Military Rank

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Introduction; The Army; The Navy; Air Force

Introduction

Military Rank, position in the military hierarchy. A type of symbol is worn by members of the armed forces to denote their status within the military hierarchy (see Military Insignia). Ranks were first employed effectively by the Roman Empire. In 31 bc the Emperor Augustus consolidated his legions with those of Mark Antony to form a new standing army. A professional officer structure was introduced, with command of each legion passing to a legate, appointed directly by the emperor. The legate was supported by six tribunes, the senior of whom (the tribunus laticavius) wore a broad stripe on his tunic denoting his candidature for the Senate.

Modern military rank was not introduced until the 18th century, when it became customary for soldiers, as well as officers, to wear a recognizable badge denoting their status within the regiment. Initially, badges of rank were ornate, befitting the flamboyant uniforms of the day. During the 19th century uniforms, and with them badges of rank, were simplified—in part as a response to the growing importance of concealment on the battlefield, and in part because of calls for utility and economy. Most modern armies have now introduced camouflaged rank badges, often attached to the front and back of the soldiers' combat jackets, for use in the field. It is not unusual for special forces units, when operational, to abandon rank insignia completely. In Britain all officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in the Special Air Service (SAS) wear rank insignia on removable shoulder slides.

Officers in Britain and a number of Commonwealth countries, including Australia and New Zealand, are said to hold the Queen's Commission, and take an oath of loyalty to Elizabeth II. Elsewhere, officers hold a commission granted by their own royal family, president, or head of state.

The Army

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Commissioned Rank

Junior army officers are said to hold subaltern rank, although today this term is rarely used to describe Captains. Intermediate officers from Major to Colonel hold field rank, and senior officers from Brigadier to Field Marshal, general rank. Promotion for junior officers is usually dependent solely upon length of service and is granted automatically unless an individual has failed to reach the minimum prescribed standards. Thereafter, promotion is contingent upon the officer passing a series of courses or examinations, on annual reports, and on available vacancies at the new rank.

Junior officers in the British and Commonwealth armies are commissioned into the rank of Second Lieutenant and wear a single star (known in most regiments and corps as a pip). After two years they are promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and wear two stars. Thereafter they are promoted to Captain and wear three stars in a straight line. From the age of 30, a Captain may hope to be promoted to the rank of Major, at which time he or she will wear a crown symbol and possibly assume command of an infantry company, artillery battery, or signals squadron. Between the ages of 37 and 40, dependent on his branch of service, he may be given command of his battalion or regiment, be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and wear a crown over one star.

Colonels, who hold administrative posts such as Divisional Chief of Staff, wear a crown insignia over two stars, while Brigadiers wear a crown over three stars in a pyramid formation. Both wear gorget patches with crimson lace, a gold button, and a hat badge depicting a crowned lion standing on a crown.

Major-Generals, who command divisions (and, in Britain, administrative districts), wear one star over a crossed sabre and baton. Lieutenant-Generals wear a crown over a crossed sabre and baton, Generals a crown over a star over a crossed sabre and baton, and Field Marshals a crown over a wreath containing crossed batons. All wear red gorget patches with gold lace and button. Although length of service between ranks may vary, the rank structure throughout the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is largely similar. In the United States a Second Lieutenant will wear a single bronze bar, a Lieutenant a single silver bar, and a Captain two silver bars in parallel. A Major will wear a bronze oak leaf, a Lieutenant-Colonel a silver oak leaf, and a Colonel a silver insignia in the form of an American eagle (for which reason he is often referred to as a “bird colonel”). Brigadier Generals (the title has not been shortened as in the British Army), Major-Generals, Lieutenant-Generals, and Generals wear one to four silver stars respectively, and a General of the Army a circular formation of five smaller silver stars.

Lieutenants, First Lieutenants, and Captains in the German Army wear one, two, and three silver stars respectively. Majors, Lieutenant-Colonels, and Colonels wear similar insignia above a laurel wreath, as do Brigadier Generals, Major-Generals, and Lieutenant-Generals—with gold in the case of these latter three ranks. Full Generals wear an array of four stars above a laurel wreath, all in gold.

Non-Commissioned Rank

Junior NCOs in the British and US armies wear badges of rank on the upper arm, their European equivalents usually on a shoulder board. In Britain, Lance-Corporals wear one chevron, point down; Corporals, two chevrons; and Sergeants, three. Staff or Colour Sergeants wear a crown over three chevrons, point down. Warrant-Officers wear their insignia on the lower sleeve. There are many different regimental deviations from the basic rank titles, particularly among the Household Division. Warrant-Officers Class Two, usually known as Company or Squadron Sergeant Majors, wear a crown, while certain technical appointments wear a crown within a laurel wreath. Warrant-Officers First Class holding the appointment of Regimental Sergeant Major wear the plain royal coat of arms, while those with specialist training wear the coat of arms surrounded by edging in the regimental colour.

III

The Navy