen | Brig Gen | Col | Lt Col | Comdt | Capt | Lt | 2nd Lt |
Rank group | Non-commissioned officer | Enlisted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat [4] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irish Army [3] [1] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergeant major | Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant | Company sergeant | Company quartermaster sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Private, 3 star | Private, 2 star | Recruit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maor-Sáirsint Cathlán/Reisimint [lower-alpha 1] | Ceathrúsháirsint Cathlán/Reisimint [lower-alpha 1] | Sáirsint Complacht [lower-alpha 2] | Ceathrúsháirsint Complacht [lower-alpha 2] | Sáirsint | Ceannaire | Saighdiúr Singil, 3 Réalta | Saighdiúr Singil, 2 Réalta | Earcach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation | BSM/RSM | BQMS/RQMS | CS/BS/SS | CQ/BQ/SQ | Sgt | Cpl | Pte/Gnr/Tpr 3* | Pte 2* | Rec |
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(1924–1942) [5] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Colonel | Major | Commandant | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1942–1944) [6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Colonel | Major | Commandant | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1944–1971) [7] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Colonel | Major | Commandant | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
Rank group | Non-commissioned officer | Enlisted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(1924–1949) [8] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation | BSM | BQMS | Coy Sgt | CQS | Sgt | Cpl | Pte | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1949–1963) [9] [10] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation | BSM/RSM | BQMS/RQMS | BS/CS/SS | BQ/CQ/SQ | Sgt | Cpl, 2 Star | Cpl, 1 Star | Pte, 3 Star | Pte, 2 Star | Pte, 1 Star | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1963) [10] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation | BSM/RSM | BQMS/RQMS | BS/CS/SS | BQ/CQ/SQ | Sgt | Cpl, 2 Star | Cpl, 1 Star | Pte, 3 Star | Pte, 2 Star | Pte |
Irish Air Corps rank insignia are an indication of the wearer's military rank, and worn by officers and enlisted members of the Irish Air Corps as an element of their uniform. [11]
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Air Corps [12] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Commandant | Captain | Lieutenant | Second-lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lefteanant-ghinearál | Maor-ghinearál | Briogáidire-ghinearál | Cornal | Lefteanant-chornal | Ceannfort | Captaen | Lefteanant | Dara-lefteanant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation | Lt Gen | Maj Gen | Brig Gen | Col | Lt Col | Comdt | Capt | Lt | 2nd Lt |
Rank group | Non-commissioned officer | Enlisted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Air Corps [12] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regimental sergeant major Maor-sáirsint reisiminte | Regimental quartermaster sergeant Ceathrúsháirsint reisiminte | Flight sergeant Sáirsint eitleoige | Flight quartermaster sergeant Ceathrúsháirsint eitleoige | Sergeant Sáirsint | Corporal Ceannaire | Airman 3 star Eitleoir, 3 réalta | Airman 2 Star Eitleoir, 2 réalta | Apprentice Printíseach | Recruit Earcach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation | RSM | RQMS | FS | FQMS | Sgt | Cpl | Amn 3* | Amn 2* | App | Rec/G1 |
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Naval Service [13] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vice admiral Leas-Aimiréal | Rear admiral Seach-Aimiréal | Commodore Ceannasóir | Captain Captaen | Commander Ceannasaí | Lieutenant commander Lefteanant-Cheannasaí | Lieutenant Lefteanant | Sub-lieutenant Fo-Lefteanant | Ensign Meirgire |
Rank group | Non-commissioned officer | Enlisted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Naval Service [13] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer Oifigeach barántais | Senior chief petty officer Ard-mhion-oifigeach sinsearach | Chief petty officer Ard-mhion-oifigeach | Senior petty officer Mion-oifigeach sinsearach | Petty officer Mion-oifigeach | Leading seaman Mairnéalach ceannais | Able seaman Mairnéalach inniúil | Ordinary seaman Mairnéalach | Seaman recruit Earcach |
Prior to 2002 ranks for NCOs in the Naval Reserve were in blue instead of gold. [1]
Rank group | Non-commissioned officer | Enlisted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Naval Service Reserve (Pre-2002) | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior chief petty officer Ard-mhion-oifigeach sinsearach | Chief petty officer Ard-mhion-oifigeach | Senior petty officer Mion-oifigeach sinsearach | Petty officer Mion-oifigeach | Leading seaman Mairnéalach ceannais | Able seaman Mairnéalach inniúil | Ordinary seaman Mairnéalach | Seaman recruit Earcach |
Rank group | Student officer | |
---|---|---|
Irish Army [3] [2] | ||
Senior officer cadet Dalta oifigeach sinsearch | Junior officer cadet Dalta oifigeach sóisearach | |
Sr Cdt | Jr Cdt | |
Irish Air Corps [12] | ||
Officer cadet Dalta oifigeach | ||
O-Cdt | ||
Irish Naval Service [13] | ||
Officer cadet Dalta Oifigeach |
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding rank in most armies and air forces is major, and in the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces is squadron leader.
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces. The lowest officer rank, it is usually placed below lieutenant or first lieutenant.
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services.
This is a table of the ranks and insignia of the Canadian Armed Forces. As the Canadian Armed Forces is officially bilingual, the French language ranks are presented following the English.
The United States Air Force officer rank insignia in use today.
A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation. The wearing of cap badges is a convention commonly found among military and police forces, as well as uniformed civilian groups such as the Boy Scouts, civil defence organisations, ambulance services, customs services, fire services etc.
Officer Cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. In the United Kingdom, the rank is also used by members of University Royal Naval Units, University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron; however, these are not trainee officers with many not choosing a career in the armed forces.
A side cap is a military cap that can be folded flat when not being worn. It is also known as a garrison cap or flight cap in the United States, wedge cap in Canada, or field service cap in the United Kingdom; or in vulgar slang as a cunt cap. In form the side cap is comparable to the glengarry, a folding version of the Scottish military bonnet. It has been associated with various military forces since the middle of the 19th century, as well as various civilian organizations.
The comparative military ranks of Korea are the military insignia used by the two nations on the Korean Peninsula, those being the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and the Korean People's Army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The United States Forces Korea personnel wear the ranks and insignia used by other service personnel of the United States Armed Forces in the territories of the United States.
The Military ranks of Finland are the military insignia used by the Finnish Defence Forces. The ranks incorporates features from Swedish, German, and Russian armed forces. In addition, the system has some typically Finnish characteristics that are mostly due to the personnel structure of the Finnish Defence Forces. The ranks have official names in Finnish and Swedish languages and official English translations. The Swedish forms are used in all Swedish-languages communications in Finland, e.g. in Swedish-speaking units of Finnish Defence Force. The system of ranks in the Swedish Armed Forces is slightly different.
The Irish Defence Forces Cap Badge is common to all services and corps of the Irish Defence Forces. Although principally associated with the Irish Army it is also worn by and appears in elements of the insignia of the Naval Service and Air Corps.
The modern Irish Army uniform is based on the layer principle, and is designed to provide soldiers in the Irish Army with the right degree of protection for any operational environment.
A shoulder mark, also called rank slide, or slip-on, is a flat cloth sleeve worn on the shoulder strap of a uniform. It may bear rank or other insignia. A shoulder mark should not be confused with a shoulder board, shoulder knot or epaulette, although these terms are often used interchangeably.
Gorget patches are an insignia in the form of paired patches of cloth or metal on the collar of a uniform (gorget), used in the military and civil service in some countries. Collar tabs sign the military rank, the rank of civil service, the military unit, the office (department) or the branch of the armed forces and the arm of service.
The Military ranks of Romania are the military insignia used by the Romanian Armed Forces.
The uniforms of the United States Air Force are the standardized military uniforms worn by airmen of the United States Air Force to distinguish themselves from the other services.
The rank insignia of the federal armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany indicate rank and branch of service in the German Army, German Air Force, or the German Navy.
Rank comparison chart of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and enlisted personnel for all armies and land forces of European states.
Rank comparison chart of all armies and land forces of the European Union member states.
Rank comparison chart of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and enlisted personnel for all armies and land forces of the European Union member states.