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 very 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.[1]

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Philippine Army[2]
 General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Lieutenant Commandant First Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant
 Philippine Air Force[3]
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
 Philippine Marine Corps[4]
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant
Philippine Coast Guard[5]
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet

Enlisted personnel ranks

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

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Philippine Army[2]
Chief master sergeant Senior master sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private first class Private
 Philippine Air Force[3]
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 Seaman apprentice
 Philippine Marine Corps[4]
Chief master sergeant Senior master sergeant Master sergeant First sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private first class Private
Philippine Coast Guard[5]
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 Seaman apprentice
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

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.[6]

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 Officer cadet
Shoulder insignia[7]
(1899–1901)
Sleeve insignia
English Generalissimo/Minister marshal General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Tagalog Heneralisimo/Ministrong mariskal Heneral Tenyente Heneral Komandante Heneral Brigada Heneral Koronel Tenyente koronel Komandante Kapitán Tenyente Alpéres
Spanish Generalísimo/Ministro mariscal General Teniente general General de división General de brigada Coronel Teniente coronel Comandante Capitán Teniente Alférez

Enlisted Personnel
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
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)

The Philippine Army during the Commonwealth period as well as after independence 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.[8]

See also

References
  1. Miller, Alen G. (1993). "National Security". In Ronald E., Dolan (ed.). Philippines: a country study. Area Handbook (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 272. LCCN 92039812. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  2. "Ranks and insignia". army.mil.ph. Philippine Army. Archived from the original on April 28, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  3. "Ranks". paf.mil.ph. Philippine Air Force. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  4. "PMC rank insignia". pmc.navy.mil.ph. Philippine Marine Corps. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  5. "Philippine Coast Guard Basic Training Manual". Annex D-E: Philippine Coast Guard Education Training and Doctrine Command. 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  6. Alvarez, Santiago V. (1992). The Katipunan and the Revolution: Memoirs of a General : with the Original Tagalog Text. Ateneo University Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-971-550-077-7.
  7. "Infographic: Army of the First Philippine Republic". malacanang.gov.ph. Presidential Museum and Library. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  8. "Commonwealth Act No. 1 | GOVPH".
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