This article presents the insignia and ranks of the Brazilian military. The insignia and ranks of the Brazilian military are defined by Act no. 6880 of December 9, 1980.[1]
Air Force ranks date from 1941, when the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira) was organized as a merger of the Navy's Aeronaval Force and the Army's Aviation Service.[2]
The shoulder epaulette pads from Navy and Air Force indicate both rank and specialty branch. The air force examples below are shown without branch designation marks on the epaulettes, with the exception of the ranks of Marshal of the Air Force and Air Chief Marshal, which can only be occupied by aviators. Army shoulder pads do not represent branch, as this is indicated elsewhere in the uniform like on the cuff and sleeves of the dress and everyday uniforms.
The Military Police alongside the Military Firefighters Corps are classed as an auxiliary and reserve forces of the Army and thus carry insignia similar to that service. Another important point to mention is that police forces are subordinate to the governors of their respective states. As a result, the structure of their insignias follows that of the Brazilian Army. However, each state has its own legislation, regulations regarding insignias, uniforms, historical uniforms, and teaching academies for both NCOs and COs.
As previously mentioned, the highest commander of the police force is the governor. Since it serves as an auxiliary force to the army, the highest rank attainable is that of colonel. However, there are special ranks designated for military commanders within the police. These positions are freely appointed by each governor and are exclusively assigned to senior officers, most of whom are colonels.
It is also worth noting that the design of insignias may vary from state to state, and in some states, certain positions may or may not include a distinction in rank design.
Each branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces has its own institutions for training commissioned officers (COs) and non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The academies responsible for officer training in each branch are:
For police forces, each state has its own academies; however, the most famous is the Barro Branco Academy in the state of São Paulo.
It is worth noting that the Brazilian system includes a preparatory stage before entering the military academy. Known as preparatory schools, students who graduate from these institutions are guaranteed access to their respective academies, as follows:
Army: EsPCEx(1 year) provides a guaranteed place at AMAN.
Navy: Naval College (CN) (3 years, combined with high school) provides a guaranteed place at the Naval School (EN).
Air Force: EPCAr (3 years, combined with high school) provides a guaranteed place at the Air Force Academy (AFA).
Unlike officers, future NCOs are not classified as Cadets but rather as Students (Aluno in PT). Additionally, the term "Student" is followed by the rank for which they are being trained. For example, for corporals: Student-Corporal; and for sergeants: Student-Sergeant.
in other Portuguese-speaking countries, you can find the term "instruendo", which translates to "being instructed."
The academies responsible for NCO training in each branch are:
Army: ESA (The course lasts for two years, and graduates are commissioned as Third Sergeants
Navy: EAM and CIAA (It lasts 2 months to be a Sergeant, but you must have completed the Apprentice (11 months) and Corporal (4 Months) courses beforehand to be eligible).
Air Force: EEAR(The course lasts for two years, and graduates are commissioned as Third Sergeants).
For police forces, each state has its own academies. In São Paulo State, the Escola Superior de Sargentos (ESSgt) can be translated as Sergeants' Advanced School or Higher School for Sergeants.
It is worth mentioning that there are other courses for training sergeants and corporals, as well as advanced training courses. One of these courses is the CFST (Temporary Sergeant Training Course), which allows the NCO to remain in an active military career for a maximum of 8 years.
Students who graduate from sergeant courses can attain the positions of Sub-Lieutenant (in the army or police) or Sub-Officer (in Navy, Air Force and Marines). However, depending on the NCO's performance and additional courses completed, they may rise to the rank of Captain.
On January 15, 1890, Deodoro da Fonseca was acclaimed by the troops as "Generalissimo de Terra e Mar" (Generalissimo of Land and Sea), thus becoming the only six-star general officer in Brazil.[18]
↑ Instituto Histórico e Cultural da Aeronáutica. História geral da aeronáutica brasileira[General history of Brazilian aeronautics] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Vol.3.
↑ "Portaria No 368 /MB, de 30 de Novembro de 2016". Boletim da Marinha do Brasil. I (Administrativo) Nº 12/2016. 30 November 2026.
↑ "Símbolos Heráldicos da Aeronáutica". Publicada No BCA Nº 180, de 5 de Outubro de 2020. file:///D:/Downloads/180-BCA-ANEXO%201%20-%20ICA%20903-1.pdf. 2020-09-22.
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.
Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corresponds to commanding a section or squad of soldiers.
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. Sergeants Major serve as the senior enlisted advisor to the commander.
Counter admiral is a rank found in many navies of the world, but no longer used in English-speaking countries, where the equivalent rank is rear admiral. The term derives from the French contre-amiral. Depending on the country, it is either a one-star or two-star rank.
Second sergeant is typically a non-commissioned officer rank, used in many countries.
Third sergeant is typically a non-commissioned officer rank, used in some countries.
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The rank is equal to the army rank of colonel and air force rank of group captain.
Frigate captain is a naval rank in the naval forces of several countries. Corvette captain lies one level below frigate captain.
First sergeant is typically a senior non-commissioned officer rank, used in many countries.
The military ranks of Portugal form the system of hierarchical relationships in the Portuguese Armed Forces.
Rank comparison chart of all armies and land forces of North and South American states.
Rank comparison chart of air forces of North and South American states.
Squadron admiral and Squadron vice-admiral are senior naval flag officer ranks, usually equivalent to vice admiral in Anglophone countries. A squadron admiral or squadron vice-admiral is typically senior to a vice admiral and junior to an admiral.
Rank comparison chart of navies of North and South American states.
Rank comparison chart of navies of North and South American states.
Rank comparison chart of armies/ land forces of North and South American states.
Rank comparison chart of Non-commissioned officer and enlisted ranks for air forces of North and South American states.
The military ranks of Angola are the military insignia used by the Angolan Armed Forces.
Rank comparison chart of officers for navies of Lusophone states.
Rank comparison chart of Non-commissioned officer and enlisted ranks for navies of Lusophone states.
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