Military ranks of the Philippines

The Military ranks of Philippines are the military insignia used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Introduction

The current Philippine military ranks are inspired partially by the 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.

Current ranks

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.

Officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OF/Philippines (Marine Corps)Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OF/Philippines (PCG)

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Philippines (Edit)	No Equivalent					Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Commandant	Lieutenant Commandant	First Lieutenant	Sub-Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant	Unknown
	No Equivalent	Heneral	Tenyente Heneral	Magat Heneral	Brigadyer Heneral	Lakan	Kalakan	Magat	Kamagat	Pulimagat	Himagat	Unknown
Philippines Air Force
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Philippine Navy
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant junior grade			Ensign
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers

Enlisted personnel ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Philippines (Marine Corps)Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Philippines (PCG)

Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4		OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Philippines (Edit)																											No equivalent
	Chief Master Sergeant			Senior Master Sergeant			Master Sergeant		Technical Sergeant		Staff Sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal						Private First Class						Private
Philippines Air Force
	Chief master sergeant			Senior master sergeant			Master sergeant		Technical sergeant		Staff sergeant						Sergeant						Airman first class						Airman second class						Airman
Philippine Navy
	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						Apprentice seaman

Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4		OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Senior appointments

Rank group	Senior appointment
Philippines Army
		First chief master sergeant
Philippines Air Force
		First chief master sergeant
Philippine Navy
	First command master chief petty officer	Command master chief petty officer
Philippines Marines
	First command sergeant major	Command sergeant major

Historic ranks

Revolutionary Army ranks

Main article: Philippine Revolutionary Army

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.

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.

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Shoulder insignia (1899–1901)
Sleeve insignia
English	Generalissimo/Minister marshal		Captain general		Lieutenant general		Divisional general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Commandant		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Tagalog	Heneralisimo/Ministrong mariskal		Kapitán heneral		Tenyente Heneral		Komandante Heneral		Brigada Heneral		Koronel		Tenyente koronel		Komandante		Kapitán		Tenyente			Alpéres
Spanish	Generalísimo/Ministro mariscal		Capitán general		Teniente general		General de división		General de brigada		Coronel		Teniente coronel		Comandante		Capitán		1er teniente			2° teniente

Enlisted Personnel

Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4		OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Sleeve insignia
English											Sergeant																Corporal		Private						Civil guardsman first class	Civil guardsman
Tagalog											Sarhento																Kabo		Pribato
Spanish											Sargento																Cabo		Privato

Rank insignia during the Commonwealth and immediate independence period (until 1954)

Army and Air Force

The Philippine Army during the Commonwealth period as well as after independence - as well as the Air Force beginning 1947 - used essentially the same rank insignias as the United States Army.^{[citation needed]} The main difference is the addition of a rank named third lieutenant and the five-star rank of Field Marshal.

Officer

10th Grade	9th Grade	8th Grade	7th Grade	6th Grade	5th Grade	4th Grade	3rd Grade	2nd Grade	1st Grade
General	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	First Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant
GEN	LTG	MG	BG	COL	LTC	MAJ	CPT	1LT	2LT

Enlisted

US DoD Pay Grade	E-9				E-8			E-7			E-6		E-5		E-4		E-3		E-2	E-1
From 1935	No equivalent																			No insignia
								Master sergeant			First sergeant	Technical sergeant	Staff sergeant		Sergeant		Corporal		Private first class	Private
September 1942	No equivalent																			No insignia
								First sergeant	Master sergeant		Technical sergeant		Staff sergeant	Technician 3rd grade	Sergeant	Technician 4th grade	Corporal	Technician 5th grade	Private first class	Private
August 1948	No equivalent																		No insignia	No insignia
								First sergeant Combat and noncombat	Master sergeant Combat and noncombat		Sergeant first class Combat and noncombat		Sergeant Combat and noncombat		Corporal Combat and noncombat		Private first class Combat and noncombat		Private	Recruit
February 1951	No equivalent																		No insignia	No insignia
								First sergeant	Master sergeant		Sergeant first class		Sergeant		Corporal		Private first class		Private	Recruit

See also

• Cadet rank in the Philippines
• Armed Forces of the Philippines