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Military Forces of Colombia
Fuerzas Militares de Colombia
Escudo Fuerzas Militares de Colombia
The tri-service badge of the colombian armed forces.
Founded 7 August 1819
Service branches

Escudo Ejercito Nacional de Colombia Army
Escudo Armada Nacional de Colombia Navy

Escudo Fuerza Aerea Colombiana Air Force
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief President Juan Manuel Santos
Minister of Defense Juan Carlos Pinzón
General Commander General Alejandro Navas Ramos

The Military ranks of the Colombian armed forces consist of the list and ordering of the different military ranks, for the Officers, Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers, seamen and airmen ("other ranks") of the Military Forces of Colombia. The ranks are visually represented by insignias placed on the uniforms, usually at the shoulders, sleeves and shirt collars.

Note that a literal translation from Spanish to English may be misleading as the rank names don't necessarily follow the customary order used in anglophone military ranks in all cases.

Foundational law[]

The professional ranking of the Military Forces of Colombia is founded on the article 217 of the Political Constitution of Colombia,[1] regimented through multiple Laws and Decrees, starting with the Decree #1790 from 2000,[2] up to the latest and most updated one, Law #1405 of 2010.[3]

According to the former, the rankings of the military officers were slightly modified: It adds the ranks of "Lieutenant General" (Spanish language: Teniente General ) for the Army and the National Police, "Air Lieutenant General" (Spanish language: Teniente General del Aire ) for the Air Force, and "Squadron Admiral" ( Spanish language: Almirante de Escuadra ) for the Navy. These ranks are identified by 3 (three) stars or suns according to the service branch. This change was instituted in order to more accurately reflect international standards in the command structure used by other armed forces. The maximum rank formally achievable by an officer of the armed forces is that of General or Admiral of 4 (four) stars or suns, according to the service branch.

In terms of protocol, the established order for the forces is Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, as established by the Military Rules of Protocol (Reglamento de Protocolo Militar FFMM)[4]

Army[]

Escudo Ejercito Nacional de Colombia

Coat of Arms of the Colombian National Army

The Colombian Army is the largest of the three service branches of the Military Forces of Colombia, tasked with defending sovereignty and law and order across the national territory. The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Army personnel.[5][6]

Ranks and Insignias - Colombian National Army

Officers[]

NATO code[n 1] OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Flag of Colombia Colombia No equivalent Insignia of general of colombian army Teniente general Rank insignia of mayor general of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of brigadier general of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of coronel of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of teniente coronel of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of mayor of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of capital of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of teniente of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of subteniente of the Colombian Army
Spanish - General Teniente General Mayor General Brigadier General Coronel Teniente Coronel Mayor Capitán Teniente Subteniente
Abbr. - GR TG MG BG CR TC MY CT TE ST
English - General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant

Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Soldiers[]

NATO code[n 1] OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Flag of Colombia Colombia Rank insignia of sargento mayor de comando conjunto of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of sargento mayor de comando of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of sargento mayor of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of sargento primero of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of sargento viceprimero of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of sargento segundo of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of cabo primero of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of cabo segundo of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of cabo tercero of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of dragoneante of the Colombian Army Rank insignia of soldado profesional of the Colombian Army No Insignia
Spanish Sargento Mayor de Comando Conjunto Sargento Mayor de Comando Sargento Mayor Sargento Primero Sargento Vice Primero Sargento Segundo Cabo Primero Cabo Segundo Cabo Tercero Dragoneante Soldado Profesional Soldado
Abbr. SMCC SMC SM SP SV SS CP CS C3 - - -
English Joint Command Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major Sergeant Major First Sergeant Sergeant First Class Second Sergeant First Corporal Second Corporal Third Corporal Private First Class Private (Professional) Private Basic

Navy[]

Escudo Armada Nacional de Colombia

Coat of Arms of the Colombian Navy

The Colombian Navy (Spanish language: 'Armada de la República de Colombia' ) is the maritime service branch of the Military Forces of Colombia, responsible for security and defense in both the Atlantic (Caribbean) and Pacific seas of Colombia, the extensive network of rivers inside the country, and a few small land areas under its direct jurisdiction. The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Navy personnel. [5] [7]

Officer ranks are similar to the Austro-Hungarian Navy, but the insignia follow the US and British patterns with the use of the executive curl.

Ranks and Insignias - Colombian Navy

Officers[]

NATO code[n 1] OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Flag of Colombia Colombia No equivalent Almirante cuatro armada colombia Almirante armada colombia Vicealmirante armada colombia Contralmirante armada colombia Capitan de navio armada colombia Capitan de fragata armada colombia Capitan de corbeta colombia armada Teniente de navio colombia armada Teniente de fragata armada colombia Teniente de corbeta armada colombia
Spanish - Almirante Almirante de Escuadra Vicealmirante Contralmirante Capitán de Navío Capitán de Fragata Capitán de Corbeta Teniente de Navío Teniente de Fragata Teniente de Corbeta
Abbr. - ALM ALME VALM CALM CN CF CC TN TF TK
English - Admiral Squadron Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral,
Counter Admiral
Ship-of-the-line Captain Frigate Captain Corvette Captain Ship-of-the-line Lieutenant Frigate Lieutenant Corvette Lieutenant

Rates of Non-Commissioned Officers and Seamen[]

NATO code[n 1] OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Flag of Colombia Colombia Suboficial jefe tecnico armada colombia Suboficial jefe tecnico armada colombia Suboficial jefe tecnico armada colombia Suboficial jefe armada colombia Suboficial primero armada colombia Suboficial segundo armada colombia Suboficial tercero armada colombia Marinero primero armada colombia Marinero segundo armada colombia No equivalent
Spanish Suboficial Jefe Técnico de Comando Conjunto Suboficial Jefe Técnico de Comando Suboficial Jefe Técnico Suboficial Jefe Suboficial Primero Suboficial Segundo Suboficial Tercero Marinero Primero Marinero Segundo -
Abbr. SJTCC SJTC SJT SJ S1 S2 S3 MA1 MA2 -
English Joint Command Chief Technical Petty Officer Command Chief Technical Petty Officer Chief Technical Petty Officer Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer First Class Petty Officer Second Class Petty Officer Third Class Seaman Seaman Recruit -

Marine Infantry[]

Escudo Infanteria de Marina de Colombia

Coat of arms of the Colombian Marine Infantry

In Colombia, the Marine Infantry is a Corps depending on the Colombian Navy and not a full service branch on its own. Being tasked with amphibious and riverine and littoral operations, the MI presents a somewhat odd combination of ranking names derived from the Army, combined with naval insignias. The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Marine Infantry personnel.[5]

Ranks and Insignias - Colombian Marine Infantry

Officers[]

NATO code[n 1] OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Flag of Colombia Colombia No equivalent Almirante cuatro armada colombia Almirante armada colombia Vicealmirante armada colombia Contralmirante armada colombia Capitan de navio armada colombia Capitan de fragata armada colombia Capitan de corbeta colombia armada Teniente de navio colombia armada Teniente de fragata armada colombia Teniente de corbeta armada colombia
Spanish - General Teniente General Mayor General Brigadier Coronel Teniente Coronel Mayor Capitán Teniente Subteniente
Abbr. - GR TG MG BG CR TC MY CT TE ST
English - General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Sublieutenant

Non-Commissioned Officers and Infantrymen[]

NATO code[n 1] OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Flag of Colombia Colombia Sargento mayor de comando infanteria marina Sargento mayor de comando infanteria marina Sargento mayor infanteria marina Sargento primero infanteria marina Sargento viceprimero infanteria marina Sargento segundo infanteria marina Cabo primero infanteria marina Cabo segundo infanteria marina Cabo tercero infanteria marina No Insignia
Spanish Sargento Mayor de Comando Conjunto Sargento Mayor de Comando Sargento Mayor Sargento Primero Sargento Vice Primero Sargento Segundo Cabo Primero Cabo Segundo Cabo Tercero Infante Regular
Abbr. SMCCCIM SMCCIM SMCIM SPCIM SVCIM SSCIM CPCIM CSCIM C3CIM -
English Joint Command Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major Sergeant Major First Sergeant Sergeant First Class Second Sergeant First Corporal Second Corporal Lance Corporal Private, Marine

Air Force[]

Escudo Fuerza Aerea Colombiana

Coat of arms of the Colombian Air Force

The Colombian Air Force is the service branch of the Military Forces of Colombia tasked with the protection and defense of the Colombian sovereign airspace. The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Air Force personnel.[5]

Ranks and Insignias - Colombian Air Force

Officers[]

NATO code[n 1] OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Flag of Colombia Colombia No Equivalent General col fuerza aerea Teniente general col fuerza aerea Mayor general col fuerza aerea Brigadier general col air force Coronel col fuerza aerea Teniente coronel col fuerza aerea Mayor col fuerza aerea Capitan col fuerza aerea Teniente col fuerza aerea Subteniente col fuerza aerea
Spanish - General del Aire Teniente General del Aire Mayor General del Aire Brigadier General del Aire Coronel Teniente Coronel Mayor Capitán Teniente Subteniente
Abbr. - GR TG MG BG CR TC MY CT TE ST
English - General of the Air Lieutenant General of the Air Major General of the Air Brigadier General of the Air Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant

Non-Commissioned Officers and Airmen[]

NATO code[n 1] OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Flag of Colombia Colombia Tecnico jefe de comando fuerza aerea Tecnico jefe de comando fuerza aerea Tecnico jefe fuerza aerea Tecnico subjefe fuerz aerea Tecnico primero fuerza aerea Tecnico segundo fuerza aerea Tecnico tercero fuerza aerea Tecnico cuarto fuerza aerea Aerotecnico fuerza aerea No equivalent
Spanish Técnico Jefe de Comando Conjunto Técnico Jefe de Comando Técnico Jefe Técnico Subjefe Técnico Primero Técnico Segundo Técnico Tercero Técnico Cuarto Aerotécnico -
Abbr. TJCC TJC TJ TS TP T2 T3 T4 AT -
English Joint Command Chief Technician Command Chief Technician Senior Chief Technician Chief Technician Technician First Class Technician 2nd Class Technician 3rd Class Junior Technician Airman -

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Colombia is not a member of NATO, so there is not an official equivalence between the Colombian military ranks and those defined by NATO. The displayed parallel is approximate and for illustration purposes only.

References[]

  1. Secretaría Senado de la República de Colombia, ed. "Constitución Política de Colombia" (in Spanish). http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/cp/constitucion_politica_1991_pr007.html#217. Retrieved 26 April 2011. 
  2. Secretaría Senado de la República de Colombia, ed. "Decreto 1790 de 2000 - Normas de carrera del personal de oficiales y suboficiales de las Fuerzas Militares" (in Spanish). http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/decreto/2000/decreto_1790_2000.html. Retrieved 26 April 2011. 
  3. Secretaría Senado de la República de Colombia, ed. "Ley 1405 de 2010 - Nuevos Grados Militares" (in Spanish). http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley/2010/ley_1405_2010.html. Retrieved 26 April 2011. 
  4. Policía Nacional de Colombia, ed. "Reglamento de Ceremonial y Protocolo Policial" (in Spanish). http://www.policia.edu.co/policia/documentos/doctrina/manuales_de_consulta/104409_Reglamento%20Protocolo%20nuevo%2011_12_09.pdf. Retrieved 26 April 2011. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Congreso de la República de Colombia (28 July 2010). "Ley 1405 de 2010 Nuevos Grados Militares" (in Spanish). http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley/2010/ley_1405_2010.html. Retrieved 26 April 2011. 
  6. Ejército de Colombia (15 March 2011). "Grados y distintivos del Ejército" (in Spanish). http://www.ejercito.mil.co/?idcategoria=232931. Retrieved 26 April 2011. 
  7. Armada Republica de Colombia (2006). "Insignias de la Armada" (in Spanish). http://www.armada.mil.co/index.php?idcategoria=193. Retrieved 23 April 2011. 

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Military ranks of the Colombian Armed Forces and the edit history here.
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