# Military ranks of the Philippines

"none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
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.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| Philippine Army vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Philippine Army vte | | | General | General | Lieutenant general | Lieutenant general | Major general | Major general | Brigadier general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Major | Captain | Captain | First lieutenant | First lieutenant | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
| Philippine Air Force vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Philippine Air Force vte | | | General | General | Lieutenant general | Lieutenant general | Major general | Major general | Brigadier general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Major | Captain | Captain | First lieutenant | First lieutenant | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
| Philippine Navy vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Philippine Navy vte | | | Admiral | Admiral | Vice admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | Commodore | Captain | Captain | Commander | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Lieutenant junior grade | Lieutenant junior grade | Lieutenant junior grade | Ensign | Ensign | Ensign |
| Philippine Marine Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Philippine Marine Corps vte | | | General | General | Lieutenant general | Lieutenant general | Major general | Major general | Brigadier general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Major | Captain | Captain | First lieutenant | First lieutenant | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
| Philippine Coast Guard vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Philippine Coast Guard vte | | | Admiral | Admiral | Vice admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | Commodore | Captain | Captain | Commander | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Ensign | Ensign | Ensign |
| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |

### Enlisted personnel ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| Philippine Army vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Philippine Army vte | Chief master sergeant | Chief master sergeant | Chief master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Master sergeant | Master sergeant | Technical sergeant | Technical sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | | | Private first class | Private first class | Private first class | Private first class | Private first class | Private first class | Private | Private |
| Philippine Air Force vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Philippine Air Force vte | Chief master sergeant | Chief master sergeant | Chief master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Master sergeant | Master sergeant | Technical sergeant | Technical sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Airman first class | Airman first class | Airman first class | Airman first class | | | Airman second class | Airman second class | Airman second class | Airman second class | Airman second class | Airman second class | Airman | Airman |
| Philippine Navy vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Philippine Navy vte | Master chief petty officer | Master chief petty officer | Master chief petty officer | Senior chief petty officer | Senior chief petty officer | Senior chief petty officer | Chief petty officer | Chief petty officer | Petty officer, first class | Petty officer, first class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, third class | Petty officer, third class | Petty officer, third class | Petty officer, third class | Petty officer, third class | Petty officer, third class | Seaman first class | Seaman first class | Seaman first class | Seaman first class | | | Seaman second class | Seaman second class | Seaman second class | Seaman second class | Seaman second class | Seaman second class | Apprentice seaman | Apprentice seaman |
| Philippine Marine Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Philippine Marine Corps vte | Chief master sergeant | Chief master sergeant | Chief master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Master sergeant | Master sergeant | Technical sergeant | Technical sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | | | Private first class | Private first class | Private first class | Private first class | Private first class | Private first class | Private | Private |
| Philippine Coast Guard vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Philippine Coast Guard vte | Master chief petty officer | Master chief petty officer | Master chief petty officer | Senior chief petty officer | Senior chief petty officer | Senior chief petty officer | Chief petty officer | Chief petty officer | Petty officer, first class | Petty officer, first class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, second class | Petty officer, third class | Petty officer, third class | Petty officer, third class | Petty officer, third class | Petty officer, third class | Petty officer, third class | Seaman first class | Seaman first class | Seaman first class | Seaman first class | | | Seaman second class | Seaman second class | Seaman second class | Seaman second class | Seaman second class | Seaman second class | Seaman apprentice | Seaman apprentice |
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |

#### Senior appointments

| Rank group | Senior appointment | Senior appointment |
| Philippine Army | | |
| Philippine Army | | First chief master sergeant |
| Philippine Air Force | | |
| Philippine Air Force | | First chief master sergeant |
| Philippine Navy | | |
| Philippine Navy | First command master chief petty officer | Command master chief petty officer |
| Philippine Marine Corps | | |
| Philippine Marine Corps | First command sergeant major | Command sergeant major |

## Historic ranks
### Revolutionary Army ranks

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

#### Enlisted Personnel

| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| Sleeve insignia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| English | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Corporal | Private | Private | Private | Private | Private | Private | Civil guardsman first class | Civil guardsman |
| Tagalog | Sarhento | Sarhento | Sarhento | Sarhento | Sarhento | Sarhento | Kabo | Kabo | Pribato | Pribato | Pribato | Pribato | Pribato | Pribato | | |
| Spanish | Sargento | Sargento | Sargento | Sargento | Sargento | Sargento | Cabo | Cabo | Privato | Privato | Privato | Privato | Privato | 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. 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-9 | E-9 | E-9 | E-8 | E-8 | E-8 | E-7 | E-7 | E-7 | E-6 | E-6 | E-5 | E-5 | E-4 | E-4 | E-3 | E-3 | E-2 | E-1 |
| From 1935 | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| From 1935 | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | Master sergeant | Master sergeant | Master sergeant | First sergeant | Technical sergeant | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Corporal | Private first class | Private |
| September 1942 | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| September 1942 | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | First sergeant | Master sergeant | Master sergeant | Technical 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 equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| August 1948 | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | First sergeant Combat and noncombat | Master sergeant Combat and noncombat | Master sergeant Combat and noncombat | Sergeant first class Combat and noncombat | Sergeant first class Combat and noncombat | Sergeant Combat and noncombat | Sergeant Combat and noncombat | Corporal Combat and noncombat | Corporal Combat and noncombat | Private first class Combat and noncombat | Private first class Combat and noncombat | Private | Recruit |
| February 1951 | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| February 1951 | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | First sergeant | Master sergeant | Master sergeant | Sergeant first class | Sergeant first class | Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Corporal | Private first class | Private first class | Private | Recruit |