Ranks and insignia of NATO

NATO maintains a "standard rank scale" which is also known as a "standardized reference system" in an attempt to standardize NATO codes of rank for military personnel and indicated correspondence with nations ranks. NATO's standardized reference system is intended to be used "by nations when preparing personnel tables, requisitions, reports and returns destined for NATO nations, organizations and commands."{{sfn|STANAG 2116 (7)|p=11-1}}

The NATO rank reference code categories were established in 1978 in STANAG 2116 (formally titled NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel). The current- 7th - edition{{efn|superseding Edition 6 of February 25, 2010}} is just the cover, and the core of the standard is in set out in "NATO Codes For Grades Of Military Personnel" (APersP-01).{{sfn|STANAG 2116 (7)}}

The NATO codes assigned for each grade are based on the agreed corresponding army grades with the naval and air forces grades determined from them by "national regulations".{{sfn|APersP-01|p=1-1}}

OF-10 – OF-1 (highest to lowest rank code) are used for commissioned officers:{{sfn|APersP-01|p=1-1}}

• OF-10 – OF-6: General officers
• OF-5 – OF-3: Senior officers
• OF-2 – OF-1: Junior officers

OR-9 – OR-1 (highest to lowest rank code) are used for other ranks (enlisted ranks and non-commissioned officers (NCO)):{{sfn|APersP-01|p=1-1}}

• OR-9 – OR-5: Non-commissioned officers
• OR-4 – OR-1: Other ranks/enlisted ranks

For NATO purposes, NCOs are ranked OR-5 to OR-9.{{sfn|APersP-01|p=1-1}} However, national rank structures might differentiate from this.

In the U.S. armed forces warrant officer is a separate and distinct category of officers. This officer rank and precedence is below those of officer personnel, but above that of non-officer personnel, and has a special group of codes (W-1 – W-5).{{sfn|APersP-01|p=А-10}} In the Commonwealth tradition (for NATO the British Armed Forces and Canadian Armed Forces) warrant officers are the highest other ranks.{{sfn|APersP-01|pp=D-1, D-3}}

In the British Armed Forces senior non-commissioned officers are in OR-5 to OR-7 and junior non-commissioned officers (eg corporals) are in OR-3 and OR-4.{{sfn|APersP-01|pp=D-8, Е-7, F-7}} In the U.S. military OR-5 and above are non-commissioned officers for the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force but in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy (both parts of the Department of the Navy), OR-4 and above are non-commissioned officers.{{cite web |author1= |title=U.S. Military Rank Insignia |date=2020 |url=https://www.defense.gov/Resources/Insignia/ |publisher=Official Website U.S. Department of Defense |access-date=2024-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414165713/https://www.defense.gov/Resources/Insignia/ |archive-date=2020-04-14 }}

The numbers in the system broadly correspond to the U.S. uniformed services pay grades, with OR-x replacing E-x. The main difference is in the commissioned officer ranks, where the US system recognizes two grades at OF-1 level (O-1 and O-2), meaning that all O-x numbers after O-1 are one point higher on the US scale than they are on the NATO scale (e.g. a major is OF-3 on the NATO scale and O-4 on the US scale).

{{see also|NATO Joint Military Symbology}}

Appendix B of the APP-06 (related to STANAG 2019) standard lists 11 formation/unit groups (13 in US Armed Forces) and identifies the command level of seven of them:{{sfn|APP-06(E)(1)|pp=795–796}}

This is a general NATO practice, which does not prevent individual branches of the armed forces, for example, the British Army,{{cite web |author1= |title=Rank Structure |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/our-people/ranks/ |publisher= British Army |access-date=2024-07-10 }} the U.S. Army{{cite web |last1= |title=U.S. Army Ranks |url=https://www.army.mil/ranks/ |publisher=Official Website U.S. Army |access-date=2024-07-10 }} and the U.S. Marine Corps,{{cite web |author1= |title=Ranks |url=https://www.marines.mil/Ranks/ |publisher=Official Website U.S. Marine Corps |access-date=2024-07-10 }} from having their own approaches to the positions held by certain officers and NCOs.

In 2010, Allied Command Operations and Allied Command Transformation produced NATO NCO Bi-SC Strategy and Recommended NCO Guidelines.{{sfn|Bi-SC NCO Guidelines|2017|p=1}} The current Bi-SC joint document (19 December 2023) Directive 040-002 "NATO Non-Commissioned Officer and Junior Officer Bi-Strategic Command Employment and Development Strategy", describes the NATO rank indicators for NCOs:{{sfn|Bi-SC Directive 040-002|pp=7–8}}

• OR-1 {{emdash}} OR-3: "These are the basic entry ranks into the military structure."
• OR-4: "The first level of leadership within the NATO NCO ranks."
• OR-5: "The OR-5 is the first NATO designated NCO grade and the level of leadership with the greatest impact on subordinate ranks."
• OR-6: "This is the first grade at which OR should be considered for Staff NCO duties at NATO higher headquarters employment. As such some NATO nations may recognize OR-6 through OR-9 as Senior NCOs (SNCO) or Warrant Officers (WO)."
• OR-7: "The OR-7 is empowered and considered a key element within the command structure. At this level, SNCOs are expected to be able to provide sound advice to their leadership. While no formal mandate exists, this is the level at which, when consistent with their national authorities, SNCOs start to provide mentorship/assistance for Junior Officers (OF-1/OF-2)."
• OR-8: "Uses enhanced leadership skills and broad operational experience to advise unit/element leaders and commanders on organizational effectiveness. OR-8s are expected to merge subordinates talents, skills, and resources with other NATO cross functional team(s) and organization(s) to implement planning and management processes for collective mission accomplishment."
• OR-9: "The most experienced SNCO within the NATO NCO structure. This grade is normally utilized in an advisory capacity when assigned to a higher headquarters."

Specific roles:{{sfn|Bi-SC Directive 040-002|p=9}}

• Staff NCO: "When assigned to the NATO Command Structure (NCS), the Staff NCO performs technical duties and project or portfolio management based upon their education, training, and experience. Based on the depth of their tactical experience, Staff NCO should participate in relevant working groups across the higher headquarters or NATO organisations".
• Senior Enlisted Leader: "While traditionally an ancillary duty, this individual serves as an advisor to the senior staff directorate or element leadership".
• Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL): "The CSEL, at the pinnacle of the NCO Ranks, serves on the Command Team as an advisor to the commander and the staff element leadership".

Based on the intentions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine to join NATO, NATO codes for military ranks have been officially introduced in these countries. Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a corresponding law in 2005.{{sfn|Law on Service in the Armed Forces of B&H|pp=33–34}} In Ukraine, the introduction of NATO codes for military ranks took place in two stages. Firstly in 2020, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) amended the structure of military ranks{{sfn|Law of Ukraine dated 04.06.2020 No. 680-IX}} which was followed in January 2021, by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine approving the compliance of military ranks with NATO codes by order{{cite news |title=Ukrainian military ranks replaced with NATO military rank codes |date=6 January 2021 |url=https://rubryka.com/en/2021/01/06/ukrayinski-vijskovi-zvannya-perevely-na-kody-vijskovyh-rangiv-nato |work=Rubryka }} though the order had a confidential status.{{efn|Among the orders of the Minister of Defense for 2019, posted on the website of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, order No. 1 is missing}}

Some European NATO partners such as Austria{{cite web |title=Rank Insignias |date=2023 |url=https://www.bundesheer.at/en/rank-insignias |publisher=Official Website Austrian Armed Forces |access-date=2024-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627211346/https://www.bundesheer.at/en/rank-insignias |archive-date=2023-06-27 }} and Ireland{{sfn|RDFRA|2021|pp=42–43}}{{sfn|De Barra|2022|pp=99–100}} describe their ranks in terms of NATO rank codes for comparison with NATO forces. Finland also had a conversion table to NATO standards prior to becoming a NATO member.{{cite journal |last1=Pulkki |first1=Arto |title=NATO-Maiden Sotilas- Ja Palvelusarvot |journal=Helsingin Reservin Sanomat |date=30 January 2009 |pages=12–13 |url=http://reservinsanomat.fi/wp-content/uploads/reservinsanomat_2009_1_web.pdf |access-date=23 September 2022 |language=fi |issn=0355-824X |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020085720/http://reservinsanomat.fi/wp-content/uploads/reservinsanomat_2009_1_web.pdf |url-status=dead }}

{{main|Military star ranking}}

General officer grades are usually defined by the number of stars they ‘wear’. In the first version of the STANAG, OF-6 to OF-10 were described as "to be used for one to five star ranks or equivalents respectively".{{cite book |author1=NATO |author1-link=NATO |title=STANAG 2116 |date=October 1975 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |location=Brussels, Belgium |edition=3rd |url=http://www.marinehist.dk/orlogsbib/n/NATO-Grad.pdf |access-date=14 October 2022 |page=2 |archive-date=14 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014143755/http://www.marinehist.dk/orlogsbib/n/NATO-Grad.pdf |url-status=live }}

• Ranks and insignia of NATO member army officers
• Ranks and insignia of NATO member army enlisted
• Ranks and insignia of NATO member air force officers
• Ranks and insignia of NATO member air force enlisted
• Ranks and insignia of NATO member navy officers
• Ranks and insignia of NATO member navy enlisted

• Air officer
• Comparative military ranks
• Flag officer

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |author1= |title=STANAG 2116: NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel |id=|date=13 January 2021 |edition=7th |publisher=NATO Standardization Office |location=Brussels, Belgium |ref = {{harvid|STANAG 2116 (7) }} }}
• {{cite book |author1= |title= NATO Codes For Grades Of Military Personnel |id=APersP-01(A)(3) |date=16 June 2022 |publisher=NATO Standardization Office |location=Brussels, Belgium |ref = {{harvid|APersP-01}} }}
• {{cite book |author1= |title=NATO Joint Military Symbology |id=APP-06(E)(1) |date=11 October 2023 |publisher= NATO Standardization Office |location=Brussels, Belgium |url=https://nso.nato.int/nso/nsdd/main/standards/ap-details/3169/EN |access-date=11 August 2024 |ref = {{harvid|APP-06(E)(1)}} }}
• {{cite book |author1= |id=Bi-SC Directive 040-002 |title=NATO Non-Commissioned Officer and Junior Officer Bi-Strategic Command Employment and Development Strategy |date=19 December 2023 |publisher=Allied Command Operations, Allied Command Transformation |url=https://shape.nato.int/resources/site7234/General/BISCD040-002%20NATO%20NCO_JO%20Employment%20and%20Development%20Strat.pdf |ref = {{harvid|Bi-SC Directive 040-002}} }}
• {{cite book |author1= |title=NATO Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Bi-Strategic Command Strategy and NCO Guidelines |date=15 September 2017 |publisher=Allied Command Operations, Allied Command Transformation |url=https://shape.nato.int/resources/site7234/general/nco%20leadership/nato-non-commissioned-officer%20bi-strategic-command-strategy-and-nco-guidelines-nu-18sept17.pdf |ref = {{harvid|Bi-SC NCO Guidelines|2017}} }}
• {{cite book |author1= |language=Bosnian |title=Zakon o službi u Oružanim snagama Bosne i Hercegovine |trans-title=Law on Service in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina |date=5 October 2005 |url=http://www.mod.gov.ba/files/file/zakoni/Zakon-o-sluzbi-bs.pdf |access-date=2024-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618222544/http://www.mod.gov.ba/files/file/zakoni/Zakon-o-sluzbi-bs.pdf |archive-date=2024-06-18 |ref = {{harvid|Law on Service in the Armed Forces of B&H }} }}
• {{cite web |author1= |language=Ukrainian |title=Zakon Ukrainy vid 04.06.2020 № 680-IX. Pro vnesennia zmin do deiakykh zakonodavchykh aktiv Ukrainy shchodo viiskovykh zvan viiskovosluzhbovtsiv |trans-title=Law of Ukraine dated 04.06.2020 No. 680-IX. On amendments to some legislative acts of Ukraine regarding the military ranks of military personnel |date=2020 |publisher=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/680-20?lang=en#Text |access-date=2024-07-04 |ref = {{harvid|Law of Ukraine dated 04.06.2020 No. 680-IX }} }}
• {{cite book |author1= |title=RDFRA submission to the Commission on the Defence Forces |date=January 2021 |publisher=Reserve Defence Force Representative Association |url=https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/135988/689007e7-5e0c-48a1-820e-f2ba51060e0e.pdf#page=null |ref={{SfnRef|RDFRA|2021 }} }}
• {{cite magazine |last= De Barra |first=Ruairi |title=From Aspiration to Action. Exploring New Horizons for the Defence Forces Senior Enlisted Leaders |magazine=Defence Forces review 2022 |date= 2022 |pages=97–104 |url=https://www.military.ie/en/members-area/members-area-files/defence-forces-review-2022-digital.pdf }}

{{refend}}

• {{cite web |url=https://nso.nato.int/nso/nsdd/main/standards/ap-details/3169/EN |id=STANAG 2019 |title=NATO Standard APP-06, NATO Joint Military Symbology (current ed./ver.) |website=nso.nato.int |access-date=2024-06-30 }}
• {{cite web |url=https://nso.nato.int/nso/nsdd/main/standards/ap-details/3319/EN |id=STANAG 2116 |title=NATO Standard APersP-01, NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel (current ed./ver.) |website=nso.nato.int |access-date=2024-06-30 }}

{{-}}

{{NATO}}