List of civil defense ranks

See also: List of comparative firefighting ranks

Civil defense agencies and organizations are structured differently around the world. Civil Defense is dedicated to protecting civilians from military attacks, as well as to providing rescue services after natural and human-made disasters.

Australia

New South Wales State Emergency Service

Queensland State Emergency Service

Community Member	Field Operations Member	Senior Field Operations Member	Leading Field Operations Member	Deputy Group Leader	Group Leader	Deputy Local Controller	Local Controller
SES Officer Grade One	SES Officer Grade Two	Area Director	Executive Manager	Regional Director	*SES Assistant Commissioner

*Prior to the establishment of the Queensland Fire & Emergency Service in 2013, the State Emergency Service used to have the ranks of Deputy Chief Officer and Chief Officer.

Victoria State Emergency Service

Staff

Chief Officer	Deputy Chief Officer	Assistant Chief Officer	Operations Manager	Operations Officer

Volunteers

Unit Controller	Deputy Controller	Section Leader

Belgium

Belgian Civil Protection

Superior officers			Officers
Colonel Kolonel	Lieutenant-colonel Luitenant-Kolonel	Major Majoor	Capitaine-commandant Kapitein-Commandant	Capitaine Kapitein	Lieutenant Luitenant
NCOs			Enlisted
Adjudant Adjudant	Sergent Sergeant		Caporal Korporaal		Sapeur Sappeur
Specialists
Spécialiste de niveau 4 Vrijwilliger-Specialist 4	Spécialiste de niveau 3 Vrijwilliger-Specialist 3		Spécialiste de niveau 2 Vrijwilliger-Specialist 2		Spécialiste de niveau 1 Vrijwilliger-Specialist 1
Source: [1]

Denmark

Danish Emergency Management Agency ^[2]

Officers

Directors		Officers
Direktør	Vicedirektør	Brigadechef	Kolonnechef	Sektionschef	Sektionsleder	Korpsmester	Mester	Mester af reserven (reserves)

NCO

NCOs
Chefsergent	Seniorsergent	Oversergent	Sergent	Sergent (national serviceman)

Civil Defence Corps 1972 ^[3]

Germany

Technisches Hilfswerk ^[4]

Volunteers

Head of Local Branch (Ortsbeauftragter)	Deputy Head of Local Branch (Stv. Ortsbeauftragter)	Training and Qualification Officer (Ausbildungsbeauftragter) Expert Advisor (Fachberater)	Youth Activity Leader (Jugendbetreuer) Maintenance Officer (Schirrmeister) Public Relations and Volunteers Recruitment Officer (Beauftragter für Öffentlichkeitsarbeit) Administration Officer (Verwaltungsbeauftragter) Cook (Koch)

Technical Platoons & Technical Units

Technical Platoon Leader (Zugführer) Team Leader Logistics Unit(Leiter der Fachgruppe Logistik) Team Leader Command and Communications (Leiter der Fachgruppe Führung/Kommunikation)	Command Squad Leader (Zugtruppführer) Command Department Head (Sachgebietsleiter der Fachgruppe Führung/Kommunikation)	Squad Leader (Gruppenführer)	Team Leader (Truppführer) Command Assistant (Führungsgehilfe)	Volunteer (Helfer)

Spokespersons and representatives

Federal Spokesperson (Bundessprecher)	Deputy Federal Spokesperson (Stv. Bundessprecher)	State Spokesperson (Landessprecher)	Deputy State Spokesperson (Stv. Landessprecher)	Local Spokesperson (Helfersprecher) Deputy Local Spokesperson (Stv. Helfersprecher)	Representative, Federal Association ('Vertreter Bundesvereinigung) Representative, State Association (Vertreter Landesvereinigung)

Staff

Director General (Präsident)	Deputy Director General (Vizepräsident)	State Commissioner (Landesbeauftragter) President of the Federal Academy (Leiter der Bundesschule) Division Chief (Abteilungsleiter) Commissioner of Volunteers (Beauftragter für das Ehrenamt)	Department Chief (Referatsleiter) Academy Manager (Schulmanager) Chief of the Management Staff (Leiter des Leitungsstabes)	Department Consultant (Referent)

Regional Office Chief (Regionalstellenleiter)	Senior Consultant (Sachbearbeiter) Specialist Teacher (Fachlehrer)	Service Consultant (Bürosachbearbeiter Service) Instructor (Ausbilder) Technician (Gerätehandwerker) Driver (Kraftfahrer)	Consultant (Bürosachbearbeiter) Trainee (Auszubildender) Federal Service Volunteer (Absolvent Bundesfreiwilligendienst) Social Service Volunteer (Absolvent Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr) Intern (Praktikant)

Germany 1935-1945

Luftschutzpolizei

The German civil defense was activated in 1939 as the Sicherheits und Hilfsdienst, it was renamed Luftschutzpolizei in April 1942, when transferred from the aegis of Ministry of Aviation to the Ordnungspolizei.

Sicherheits-und Hilfsdienst SHD 1935-1942	Luftschutzpolizei LS 1942-1943		Luftschutzpolizei LS-Pol 1943-1945
SHD-Mann	LS-Mann		Anwärter d. LS-Pol
			Unterwachtmeister d. LS-Pol
SHD-Truppführer	LS-Truppführer		Rottwachtmeister d. LS-Pol
SHD-Gruppenführer	LS-Gruppenführer		Wachtmeister d. LS-Pol
			Oberwachtmeister d. LS-Pol
SHD-Hauptgruppenführer	LS-Hauptgruppenführer		Zugwachtmeister d. LS-Pol
SHD-Stabsgruppenführer	LS-Stabsgruppenführer		Hauptwachtmeister d. LS-Pol
–	–		Meister d. LS-Pol
SHD-Zugführer	LS-Zugführer		Zugführer d. LS-Pol
SHD-Oberzugführer	LS-Oberzugführer		Oberzugführer d. LS-Pol
SHD-Bereitschaftsführer	LS-Bereitschaftsführer		Bereitschaftsführer d. LS-Pol
SHD-Abteilungsführer	LS-Abteilungsführer		Abteilungsführer d. LS-Pol
SHD-Abteilungsführer mit besonderem Auftrag	LS-Abteilungsleiter		Oberabteilungsführer d. LS-Pol

Technische Nothilfe

The Technichal Emergency Service was in charge of technical civil defense.

Collar insignia	Shoulder insignia	Ranks		Equivalent rank in the Wehrmacht
1936–1943		1936–1943 [5] [6]	1943–1945 [7]
		TN-Anwärter	Anwärter der Technische Nothilfe	Soldat
		TN-Mann	—	Obersoldat
		TN-Vormann	Unterwachtmeister der Technische Nothilfe	Gefreiter
		TN-Obervormann	Rottwachtmeister der Technische Nothilfe	Obergefreiter
		TN-Scharführer	Wachtmeister der Technische Nothilfe	Unteroffizier
		—	Oberwachtmeister der Technische Nothilfe	Unterfeldwebel
		TN-Oberscharführer	Zugwachtmeister der Technische Nothilfe	Feldwebel
		TN-Hauptscharführer	Hauptwachtmeister der Technische Nothilfe	Oberfeldwebel
		TN-Stabsscharführer	Meister der Technische Nothilfe	Stabsfeldwebel
		TN-Kameradschaftsführer	Zugführer der Technische Nothilfe	Leutnant
		TN-Gemeinschaftsführer	Oberzugführer der Technische Nothilfe	Oberleutnant
		TN-Gefolgschaftsführer	Bereitschaftsführer der Technische Nothilfe	Hauptmann
		TN-Bereitschaftsführer	Abteilungsführer der Technische Nothilfe	Major
		TN-Hauptbereitschaftsführer	Oberabteilungsführer der Technische Nothilfe	Oberstleutnant
		TN-Bezirksführer	Landesführer der Technische Nothilfe	Oberst
		TN-Landesführer
		Stellvertretender Chef der Technische Nothilfe	—	Generalmajor
		Chef der Technische Nothilfe	Chef der Technische Nothilfe	Generalleutnant

Reichsluftschutzbund

The Reich Air Protection League was in charge of air raid precautions in residential areas and among smaller businesses-

Collar insignia [8]	Shoulder insignia [8]	RLB rank [9]	Translation	Luftwaffe equivalent
		Reichsluftschutzbund-Präsident	Reichsluftschutzbund president	General der Flieger
		General-Hauptluftschutzführer	General head air protection leader	Generalleutnant
		Generalluftschutzführer	General air protection leader	Generalmajor
		Oberstluftschutzführer	Chief air protection leader	Oberst
		Oberststabsluftschutzführer	Chief staff air protection leader	Oberstleutnant
		Stabsluftschutzführer	Staff air protection leader	Major
		Hauptluftschutzführer	Head air protection leader	Hauptmann
		Oberluftschutzführer	Senior air protection leader	Oberleutnant
		Luftschutzführer	Air protection leader	Leutnant
		Luftschutzobertruppmeister	Senior master air protection trooper	Feldwebel
		Luftschutztruppmeister	Master air protection trooper	Unteroffizier
		Luftschutzobertruppwart	Senior air protection trooper warden	Hauptgefreiter
		Luftschutztruppwart	Air protection trooper warden	Obergefreiter
		Luftschutzobertruppmann	Senior air protection trooper	Gefreiter
		Luftschutztruppmann	Air protection trooper	Flieger

Ireland

The Civil Defence Officers and Assistant Civil Defence Officers of the Civil Defence Ireland are paid employees and are appointed by their respective local authority. At the discretion of the Civil Defence Officer, volunteer officers and leaders are appointed to assist in the command and administration of the unit .

Rank [10]	Civil Defence Officer	Assistant Civil Defence Officer	Commander	First Officer	Second Officer	Third Officer	Leader	Assistant Leader	Volunteer
Ireland
Irish language equivalent [11]	Oifigeach Cosanta Sibhialta	Leas-Oifigeach Cosanta Sibhialta	Ceannasaí	Céad Oifigeach	Dara Oifigeach	Tríú Oifigeach	Ceannaire	Leas-Cheannaire	Saorálaí
Abbreviation	CDO	ACDO	Cmdr	1/O	2/O	3/O	Ldr	Asst Ldr	Vol

Isle of Man

Isle of Man Civil Defence Corps Ranks and Rank Insignia
Rank	Emergency Planning Co-ordinator	Commandant	Deputy Commandant	Team Leader	Deputy Team Leader	Volunteer

Nigeria

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

Officers

Rank group	Commandant cadre										Superintendent cadre
Nigeria SCDC
			Commandant General	Deputy Commandant General	Assistant Commandant General		Commandant		Deputy Commandant	Assistant Commandant	Senior Superintendent		Chief Superintendent		Superintendent		Deputy Superintendent		Assistant Superintendent I			Assistant Superintendent II

Other ranks

Rank group	Inspector cadre										Assistant cadre
Nigeria SCDC																													No insignia
	Chief Inspector	Deputy Chief Inspector	Assistant Chief Inspector	Principal Inspector	Senior Inspector		Inspector		Assistant Inspector		Corps Assistant I												Corps Assistant II						Corps Assistant III

Norway

Norwegian Civil Defence ^[12]

Three Stars
Chief of the Civil Defence	Assistant Chief of the Civil Defence Permanent Deputy for the Chief of Civil Defence	Head of Bureau in the Civil Defence Department Civil Defence District Commander	Civil Defence Inspector Investigation Manager Senior Advisor Chief Engineer	Advisor Chief Engineer	Civil Defense Adjutant First Consultant Consultant First Officer Operating Technician

Group Leader	Assistant Group Leader Municipal Material Manager	Squad Leader	Assistant Squad Leader Group Material Manager

Russia

Ministry of Emergency Situations ^{[13] [14]}

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Ministry of Emergency Situations
					Генера́л-полко́вник Generál-polkóvnik		Генера́л-лейтена́нт Generál-leytenánt		Генера́л-майо́р Generál-mayór		Полко́вник Polkóvnik		Подполко́вник Podpolkóvnik		Майо́р Majór		Kапита́н Kapitán		Старший лейтена́нт Stárshiy leytenánt		Лейтенант Leytenant		Mла́дший лейтена́нт Mládshiy leytenánt		Курсант Kursant

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Ministry of Emergency Situations																							n/a
	Ста́рший пра́порщик Stárshiy práporshchik			Пра́порщик Práporshchyk			Старшина́ Starshyná		Ста́рший сержа́нт Stárshiy serzhánt		Сержа́нт Serzhánt						Мла́дший сержа́нт Mládshiy serzhánt										Рядово́й Ryadovóy

Singapore

Singapore Civil Defence Force

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Singapore Civil Defence Force [15]
					Commissioner		Deputy commissioner		Senior assistant commissioner	Assistant commissioner	Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet

Warrant officers

Rank group	Warrant officers
Singapore Civil Defence Force [15]
					Warrant officer 2		Warrant officer 1

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Singapore Civil Defence Force [15]
																	Sergeant 3		Sergeant 2		Sergeant 1				Corporal		Lance corporal								Private	Recruit

Spain

Spanish Civil Defence

Coordinador Jefe (Chief Coordinator)	Jefe de Agrupación (Grouping Chief)	Subjefe de Agrupación (Grouping Deputy Chief)	Secretario de Agrupación (Grouping Secretary)	Jefe de Unidad (Unit Chief)	Jefe de Sección (Section Chief)	Jefe de Grupo (Group Chief)	Jefe de Equipo (Team Chief)	Voluntario (Volunteer)

Military Emergencies Unit

Officers

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
Military Emergencies Unit v t e
							General de división		General de brigada		Coronel		Teniente coronel		Comandante		Capitán		Teniente			Alférez

Other Ranks

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Military Emergencies Unit v t e
	Suboficial mayor			Subteniente			Brigada		Sargento primero		Sargento						Cabo mayor						Cabo primero				Cabo		Soldado de primera						Soldado

Switzerland

Function	Rank	Rank insignia
Civil Defence Commander	Oberst, Oberstleutnant, Major or Hauptmann	Oberst, Oberstleutnant, Major Hauptmann, Oberleutnant
Deputy Civil Defence Commander	Major, Hauptmann or Oberleutnant
Head Damage Conditions Head Telematics Head NBC Protection, Head Logistic Coordination Head Cultural Property Protection Platoon Leader Welfare Platoon Leader Support	Leutnant Promotion to Oberleutnant possible	Leutnant
Chief Logistic Element	Feldweibel	Feldweibel
Accounting and Budgeting Officer	Fourier	Fourier
Squad Leader Telematics Squad Leader Welfare Squad Leader Medical Squad Leader Support Kitchen Manager	Korporal Promotion to Wachtmeister possible	Korporal
Controller Polycom-Dispatcher NBC-Tracker Radiation Protection Expert Psychological Emergency Aid Medical Orderly Facility Technician Materiel Technician Cultural Property Protection Specialist Command Support Aid Welfare Aid Sapper	Zivilschutzsoldat Promotion to Gefreiter possible	Soldat
[16] [17]

Tunisia

Officers
Field Officers				Junior Officers
Colonel-major	Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Commandant	Capitaine	Lieutenant	Sous-lieutenant
Arabic : عميد	Arabic : عقيد	Arabic : مقدم	Arabic : رائد	Arabic : نقيب	Arabic : ملازم أول	Arabic : ملازم

Sous-officiers et militaires du rang
NCO				Enlisted
Adjudant-chef	Adjudant	Sergent-chef	Sergent	Caporal-chef	Caporal
Arabic : وكيل أول	Arabic : وكيل	Arabic : عريف أول	Arabic : عريف	Arabic : رقيب أول	Arabic : رقيب
[18]

Ukraine

State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
			Генерал служби цивільного захисту України General of Emergency Services		Генерал-полковник Colonel General		Генерал-лейтенант Lieutenant General		Генерал-майор Major General		Полковник Colonel		Підполковник Lieutenant Colonel		Майор Major		Капітан Kapitan		Старший лейтенант Senior lieutenant		Лейтенант Leitenant		Молодший лейтенант Junior lieutenant		Kурсант Kursant

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
	Головний майстер-сержант Chief master sergeant						Майстер-сержант Master sergeant																Сержант Sergeant												Рядовий Private

United Kingdom

Civil Defence Corps 1949–1968

Rank Insignia	Intelligence & Operations Sub-Section	Signal Sub-Section	Scientific & Recce Sub-Section	Warden Section	Rescue Section	Welfare Section	Ambulance Sub-Section	First Aid Sub-Section
	Division Chief Officer			Chief Warden	Chief Rescue Officer	Chief Welfare Section Officer	Chief Ambulance Officer
	Senior Staff Officer	Senior Signal Officer	Senior Scientific Intelligence Officer	Deputy Chief Warden	Deputy Chief Rescue Officer	Deputy Chief Welfare Section Officer	Deputy Chief Ambulance Officer
					Column Rescue Officer		Column Ambulance Officer
				Assistant Chief Warden	Deputy Column Rescue Officer		Deputy Column Ambulance Officer
	Staff Officer (Operations) Staff Officer (Intelligence) Sector Staff Officer	Signal Officer	Scientific Intelligence Officer Reconnaissance Officer	Sector Warden	Company Rescue Officer	Assistant Chief Welfare Section Officer	Company Ambulance Officer	Company First Aid Officer
				Deputy Sector Warden	Deputy Company Rescue Officer	Senior Welfare Section Officer	Deputy Company Ambulance Officer	Deputy Company First Aid Officer
				Post Warden	Platoon Rescue Officer		Platoon Ambulance Officer	Platoon First Aid Officer
		Signalmaster		Deputy Post Warden	Deputy Platoon Rescue Officer	Welfare Section Officer	Deputy Platoon Ambulance Officer	Deputy Platoon First Aid Officer
	Operations Clerk Intelligence Clerk	Signal Clerk Field Cable Party Leader	Reconnaissance Party Leader	Senior Warden	Rescue Party Leader	Welfare Section Detachment Leader	Ambulance Detachment Leader	First Aid Party Leader
					Deputy Rescue Party Leader		Deputy Ambulance Detachment Leader	Deputy First Aid Party Leader

Civil Defence Service 1935–1945

Insignia	Wardens' Service	First Aid	Rescue	Decontamination	Messenger
	Controller
	Chief Warden	Medical Officer	Head of Rescue Service	Head of Decontamination Service
	Deputy Chief Warden	Deputy Medical Officer	Deputy Head of Rescue Service	Deputy Head of Decontamination Service
	Divisional Warden	Ambulance Officer	Staff Officer	Gas Identification Officer	Officer (Senior Grade)
	Staff Officer	Assistant Ambulance Officer	Assistant Staff Officer	Assistant Gas Identification Officer	Officer (Junior Grade)
	Officer (London)		Senior Rescue Officer
	Post Warden (London)	Depot Superintendent	Depot Superintendent	Depot Superintendent
	Head Warden	Deputy Depot Superintendent	Rescue Party Supervisor	Deputy Depot Superintendent	Officer
	Senior Warden	Shift Officer	Rescue Party Leader	Squad Leader	Officer
Source:	[19]

References

1. KONINKLIJK BESLUIT VAN 14 MAART 2019 BETREFFENDE DE KLEDIJ EN DE KENTEKENS VAN DE OPERATIONELE BEROEPS- EN VRIJWILLIGE PERSONEELSLEDEN VAN DE CIVIELE BESCHERMING. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
2. Beredskabsstyrelsen (July 2018). Uniformsreglement (PDF) (in Danish). Birkerød: Beredskabsstyrelsen. p. 7.
3. Beredskabsstyrelsen (May 2017). Grundbog for værnepligtige ved Beredskabsstyrelsen Maj 2017 [Basic book for conscripts at the National Emergency Management Agency May 2017] (in Danish). Beredskabsstyrelsen. p. 35. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
4. "Richtlinie über die Bekleidung und Kennzeichnung im Technischen Hilfswerk." Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk, pp. 58-60. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
5. Ranks of the Technische Nothilfe 2014-07-01.
6. "TN Ranks" (in German). Retrieved 2 December 2018.
7. War Department: Technical Manual, German Military Forces 2014-07-01.
8. Steiner-Welz, Sonja (2005). Die Deutsche Wehrmacht 1933-1945. Mannheim: Welz, Reinhard, Vermittlerverlag, plate 136.
9. Jährig, Horstjoachim (1938). Deutscher Luftschutz : Jahrbuch im Auftrag des Präsidiums Reichsluftschutzbundes bearbeitet von LS-Hauptführer Horstjoachim Jährig (in German). Berlin: Riegler Verlag. p. 21. Retrieved 9 December 2018.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
10. "The Wearing of Civil Defence Volunteer Uniform." Civil Defence Circular CD 02/2012, Appendix 3. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
11. "Boards and Councils Boird agus Comhairlí - An Tobar - Téarmaí Gaeilge don Earnáil Phoiblí". www.macsuibhne.com.
12. "Instruks om bruk av uniform og honnør i Sivilforsvaret." Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap 22. 08. 2016, p. 26. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
13. Знаки различия Министерства по чрезвычайным ситуациям Российской Федерации. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
14. Шевроны, звезды и пластинки на погонах МЧС. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
15. "Ranks and drill commands". Central Manpower Base (CMPB). Retrieved 2021-11-27.
16. "Der Zivilschutz.Grundlagen, Auftreten, Einsatz." Bundesamt für Bevölerungsschutz 2015, p. 90 Retrieved 2023-07-31.
17. "Weisungen über die Dienstgrade im Zivilschutz." Kanton St. Gallen. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
18. "Décret n°2006-1164 du 13 avril 2006, portant statut particulier des agents du corps de la protection civile. Modifié par le décret n° 2011-1260 du 5 Septembre 2011." Ministère de l'Interieur. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
19. "WW2 Air Raid Warden, ARP & Civil Defence Rank Badges." WW2 CIVIL DEFENCE UNIFORMS, INSIGNIA & EQUIPMENT. Retrieved 9 March 2021.