Belgian military ranks

The following are the ranks and insignia of the Belgian Armed Forces. ^[1]^[2]

Depending on the uniform being worn (there are three: ceremonial, working, and operational)^[3] - rank badges are worn in various places: in the middle of the chest, on the shoulders, at the wrists, etc.

The ranks are given in English, Dutch, French, and German (the three official languages of Belgium).

Officers[]

The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the army, navy, air force and medical component respectively.

NATO code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3		OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)	Student officer
	Opperofficieren - Officiers généraux					Hoofdofficieren - Officiers supérieurs			Lagere officieren - Officiers subalternes
Belgian Land Component v t
		Generaal	Luitenant-generaal	Generaal-majoor	Brigadegeneraal	Kolonel	Luitenant-kolonel	Majoor	Kapitein-commandant	Kapitein	Luitenant	Onderluitenant	Aspirant
		Général	Lieutenant général	Général-major	Général de Brigade	Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Capitaine-commandant	Capitaine	Lieutenant	Sous-lieutenant	Aspirant
		General	Generalleutnant	Generalmajor	Brigadegeneral	Oberst	Oberstleutnant	Major	Stabshauptmann	Hauptmann	Leutnant	Unterleutnant	Aspirant
Belgian Navy v t
		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	Aspirant der marine
		Amiral	Vice-amiral	Amiral de division	Amiral de flottille	Capitaine de vaisseau	Capitaine de frégate	Capitaine de corvette	Lieutenant de vaisseau de 1^re classe	Lieutenant de vaisseau	Enseigne de vaisseau	Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^e classe	Aspirant de marine
		Admiral	Vizeadmiral	Divisionsadmiral	Flotillenadmiral	Kapitän zur See	Fregattenkapitän	Korvettenkapitän	Linienschiffsleutnant 1. klasse	Linienschiffsleutnant	Seefahnrich	Seefahnrich 2. klasse	Aspirant von marine
Belgian Air Component v t
		Generaal	Luitenant-generaal	Generaal-majoor	Brigadegeneraal	Kolonel	Luitenant-kolonel	Majoor	Kapitein-commandant	Kapitein	Luitenant	Onderluitenant	Aspirant
		Général	Lieutenant général	Général-major	Général de Brigade	Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Capitaine-commandant	Capitaine	Lieutenant	Sous-lieutenant	Aspirant
		General	Generalleutnant	Generalmajor	Brigadegeneral	Oberst	Oberstleutnant	Major	Stabshauptmann	Hauptmann	Oberleutnant	Leutnant	Aspirant
Belgian Medical Component v t
		Generaal	Luitenant-generaal	Generaal-majoor	Brigadegeneraal	Kolonel	Luitenant-kolonel	Majoor	Kapitein-commandant	Kapitein	Luitenant	Onderluitenant	Aspirant
		Général	Lieutenant général	Général-major	Général de Brigade	Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Capitaine-commandant	Capitaine	Lieutenant	Sous-lieutenant	Aspirant
		General	Generalleutnant	Generalmajor	Brigadegeneral	Oberst	Oberstleutnant	Major	Stabshauptmann	Hauptmann	Leutnant	Unterleutnant	Aspirant
NATO code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3		OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)	Student officer

Notes:

Officer-cadets at the Royal Military Academy wear the ranks of Second Lieutenant (or Ensign at sea, 2nd class) with the insignia of the Academy above the rank insignia.
Cadet-Officers at the Royal Military Academy wear the ranks of Soldier during their first year, and Warrant officer (or 1st master chief) during their second and third year. Both with the insignia of the Academy above the rank insignia.
The highest rank in the military police is Colonel.
The ranks of Admiral and Air Force General were created in 2002.
The ranks of Admiral and both ranks of (Air Force) General are reserved for only three individuals: The King of the Belgians, the Belgian Chief of Defense and the chief of the royal military house of the king.
The ranks of Lieutenant general and General of the Medical component were introduced in April 2021 alongside the new unified 'tactical' rank insignia.

Non-commissioned officers[]

NATO code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-7	OR-6		OR-5	OR-4		OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
	Hoofdonderofficieren - Sous-officiers supérieurs - Hochrangigeunteroffiziere		Keuronderofficieren - Sous-officiers d'élite - Eliteunteroffiziere		Lagere onderofficieren - Sous-officiers subalternes - Niedriger Unteroffiziere			Keurvrijwilligers - Volontaires d'élite - Elitefreiwillige		Lagere vrijwilligers - Volontaire subalternes - Niedriger Freiwillige
Belgian Land Component v t
	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	1er sergeant-major	1er sergeant-chef	1er sergeant	Sergeant	1er caporal-chef	Caporal-chef	Caporal	1er 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 v t
	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	1er Quartier-maître-chef	Quartier-maître-chef	Quartier maître	Premier matelot	Matelot
	Chefhauptmeister	Hauptmeister	Erster Chefmeister	Erster Meister	Meister-Chef	Meister	Zweiter Meister	1er Oberquartiermeister	Oberquartiermeister	Quartiermeister	1er Matrose	Matrose
Belgian Air Component v t												No insignia
	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	1er sergeant-major	1er sergeant-chef	1er sergeant	Sergeant	1er caporal-chef	Caporal-chef	Caporal	1er 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 Component v t
	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	1er sergeant-major	1er sergeant-chef	1er sergeant	Sergeant	1er caporal-chef	Caporal-chef	Caporal	1er soldat	Soldat
	Majoradjutant	Chefadjudant	Adjudant	1er Sergeant Major	1er Sergeant Chef	1er Sergeant	Sergeant	1er Korporal Chef	Korporal Chef	Korporal	1er soldat	Soldat

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.
Corps Adjoint (Adjudent 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

Ranks at the Royal Military Academy[]

Year	Land component	Medical component	Air component / Airforce	Maritime component / Navy
Officer-Students (Master)
4th and 5th	Second lieutenant, CCO Fr: Sous-lieutenant CCO Nl: Onderluitenant KBO	Second lieutenant, CCO Fr: Sous-lieutenant CCO Nl: Onderluitenant KBO	Second lieutenant, CCO Fr: Sous-lieutenant CCO Nl: Onderluitenant KBO	Ensign at sea, 2nd class, CCO Fr: Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe CCO Nl: Vaandrig-ter-zee 2e klasse KBO
Student-Officers (Bachelor)
2nd and 3rd	Warrant officer, CCO Nl: Adjudant KBO Fr: Adjudant CCO	Warrant officer, CCO Nl: Adjudant KBO Fr: Adjudant CCO	Warrant officer, CCO Nl: Adjudant KBO Fr: Adjudant CCO	1st master chief, CCO Nl: 1e meester-chef KBO Fr: Premier maître-chef CCO
1st	Soldier / Corporal / Sergeant, CCO Nl: Soldaat / Korporaal / Sergeant KBO Fr: Soldat / Caporal / Sergent CCO	Soldier / Corporal / Sergeant, CCO Nl: Soldaat / Korporaal / Sergeant KBO Fr: Soldat / Caporal / Sergent CCO	Soldier / Corporal / Sergeant, CCO Nl: Soldaat / Korporaal / Sergeant KBO Fr: Soldat / Caporal / Sergent CCO	Soldier / Corporal / Sergeant, CCO Nl: Soldaat / Korporaal / Sergeant KBO Fr: Soldat / Caporal / Sergent CCO

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.

Medical Component 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[]

^ Belgian official journal 10.
^ http://www.staatsbladclip.be/lois/2007/04/10/loi-2007007077.html^{[permanent dead link]}
^ By Royal decree on 4 (Belgian official journal du 25).

[1] Belgian official journal 10.

[2] ttp://www.staatsbladclip.be/lois/2007/04/10/loi-2007007077.html^{[permanent dead link]}

[3] By Royal decree on 4 (Belgian official journal du 25).

[1]

[2]

[3]