Italian Army ranks

History

Italian Army officers used to wear the ranks on the sleeve, like naval officers. Since 1946, insignia were changed in order to align with NATO regulations. In 1973 the system had the following slight change: the wreath was added to the stars for general officers, instead of the silver epaulette; the crown was added to the stars for field officers, instead of a gold band on the edge of the epaulette; the stars began to be placed near the edge of the epaulette instead of in the center. These changes were mostly intended to make insignia more easily recognizable on the field uniform.

Chart

The chart below represents the Italian Army rank insignia used on the slip-on of winter service uniforms. The color of the uniforms is khaki.^[1]

Officers who are assigned to a position acting in a higher rank than their own wear the insignia of the higher rank but the highest star of the insignia is trimmed in red enamel. Similarly, an officer temporarily assigned to a position attaining a higher rank in the absence of the incumbent officer, wear the star in bronze colour.

As can be seen, the Italian rank system has a large number of junior NCO ranks. Several ranks (which are variations on corporal) have a "chosen" version of the rank, "chosen" having the same sense of "leading", as in the historic British Army appointment of "chosen man" (now called lance-corporal).

Officers

Generals

generale^[2]
General

generale di corpo d'armata^[3]
(tenente generale)
Corps General (Lieutenant general)

generale di divisione
(maggior generale)
Divisional general
(Major general)

generale di brigata
(brigadier generale)
Brigade General
(Brigadier general)

Senior officers

colonnello
Colonel

tenente colonnello
Lieutenant colonel

maggiore
Major

Junior officers

primo capitano
First captain

capitano
Captain

tenente
Lieutenant

sottotenente
Second lieutenant

Sub-officers

Marshals

primo maresciallo luogotenente
First Marshal Lieutenant
(sub-officers)
NATO Eq.: OR-9, Warrant officer/Sergeant Major of the Army

primo maresciallo
Transl.: First marshal
NATO Eq.: OR-9, Command Sergeant Major

maresciallo capo
Transl.: Chief marshal
NATO Eq.: OR-9, Sergeant major

maresciallo ordinario
Transl.: Ordinary marshal
NATO Eq.: OR-8, First sergeant

maresciallo
Transl.: Marshal
NATO Eq.: OR-8, Master sergeant

Sergeants


sergente maggiore capo Transl.: Chief sergeant major NATO Eq.: OR-7, Sergeant first class	sergente maggiore Transl.: Sergeant-major (paratrooper) NATO Eq.: OR-6, Staff sergeant	sergente maggiore Transl.: Sergeant-major NATO Eq.: OR-6, Staff sergeant	sergente Transl.: Sergeant (paratrooper) NATO Eq.: OR-5, Sergeant	sergente Transl.: Sergeant NATO Eq.: OR-5, Sergeant

Ratings

Permanent service volunteers


caporalmaggiore capo scelto Transl.: Senior Chief Corporal-Major NATO Eq.: OR-4, Corporal/Lance sergeant	caporalmaggiore capo Transl.: Chief Corporal-Major NATO Eq.: OR-4, Corporal/Master corporal	caporale maggiore scelto Transl.: Senior Corporal-Major NATO Eq.: OR-4, Corporal	primo caporalmaggiore Transl.: First Corporal-Major NATO Eq.: OR-4, Corporal/Lance corporal

Enlisted

Temporary service volunteers


caporalmaggiore Transl.: Corporal-Major (paratrooper) NATO Eq.: OR-3, Private first class	caporalmaggiore Transl.: Corporal-Major NATO Eq.: OR-3, Private first class


caporale Transl.: Corporal (paratrooper) NATO Equivalent rank: OR-2, Private	caporale Translation: Corporal NATO Equivalent rank: OR-2, Private	(no insignia) soldato Soldier (Private or Recruit)

STANAG 2116 ranking

Officers

NATO Code

OF-10

OF-9

OF-8

OF-7

OF-6

OF-5

OF-4

OF-3

OF-2

OF-1

OF(D)

Student Officer

Italy
(Edit)


primo capitano	capitano

No equivalent

Generale
(Chief of Defense Staff only)

Generale di Corpo d'Armata con Incarichi Speciali
(Chief of Army General Staff)

Generale di Corpo d'Armata
(Tenente Generale)

Generale di Divisione
(Maggior Generale)

Generale di Brigata
(Brigadier Generale)

Colonnello

Tenente Colonnello

Maggiore

Tenente

Sottotenente

Allievo Ufficiale

Abbreviation

Gen.

Gen.CSMD Gen.CSME

Gen.CdA

Gen.Div.

Gen.Brig.

Col.

Ten.Col.

Magg.

Pr.Cap Cap.

Ten.

S.Ten.

Before 1947 generale d'armata rather than generale was the title of a four star general.
The chief of the Italian Army is a generale di corpo d'armata con incarichi speciali (special duties) NATO rank OF-9. The insignia has four stars with the higher star has a red enamel.

Pay grade

O-11

O-10

O-9

O-8

O-7

O-6

O-5

O-4

O-3

O-2

O-1

Enlisted

NATO Code

OR-9

OR-8

OR-7

OR-6

OR-5

OR-4

OR-3

OR-2

OR-1

Italy^[4]
(Edit)


Caporale maggiore capo scelto	Caporale maggiore capo	Caporale maggiore scelto	Primo caporale maggiore

Primo Maresciallo Luogotenente

Primo Maresciallo

Maresciallo Capo

Maresciallo Ordinario

Maresciallo

Sergente Maggiore Capo

Sergente Maggiore

Sergente

Caporal Maggiore

Caporale

Soldato

Abbreviation

1° Mar. Lgt.

1° Mar.

Mar. Ca.

Mar. Ord.

Mar.

Serg. Magg. Ca.

Serg.Magg.

Serg.

CMCS

CMC

C.le Magg. Sc.

1° C.le Magg.

C.le Magg.

C.le

Sold.

Pay grade

E-9

E-8

E-7

E-6

E-5

E-4

E-3

E-2

E-1

This chart represents the Italian Army enlisted rank insignia with seniority decreasing left-to-right inside a given pay grade. All ranks of sergente or higher are considered as Non Commissioned Officers. Airborne units personnel wear the chevrons on a blue base.

History

Enlisted insignia saw no significant changes until 1973 when the chevrons were moved from the sleeve to the epaulette. In 1997 the new ranks from 1°CM to CMCS were created for permanent service enlisted personnel, and the new insignia were created. in the same year, the rank of C.le Sc. was created as top rank for conscript personnel, and the new insignia was created.

Current usage

The rank of caporale is not a command grade and only results in a higher paygrade, and may be attained by conscript personnel. The ranks up to caporal maggiore may be attained by temporary service personnel. Higher ranks may only be attained by permanent service personnel. Sergeants generally have team command tasks, and are appointed in the rank only after several months training course. The rank of soldato is used only for recruits and is substituted by the following, depending on the branch or service:

Fante/Fan. (Infantryman)
Alpino/Alp. (Mountain infantryman)
Bersagliere/Bers. (Marksman, Rifleman)
Paracadutista/Par. (Parachutist)
Granatiere/Gra. (Grenadier)
Lagunare/Lag. (Lagoon infantryman)
Artigliere/Art. (Artilleryman, Gunner)
Trasmettitore/Trs. (Signaller)
Assistente di Sanità/Asa. (Medic)
Cavaliere/Cav. (Cavalryman)
Lanciere/Lanc. (Lancer)
Dragone/Dra. (Dragoon)
Carrista/Cr. (Tanker)
Autiere/Aut. (Driver)
Geniere/Gnr. (Pioneer, Sapper)
Guastatore/Guast. (Combat Sapper)
Incursore/Inc. (Special Forces Operator)

Notes

↑ In the images the Pantone colour khaki 16-0726 TC, rendered as RGB 161 143 94, has been used.
↑ until 1947 Generale d'Armata
↑ The chief of the Italian Army is now a generale di corpo d'armata con incarichi speciali (special duties) NATO rank OF-8. The insignia has four stars with the higher star in red enamel.
↑ Italian Army web site

Military ranks and insignia by country

List of comparative military ranks

Africa

Egypt
- Army
- Navy
- Air Force
Gabon
Morocco
South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda

Americas

Argentina Bolivia Brazil Canada Colombia Cuba Mexico Army Navy Nicaragua Uruguay Venezuela United States Officers: Army Navy Air Force Coast Guard Enlisted: Army Navy Air Force Coast Guard Other: Marine Corps Warrant officer

Former	United States Army enlisted World War I World War II

Comparative	Army (Officers) Air force (Officers)

Asia

Afghanistan Azerbaijan Bangladesh Army Navy Air Force Myanmar Army Navy Air Force Cambodia China Army Navy Air Force India Army Air Force Navy Indonesia Iran Army Navy Air Force Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Korea Laos Lebanon Malaysia Mongolia Pakistan Army Air Force Navy Philippines Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Army Navy Air Force Syria Taiwan Army Navy Thailand Vietnam

Former	Democratic Kampuchea Imperial Japan Army Navy Mengjiang Manchukuo South Vietnam

Comparative	Army (Officers) Air force (Officers)

Europe

Albania Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Army Navy Air Force Estonia Finland France Army Navy Gendarmerie Air Force Germany Rank information Rank insignia Georgia Greece Hungary Iceland Land Forces Coast Guard Ireland Army Naval Service Air Corps Italy Army Navy Air Force Carabinieri Finance Guard Latvia Lithuania Macedonia Moldova Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Army Navy Air Force Between 1994 and 2010 Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Army Navy Air Force Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Army officers Army other ranks Navy officers Navy ratings Air Force officers Air Force other ranks Vatican

Former	Austria–Hungary Czechoslovakia Hungarian People's Republic East Germany Nazi Germany Army Navy Air Force People's Militia SA SS Nazi Party Kingdom of Greece Army Navy Air Force Kingdom of Hungary Russian Empire Soviet Union 1918-35 1935–40 1940–43 1943-55 1955-91 Kingdom of Yugoslavia SFR Yugoslavia FR Yugoslavia

Comparative	Army (Officers) Air force (Officers)

Oceania

Australia Fiji New Zealand

Comparative	Air force (Officers)

Comparative officer ranks of

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