# Military ranks of Brazil

The military ranks of Brazil are the military insignia used by the Brazilian Armed Forces. The insignia and ranks of the Brazilian military are defined by Act no. 6880 of December 9, 1980.
Air Force ranks date from 1941, when the Brazilian Air Force was organized as a merger of the Navy's Aeronaval Force and the Army's Aviation Service.

## Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
The shoulder epaulette pads from Navy and Air Force indicate both rank and specialty branch. The air force examples below are shown without branch designation marks on the epaulettes, with the exception of the ranks of Marshal of the Air Force and Air Chief Marshal, which can only be occupied by aviators. Army shoulder pads do not represent branch, as this is indicated elsewhere in the uniform like on the cuff and sleeves of the dress and everyday uniforms.
The Military Police alongside the Military Firefighters Corps are classed as an auxiliary and reserve forces of the Army and thus carry insignia similar to that service. Another important point to mention is that police forces are subordinate to the governors of their respective states. As a result, the structure of their insignias follows that of the Brazilian Army. However, each state has its own legislation, regulations regarding insignias, uniforms, historical uniforms, and teaching academies for both NCOs and COs.
| 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 |
| Brazilian Army vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Army vte | Marechal | Marechal | General de exército | General de exército | General de divisão | General de divisão | General de brigada | General de brigada | | | Coronel | Coronel | Tenente-coronel | Tenente-coronel | Major | Major | Capitão | Capitão | Primeiro tenente | Primeiro tenente | Primeiro tenente | Segundo tenente | Segundo tenente | Segundo tenente |
| Brazilian Navy vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Navy vte | Almirante | Almirante | Almirante de esquadra | Almirante de esquadra | Vice-almirante | Vice-almirante | Contra-almirante | Contra-almirante | | | Capitão de mar e guerra | Capitão de mar e guerra | Capitão de fragata | Capitão de fragata | Capitão de corveta | Capitão de corveta | Capitão-tenente | Capitão-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Segundo-tenente | Segundo-tenente | Segundo-tenente |
| Brazilian Marine Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Marine Corps vte | | | Almirante-de-esquadra fuzileiro naval | Almirante-de-esquadra fuzileiro naval | Vice-almirante fuzileiro naval | Vice-almirante fuzileiro naval | Contra-almirante fuzileiro naval | Contra-almirante fuzileiro naval | | | Capitão-de-Mar-e-Guerra fuzileiro naval | Capitão-de-Mar-e-Guerra fuzileiro naval | Capitão-de-Fragata fuzileiro naval | Capitão-de-Fragata fuzileiro naval | Capitão-de-corveta fuzileiro naval | Capitão-de-corveta fuzileiro naval | Capitão-tenente fuzileiro naval | Capitão-tenente fuzileiro naval | Primeiro-tenente fuzileiro naval | Primeiro-tenente fuzileiro naval | Primeiro-tenente fuzileiro naval | Segundo-tenente fuzileiro naval | Segundo-tenente fuzileiro naval | Segundo-tenente fuzileiro naval |
| Brazilian Air Force vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Air Force vte | Marechal-do-ar | Marechal-do-ar | Tenente-brigadeiro do Ar | Tenente-brigadeiro do Ar | Major-brigadeiro | Major-brigadeiro | Brigadeiro | Brigadeiro | | | Coronel | Coronel | Tenente-coronel | Tenente-coronel | Major | Major | Capitão | Capitão | Primeiro-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Segundo-tenente | Segundo-tenente | Segundo-tenente |
| Brazilian Military Police vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Military Police vte | | | | | | | | | | | Coronel | Coronel | Tenente-coronel | Tenente-coronel | Major | Major | Capitão | Capitão | Primeiro tenente | Primeiro tenente | Primeiro tenente | Segundo tenente | Segundo tenente | Segundo tenente |
| Military Firefighters Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Military Firefighters Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | Coronel | Coronel | Tenente-coronel | Tenente-coronel | Major | Major | Capitão | Capitão | Primeiro tenente | Primeiro tenente | Primeiro tenente | Segundo tenente | Segundo tenente | Segundo tenente |
| 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 |

### Police force and firefighter corps commanders and chiefs

The highest commander of the police force is the governor. Since it serves as an auxiliary force to the army, the highest rank attainable is that of colonel. However, there are special ranks designated for military commanders within the police. These positions are appointed by each governor and are exclusively assigned to senior officers, most of whom are colonels.
The design of insignias may vary from state to state, and in some states, certain positions may or may not include a distinction in rank design.
| Rank | Colonel | Colonel | Colonel | Colonel | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major |
| Brazilian Military Police | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Military Police | Comandante geral | Governor military cabinet chief | Deputy general commander/ Chief of Staff | Chief of Staff Or Deputy Chief of Staff | Colonel in the role of military court judge | Governor military cabinet chief/ Interim | Governor military cabinet chief/ Interim | Governor military cabinet chief |
| Military Firefighters Corps | | | | |
| Military Firefighters Corps | Comandante Geral | | Deputy general commander | Chief of Staff |

### Rank flags

* Rank
* Brazilian Army
* Brazilian Navy
* Brazilian Air Force

### Student officers

Each branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces has its own institutions for training commissioned officers (COs) and non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The academies responsible for officer training in each branch are:
* Army: Military Academy of Agulhas Negras (AMAN), Army Engineering Institute (IME), Reserve Officer Training Organizations [pt] (NPOR/CPOR), Army School of Health and Complementary Training [pt] (ESFCEx/EsFCEx) (Which also houses the Military Chaplains School for the Army), and the Army School of Physical Education [pt] (EsEFEx).
* Navy: Naval School (EN) and Admiral Wandenkolk Training Center (CIAW).
* Air Force: Brazilian Air Force Academy (AFA) and Reserve Officer Training Organizations [pt] (CPORAER).
For police forces, each state has its own academies; however, the most famous is the Barro Branco Academy [pt] (APMBB) in the state of São Paulo.
| Rank group | Special Student Grade | Junior officer | Student officer/Cadets | Student officer/Cadets | Student officer/Cadets | Student officer/Cadets | Student officer/Cadets | Student officer/Cadets |
| Rank group | Special Student Grade | Junior officer | 5th year | 5th year | 4th year | 3rd year | 2nd year | 1st year |
| IME | | Aspirante a Oficial | | | | | | |
| IME | | Aspirante a Oficial | Aluno do 5° ano de ativa | Aluno do 5° ano da reserva | Aluno do 4° ano | Aluno do 3° ano | Aluno do 2° ano | Aluno do 1° ano |
| AMAN | | Aspirante a Oficial | | | | | | |
| AMAN | | Aspirante a Oficial | | | Cadete do 4° ano | Cadete do 3° ano | Cadete do 2° ano | Cadete do 1° ano |
| CPOR | | Aspirante a Oficial | | | | | | |
| Aluno CPOR ||||
| EsFCEx | | | | | | | | |
| EsFCEx | Primeiro-Tenente Aluno (Sleeve) | | | | | | | |
| EN | | | | | | | Aspirante do 2° ano | Aspirante do 1° ano |
| EN | | Guarda-Marinha | | | Aspirante do 4° ano | Aspirante do 3° ano | Aspirante do 2° ano | Aspirante do 1° ano |
| EN | | Guarda-Marinha (Marines) | | | Aspirante do 4° ano (Marines) | Aspirante do 3° ano (Marines) | Aspirante do 2° ano | Aspirante do 1° ano |
| AFA | | Aspirante | | | | | | |
| AFA | | Aspirante | | | Cadete 4° ano | Cadete 3° ano | Cadete 2° ano | Cadete 1° ano |
| CPORaer | | Aspirante | | | | | | |
| CPORaer | | Aspirante | | | | | Aluno 2° periodo | Aluno 1° periodo |
| Brazilian Military Police | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Military Police | | Aspirante a oficial | | | Aluno-oficial 4° ano (APMBB) | Aluno-oficial 3° ano (APMBB) | Aluno-oficial 2° ano (APMBB) | Aluno-oficial 1° ano (APMBB) |
| Military Firefighters Corps | | | | | | | | |
| Military Firefighters Corps | | Aspirante | | | | Aluno-oficial 3° ano | Aluno-oficial 2° ano | Aluno-oficial 1° ano |
| Rank group | Special Student Grade | Junior officer | 5th year | 5th year | 4th year | 3rd year | 2nd year | 1st year |
| Student officer/Cadets ||||||

#### Preparatory school

The Brazilian system includes a preparatory stage before entering the military academy. Known as preparatory schools, students who graduate from these institutions are guaranteed access to their respective academies, as follows:
* Army: Brazilian Army Preparatory School of Cadets (EsPCEx) (1 year) provides a guaranteed place at AMAN.
* Navy: Naval College [pt] (CN) (3 years, combined with high school) provides a guaranteed place at EN.
* Air Force: Preparatory School for Air Cadets [pt] (EPCAr) (3 years, combined with high school) provides a guaranteed place at AFA.
| Rank group | Cadets (preparatory schools) | Cadets (preparatory schools) | Cadets (preparatory schools) |
| EsPCEx | | | |
| Aluno EsPCEx |||
| EPCAr | | | |
| EPCAr | Aluno EPCAR 3°Ano | Aluno EPCAR 2°Ano | Aluno EPCAR 1°Ano |
| CN | | | |
| CN | Aluno CN 3° Ano | Aluno CN 2° Ano | Aluno CN 1° Ano |

## Non-commissioned Officers

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 |
| Brazilian Army vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Army vte | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | | | | | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Taifeiro-mor | Taifeiro-mor | Cabo | Cabo | | | Taifeiro primeira classe | Taifeiro primeira classe | Taifeiro primeira classe | Taifeiro primeira classe | Taifeiro primeira classe | Taifeiro primeira classe | Taifeiro segunda classe | Soldado |
| Brazilian Navy vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Navy vte | Suboficial | Suboficial | Suboficial | Suboficial | Suboficial | Suboficial | | | | | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Cabo | Cabo | Cabo | Cabo | | | Marinheiro | Marinheiro | Marinheiro | Marinheiro | Marinheiro | Marinheiro | | |
| Brazilian Marine Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Marine Corps vte | Suboficial fuzileiro naval | Suboficial fuzileiro naval | Suboficial fuzileiro naval | Suboficial fuzileiro naval | Suboficial fuzileiro naval | Suboficial fuzileiro naval | | | | | Primeiro-sargento fuzileiro naval | Primeiro-sargento fuzileiro naval | Primeiro-sargento fuzileiro naval | Primeiro-sargento fuzileiro naval | Primeiro-sargento fuzileiro naval | Primeiro-sargento fuzileiro naval | Segundo-sargento fuzileiro naval | Segundo-sargento fuzileiro naval | Segundo-sargento fuzileiro naval | Terceiro-sargento fuzileiro naval | Terceiro-sargento fuzileiro naval | Terceiro-sargento fuzileiro naval | Cabo fuzileiro naval | Cabo fuzileiro naval | Cabo fuzileiro naval | Cabo fuzileiro naval | | | Soldado fuzileiro naval | Soldado fuzileiro naval | Soldado fuzileiro naval | Soldado fuzileiro naval | Soldado fuzileiro naval | Soldado fuzileiro naval | | |
| Brazilian Air Force vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Air Force vte | Suboficial | Suboficial | Suboficial | Suboficial | Suboficial | Suboficial | | | | | Primeiro-Sargento | Primeiro-Sargento | Primeiro-Sargento | Primeiro-Sargento | Primeiro-Sargento | Primeiro-Sargento | Segundo-Sargento | Segundo-Sargento | Segundo-Sargento | Terceiro-Sargento | Terceiro-Sargento | Terceiro-Sargento | Cabo | Cabo | Taifeiro-mor | Taifeiro-mor | | | Soldado | Soldado | Soldado | Taifeiro primeira classe | Taifeiro primeira classe | Taifeiro primeira classe | Soldado segunda classe | Taifeiro segunda classe |
| Brazilian Military Police vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Military Police vte | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | | | | | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Cabo | Cabo | Cabo | Cabo | | | Soldado primeira classe | Soldado primeira classe | Soldado primeira classe | Soldado primeira classe | Soldado primeira classe | Soldado primeira classe | Soldado segunda classe | Soldado segunda classe |
| Military Firefighters Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Military Firefighters Corps vte | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | Subtenente | | | | | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Primeiro-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Cabo | Cabo | Cabo | Cabo | | | Bombeiro primeira classe | Bombeiro primeira classe | Bombeiro primeira classe | Bombeiro primeira classe | Bombeiro primeira classe | Bombeiro primeira classe | Bombeiro segunda classe | Bombeiro segunda classe |
| 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 |

### Students non-commissioned officers

Future NCOs are not classified as Cadets but rather as Students (Aluno in PT). Additionally, the term "Student" is followed by the rank for which they are being trained. For example, for corporals: Student-Corporal; and for sergeants: Student-Sergeant.
The academies responsible for NCO training in each branch are:
* Army: ESA (The course lasts for two years, and graduates are commissioned as Third Sergeants
* Navy: EAM and CIAA (It lasts 2 months to be a Sergeant, but you must have completed the Apprentice (11 months) and Corporal (4 Months) courses beforehand to be eligible).
* Air Force: EEAR(The course lasts for two years, and graduates are commissioned as Third Sergeants).
For police forces, each state has its own academies. In São Paulo State, the Escola Superior de Sargentos (ESSgt) can be translated as Sergeants' Advanced School or Higher School for Sergeants.
It is worth mentioning that there are other courses for training sergeants and corporals, as well as advanced training courses. One of these courses is the CFST (Temporary Sergeant Training Course), which allows the NCO to remain in an active military career for a maximum of 8 years.
Students who graduate from sergeant courses can attain the positions of Sub-Lieutenant (in the army or police) or Sub-Officer (in Navy, Air Force and Marines). However, depending on the NCO's performance and additional courses completed, they may rise to the rank of Captain.
| Rank group | Sargeants candidates | Sargeants candidates | Sargeants candidates | Sargeants candidates | Corporal candidates | Corporal candidates | Soldier candidates | Soldier candidates |
| Brazilian Army | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Army | Sargento-Aluno (ESA) 2°Ano | Sargento-Aluno (ESA) 2°Ano | Aluno-Sargento (ESA) 1°Ano | Aluno-Sargento (ESA) 1°Ano | | | Atirador (Tiro de Guerra) | Atirador (Tiro de Guerra) |
| Brazilian Army | Sargento-Aluno (CFST) | Sargento-Aluno (CFST) | Aluno-Sargento (CFST) | Aluno-Sargento (CFST) | Cabo-Aluno (CFC) | Aluno-Cabo (CFC) | |
| Brazilian Air Force | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Air Force | Aluno 4° Período (EEAR) | Aluno 3° Período (EEAR) | Aluno 2° Período (EEAR) | Aluno 1° Período (EEAR) | | | Aluno-Taifeiro | Aluno-Taifeiro |
| Brazilian Military Police | | | | | | | | |
| Brazilian Military Police | Aluno-Sargento (Essgt) (SP) | Aluno-Sargento (ES) | Aluno-Sargento (SC) | Aluno-Sargento (SC) | Aluno-Cabo (SC) | Aluno-Cabo (SC) | | |
| Military Firefighters Corps | | | | | | | | |
| Military Firefighters Corps | Aluno-Sargento (PB) | | | | Aluno-Cabo (PB) | Aluno-Cabo (PB) | Aluno-Soldado (PB) | Aluno-Soldado (PR) |

## Generalissimo

On January 15, 1890, Deodoro da Fonseca was acclaimed by the troops as "Generalíssimo Comandante das Forças de Terra e Mar" (Generalissimo Commandant of the Forces of Land and Sea), thus becoming the only "six-star general officer" in Brazil.