Military ranks of the Philippines

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The following list presents the ranks and insignia of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Introduction[]

The current Philippine military ranks are inspired partially by the very first military insignia used by the military forces during the Philippine Revolution of 1896 and the Philippine–American War, and the insignia used by the Philippine Constabulary raised in 1902 during the final days of the Philippine–American War, which was basically the same style of insignia used by the United States Army at that time. Elements of both the US army ranks and the old Philippine Army appear in the current ranks; this was reflected at the general officers insignia and enlisted ranks that resembled those of the US military (the silver stars used by generals and admirals were used by field grade officers in the First Republic), the field officers [like colonels], whose insignia are suns, use those insignia used by general officers of the Revolutionary Army. Company rank insignia[i.e. captain], consisting of a silver triangle, are a recent creation. Both company grade and field grade officer insignia have the baybayin letter ka ( K) in the middle, another throwback to the days of the war for independence, and even in the medal used by second-level members of the Katipunan during meetings, in which the letter is in the center.

Revolutionary Army ranks[]

These rank insignia for the nascent army were created in late 1896, replacing the earlier rank insignia used by the Katipuneros containing the letter K (ka). Ranks were then worn on the sleeves of all uniforms.^[1]

Shoulder epaulette insignia was introduced in late 1898, some time after the declaration of Philippine independence. It is worthy of mention that the insignia for the rank of Second Lieutenant and Major has three silver and gold stars, respectively, and the number of stars are reduced when promoted.

Officer ranks[]

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Shoulder insignia[2] (1899–1901)
Sleeve insignia
English	Minister Marshal		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Tagalog	Ministrong mariskal		Heneral		Tenyente heneral		Heneral ng dibisyon		Heneral ng brigada		Koronel		Tenyente koronel		Komandante		Kapitán		Tenyente			Alpéres
Spanish	Ministro mariscal		General		Teniente general		General de división		General de brigada		Coronel		Teniente coronel		Comandante		Capitán		Teniente			Alférez

Other ranks[]

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Sleeve insignia
English											Sergeant																Corporal		Private						Civil guardsman first class	Civil guardsman
Tagalog											Sarhento																Kabo		Privato
Spanish											Sargento																Cabo		Privento

Present rank insignia of the Philippine armed forces[]

The current AFP insignia used today are a modification of the system first used in 1954–55 as part of the Filipinization of the military forces by then President and former Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay, ending years of the US-styled rank system in place since 1935. Prior to that period, the Philippines used the same rank insignia of the United States Armed Forces with modifications for Philippine conditions.^[3]

Officers[]

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Philippine Army[4] v t
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Philippine Navy v t
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign
Philippine Marine Corps v t
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Philippine Coast Guard[5] v t
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign
Philippine Air Force[6] v t
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

Other ranks[]

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Philippine Army[4] v t
	Chief master sergeant			Senior master sergeant			Master sergeant		Technical sergeant		Staff sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal						Private first class						Private
Philippine Navy v t
	Master Chief Petty Officer			Senior Chief Petty Officer			Chief Petty Officer		Petty officer, first class		Petty officer, second class						Petty officer, third class						Seaman first class						Seaman second class						Seaman apprentice
Philippine Marine Corps v
	Chief master sergeant			Senior master sergeant			Master sergeant		First sergeant	Technical sergeant	Staff sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal						Private first class						Private
Philippine Coast Guard[5] v t
	Master Chief Petty Officer			Senior Chief Petty Officer			Chief Petty Officer		Petty officer, first class		Petty officer, second class						Petty officer, third class						Seaman first class						Seaman second class						Seaman apprentice
Philippine Air Force[6] v t
	Chief master sergeant			Senior master sergeant			Master sergeant		Technical sergeant		Staff sergeant						Sergeant						Airman first class						Airman second class						Recruit
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted

See also[]

• Armed Forces of the Philippines

References[]