Venezuelan military ranks

A new law approved in July 2008 changed the military ranks of Venezuela. The law was sanctioned by Venezuela's National Assembly, in terms of names, functions and commanding regulation of the armed forces.

The main changes are for the General Officer Ranks, with the incorporation of the “Comandante en Jefe” rank, the upgrading of the “General en Jefe/Almirante en Jefe” Rank, and the creation of the “Mayor General/Almirante” Rank.

Even before these legal changes, the Venezuelan Military ranks system were always notably complex and differs a lot from other armies in Latin America. It has 3 types of Non Commissioned Officers: Technical NCO's and Warrant Officers, Professional NCO's and Enlisted NCO's, the largest ever in any military force worldwide.

Comandante en jefe: The new all military leader rank

The office of the Venezuelan military supreme commander has always been held by the President of Venezuela as per constitutional requirements, however with the new law sanctioned in 2008, the “Comandante en Jefe” is not only a function attributed to the executive branch, but is now set to be a military rank equivalent to a Five Stars General or a Marshall. Anybody who gets elected President of Venezuela is incorporated to the military with a full commissioned officer status and will have a uniform.

Chávez retired as Lieutenant Colonel in the Army in 1992, but with this new responsibility he is reinstated in the army and has the right to wear a uniform and distinctive shoulder badge and sleeve insignia. He was also given a sword. This rank holds the direct operational control and command over all armed forces, and is held while he is in the presidential role.

The position is a copy of the one used by Fidel Castro in Cuba, and the design of the shoulder patch are very similar, but not in the shoulder board since Venzuelan military ranks are inspired by German (especially Prussian) military influence.

Officer ranks

Officer Ranks for the Army, Air Force, National Guard and Militia.

For the Army, National Guard, Air Force and the new Bolivarian National Militia, these are the ranks:

• General en Jefe (General in Chief): Military top officer, usually Ministry of Defense and from 2010, Chief of Operations Staff of the National Armed Forces
• Mayor General (Major General): Military forces commander and strategic commander.
• General de Division (Divisional General)
• General de Brigada (Brigade General/Brigadier)
• Coronel (Colonel)
• Teniente Coronel (Lieutenant Colonel)
• Mayor (Major)
• Capitan (Captain)
• Primer Teniente (1st Lieutenant)
• Teniente (2nd Lieutenant/Lieutenant/Sublieutenant)

Army officers' rank insignia are in shoulder boards similar to the German Army.

For the Navy, these are the ranks for officers:

• Almirante en Jefe (Admiral of the Fleet)
• Almirante (Admiral)
• Vicealmirante (Vice Admiral)
• Contralmirantê (Rear Admiral)
• Capitan de Navio (Captain)
• Capitan de Fragata (Commander)
• Capitan de Corbeta (Lieutenant Commander)
• Teniente de Navío (Lieutenant)
• Teniente de Fragata (Lieutenant Junior Grade/Sublieutenant)
• Alferez (Ensign)

Techincal Non-commissioned officers and Warrant officers

Suboficiales Profesionales de Carrera.

These are technical high-ranking non-commissioned personnel and warrant officers, with a technical and professional degree, which are usually assigned to technical positions inside the National Armed Forces and as warrant officers in the different service arms.

Army, National Guard, Air Force and Militia:

• Maestro Técnico Supervisor (Senior Warrant Officer/Regimental Sergeant Major)
• Maestro Técnico (Chief Warrant Officer/Quartermaster Sergeant)
• Maestro Técnico de Primera (First Warrant Officer)
• Maestro Técnico de Segunda (Second Warrant Officer)
• Maestro Técnico de Tercera (Third Warrant Officer)
• Sargento Técnico de Primera (Technical Sergeant 1st Class/Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force)
• Sargento Técnico de Segunda (Technical Sergeant 2nd Class/Command Chief Master Sergeant)
• Sargento Técnico de Tercera (Technical Sergeant 3rd Class/Chief Master Sergeant)

Navy:

• Maestre Supervisor (Supervising Warrant Officer)
• Maestre Mayor (Chief Warrant Officer)
• Maestre Principal (Principal Warrant Officer)
• Maestre Auxiliar (Auxiliary Warrant Officer)
• Maestre Técnico (Technical Warrant Officer)
• Maestre de Primera (Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy)
• Maestre de Segunda (Command Master Chief Petty Officer, Fleet/Force Master Chief Petty Officer)
• Maestre de Tercera (Master Chief Petty Officer)

Professional and enlisted Other Ranks

Enlisted Troop on Professional and Non Professional Level, Venezuelan Army

These are the enlisted and NCO ranks and rates of the National Armed Forces.

Professional NCO's and Petty Officers (Army/Navy/National Guard/National Militia):

• Sargento Supervisor (Supervisor Sergeant/Senior Chief Petty Officer)
• Sargento Ayudante (Adjutant Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer)
• Sargento Mayor de Primera (1st Sergeant Major/Petty Officer 1st Class)
• Sargento Mayor de Segunda (2nd Sergeant Major/Petty Officer 2nd Class)
• Sargento Mayor de Tercera (3rd Sergeant Major/Petty Officer 3rd Class/Staff Sergeant)
• Sargento Primero (Sergeant/Petty Officer 4th Class)
• Sargento Segundo (Junior Sergeant/Petty Officer 5th Class/Lance Sergeant)

Professional NCO's (Air Force):

• Aerotecnico Supervisor (Master Sergeant Supervisor)
• Aerotecnico Ayudante (Adjutant Master Sergeant)
• Aerotecnico Mayor (Master Sergeant)
• Aerotecnico de Primera (Flight Sergeant)
• Aerotecnico de Segunda (Technical Sergeant)
• Aerotecnico de Tercera (Staff Sergeant)
• Aerotecnico (Air Technician/Aircraftman Technician)

Enlisted Ranks(Army/Air Force/National Guard/Militia):

• Cabo Primero (Corporal)
• Cabo Segundo (Lance Corporal/Senior Airman)
• Distinguido (Distinguished Private/Distinguished Airman/Distinguished Guardsman)
• Soldado Raso (Alistado in the Militia) (Basic Private/Airman/Guardsman/Enlisted Private)

Enlisted Rates (Navy):

• Cabo Primero (Leading Seaman)
• Cabo Segundo (Able Seaman)
• Marinero Distinguido (Distinguished Seaman)
• Marinero Raso (Seaman)

Cadet officer ranks

In the 5 military schools of Venezuela, special military ranks are used by officer candidates and aspirants.

See also

• National Armed Forces of Venezuela