The complete guide to all UK military ranks

Introduction

The British Armed Forces—comprising the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force (RAF)—are among the most respected military organisations in the world. Each branch has its own rank structure, which defines authority, responsibility, and career progression.

In this guide, we’ll break down UK military ranks, explain their roles, and show how they compare across the Army, Navy, and RAF.

If you’re interested in a military career, understanding the UK military ranks will be very helpful in mapping out where you want to end up and how long it might take. Don’t worry; if you’re simply curious about how the British Armed Forces ranks are organised, by the end of this guide you too will understand all you need to know.

Overview of rank structure

Commissioned Officers vs Other Ranks (OR)

The UK military ranks divides personnel into two main categories:

• Commissioned Officers: These are the leaders responsible for strategy, command, and decision-making. Their authority is granted through a commission (hence the name), a formal document of appointment signed by the monarch.
• Other Ranks (OR): Includes Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and enlisted personnel who execute orders and manage day-to-day operations within the British Armed Forces.

The biggest difference between commissioned officers and other UK military ranks is that a commissioned officer has a much higher level of authority over other service members. They are at the top of the hierarchy, so you probably wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of them.

NATO codes

Ever wondered what those little abbreviations like OF-3 or OR-7 mean? They’re called NATO rank codes, and they exist to create a standardised system for comparing military ranks across different countries in the NATO alliance. This is incredibly helpful because while titles like “Captain” or “Commander” vary between nations, the NATO code ensures everyone knows the equivalent level of authority and responsibility.

In this blog, we’ve placed the NATO code in brackets next to the UK military ranks so you can easily see how they align internationally.

British Army ranks

Officer Ranks

• Officer cadet – Rank held during initial officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst or in the University Officers’ Training Corps.
• Second Lieutenant (OF-1) – Entry-level officer. After completing your training, you will be responsible for a platoon or troop of up to 30 soldiers.
• Lieutenant (OF-1) – Increased responsibilities from being a Second Lieutenant in commanding a platoon or troop. At this point you will have the opportunity to gain specialised skills outside your corp or regiment.
• Captain (OF-2) – Command a company (or squadron). They are normally second in command of the company and play a key role in taking care of the group through being responsible for logistics to ground operations.This position is normally held for 5 to 10 years.
• Major (OF-3) – Typically command a subunit.
• Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4) – Commands a battalion or regiment of up to 650 soldiers.
• Colonel (OF-5) – Serve as senior advisors to senior officers and may occasionally serve as field commanders or task force commanders.
• Brigadier (OF-6) – Normally commands a brigade but can undertake an operational director role such as director of staff.
• Major General (OF-7) – Division-level command.
• Lieutenant General (OF-8) – Corps-level command. An officer of this rank can hold very high-ranking positions in the MoD.
• General (OF-9) – A general holds the most senior operational duties, such as Chief of Defence Staff.
• Field Marshal (OF-10) – An honorary rank, serving as the highest rank in the British Army since 1736. The last active officer to be promoted to the rank was in 1994.

Other Ranks

• Warrant Officer Class 1 (OR-9) – Most senior soldier rank. Responsible for leadership, discipline and welfare in their regiment or battalion.
• Warrant Officer Class 2 (OR-8) – Senior management role often referred to as ‘Sergeant Major’. Responsible for a ‘subunit’ of around 120 soldiers and they could also be selected for a commission as an officer.
• Staff Sergeant (OR-7) – Known as colour sergeant in infantry. These guys often serve in technical or command roles, helping to train and discipline a subunit.
• Sergeant (OR-6) – Typically second in command of a troop or platoon (around 30 soldiers). Their primary role is to act as an advisor and assist the platoon/troop commander, who is a junior officer.
• Corporal (OR-4) – Command sections of around 8 to 10 people. They usually are responsible for large pieces of equipment. At this rank, you can choose to gain additional qualifications, for example, to become a recruit section commander.
• Lance Corporal (OR-3) – A Lance Corporal commands a team of around 4. At this stage, you will have the opportunity to choose how you wish to specialise and undergo the subsequent required training.
• Private (OR-1) – After you’ve aced your basic training, you start as a private. Depending on the corps or regiment in which you serve, your title will differ – ‘Rifleman’, ‘Gunner’, ‘Sapper’, and the list goes on.

(Click here to go to the official British Army ranks page)

Royal Navy ranks

Officer ranks

• Midshipman (OF-1) – Entry-level officer rank while training at Britannia Royal Naval College.
• Lieutenant (OF-2) – Achieved after around 30 months of service; responsible for leading a division on board.
• Lieutenant Commander (OF-3) – Heads a department or serves as Executive Officer (XO)/Commanding Officer (CO) on smaller vessels.
• Commander (OF-4) – May command a warship, submarine, or squadron; also serves in senior staff roles at MoD.
• Captain (OF-5) – Commands a large ship or holds senior strategic positions ashore.
• Commodore (OF-6) – Oversees a flotilla or large naval establishment; senior leadership role.
• Rear Admiral (OF-7) – Responsible for major operational commands; flies their own flag at sea.
• Vice Admiral (OF-8) – Senior leadership, often involved in defence policy and high-level planning.
• Admiral (OF-9) – Highest operational rank, equivalent to a General in the Army.

Fun fact:

While Admiral may be the official highest Royal Navy UK military rank level, the Admiral of the Fleet still exists. While it once marked the pinnacle for serving officers, routine promotions stopped in 1996. Today, it’s reserved for honorary appointments, often given to senior retired officers or members of the Royal Family.

The rank carries a five-star NATO rank code of OF-10.

Other ranks

• Able Rate (OR-2) – Entry-level sailor after completing basic training; performs core duties on board.
• Leading Hand (OR-4) – Supervises a small team of Able Rates; first step into leadership.
• Petty Officer (OR-6) – Senior Rating responsible for sections within a department; technical expertise required.
• Chief Petty Officer (OR-7) – Highly experienced, provides leadership and technical guidance to junior sailors and is expected to assist Officers as they rely on your skills.
• Warrant Officer 2 (OR-8) – Senior technical specialist and leader within their branch.
• Warrant Officer 1 (OR-9) – The highest non-commissioned rank; acts as a key link between officers and ratings, advising on discipline and standards.

(Click here to go the official Royal Navy ranks page)

Royal Air Force (RAF) ranks

Officer ranks

• Pilot Officer (OF-1) – Entry-level commissioned officer rank, typically after completing initial officer training.
• Flying Officer (OF-1) – Junior officer rank, often responsible for small teams or specialist duties.
• Flight Lieutenant (OF-2) – Commands a flight or serves as a deputy in a squadron; similar to an Army Captain.
• Squadron Leader (OF-3) – Leads a squadron or holds senior staff roles; equivalent to an Army Major.
• Wing Commander (OF-4) – Commands a wing or serves in high-level staff positions.
• Group Captain (OF-5) – Senior officer rank, often in charge of a large station or operational group.
• Air Commodore (OF-6) – Commands large formations or holds senior strategic roles; first “Air Officer” rank.
• Air Vice-Marshal (OF-7) – Senior leadership role, often responsible for major operational areas.
• Air Marshal (OF-8) – High-level command, often involved in strategic planning and defence policy.
• Air Chief Marshal (OF-9) – The most senior operational ranks, overseeing entire branches of the RAF.
• Marshal of the RAF (OF-10) – The highest rank in the RAF, now honorary; equivalent to a Field Marshal in the Army.

Non-Commissioned Aircrew

• RAF Sergeant Aircrew (OR-6) – Experienced aircrew member with leadership responsibilities.
• RAF Flight Sergeant Aircrew (OR-7) – Senior non-commissioned aircrew rank, providing advanced operational expertise.
• RAF Master Aircrew (OR-9) – The most senior non-commissioned aircrew rank, advising on tactics and training.

Other rank

• Air Specialist (Class 2) (OR-1) – Entry-level trade specialist after basic training.
• Air Specialist (Class 1) (OR-2) – More experienced specialist with additional responsibilities.
• Air Specialist (Class 1) Technician (OR-3) – Technical specialist role requiring advanced training.
• Lance Corporal RAF Regiment (OR-3) – Junior leader within the RAF Regiment, responsible for small teams.
• Corporal (OR-4) – Supervises a small team and provides technical or operational leadership.
• Sergeant (OR-6) – Experienced NCO, often responsible for training and discipline within a section.
• Chief Technician (OR-7) – Senior technical specialist, often in engineering or maintenance roles.
• Flight Sergeant (OR-7) – Senior NCO rank, managing large teams and technical operations.
• Warrant Officer (OR-9) – The highest non-commissioned rank, acting as a key advisor to officers and maintaining standards.

(Click here to go the official Royal Air Force ranks page)

UK military ranks Equivalents Across Army, Navy, and RAF

UK Officer Ranks

NATO Code	British Army	Royal Navy	Royal Air Force
OF-1	Second Lieutenant Lieutenant	Midshipman	Pilot Officer Flying Officer
OF-2	Captain	Lieutenant	Flight Lieutenant
OF-3	Major	Lieutenant Commander	Squadron Leader
OF-4	Lieutenant Colonel	Commander	Wing Commander
OF-5	Colonel	Captain	Group Captain
OF-6	Brigadier	Commodore	Air Commodore
OF-7	Major General	Rear Admiral	Air Vice-Marshal
OF-8	Lieutenant General	Vice Admiral	Air Marshal
OF-9	General	Admiral	Air Chief Marshal
OF-10	Field Marshal	Admiral of the Fleet	Marshal of the RAF

UK Other Ranks

NATO Code	British Army	Royal Navy (Ratings)	Royal Air Force
OR-1	Private	—	Air Specialist (Class 2)
OR-2	—	Able Rate	Air Specialist (Class 1)
OR-3	Lance Corporal	—	Air Specialist (Class 1) Technician Lance Corporal (RAF Regiment)
OR-4	Corporal	Leading Hand	Corporal
OR-5	—	—	—
OR-6	Sergeant	Petty Officer	Sergeant Sergeant Aircrew
OR-7	Staff Sergeant / Colour Sergeant	Chief Petty Officer	Chief Technician Flight Sergeant Flight Sergeant Aircrew
OR-8	Warrant Officer Class 2	Warrant Officer 2	—
OR-9	Warrant Officer Class 1	Warrant Officer 1	Warrant Officer Master Aircrew

Conclusion

The UK military ranks follow a system which is a cornerstone of discipline and organisation within our British Armed Forces. Our ranking system is set up to give our military personnel the experience and skills needed to progress and support our military aims.

The only question left is, which rank are you aiming for?

Check out our other blogs here for more intel!