Irish Defence Forces rank insignia

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Rank insignia in the Irish Defence Forces are an indication of the wearer's military rank, and worn by officers and enlisted members of Ireland's Defence Forces as an element of their uniform, typically on a single chest tab or as a shoulder board. [1]

Contents

Irish Army

Officers
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officersOfficer cadet
Combat [2] Ireland-Army-OF-8 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OF-7 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OF-6 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OF-5 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OF-4 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OF-3 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OF-2 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OF-1b camo.svg Ireland-Army-OF-1a camo.svg
Flag of the Irish Defence Forces.svg  Irish Army [3] [1]
Ireland-Army-OF-8.svg Ireland-Army-OF-7.svg Ireland-Army-OF-6.svg Ireland-Army-OF-5.svg Ireland-Army-OF-4.svg Ireland-Army-OF-3.svg Ireland-Army-OF-2.svg Ireland-Army-OF-1b.svg Ireland-Army-OF-1a.svg
Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier-general Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Commandant Captain Lieutenant Second-Lieutenant
Lefteanant-ghinearálMaor-ghinearálBriogáidire-ghinearálCornalLefteanant-chornalCeannfortCaptaenLefteanantDara-lefteanant
AbbreviationLt GenMaj GenBrig GenColLt ColComdtCaptLt2nd Lt
Other ranks
Rank groupNon-commissioned officerEnlisted
Combat [4] Ireland-Army-OR-9 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OR-8 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OR-7 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OR-6 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OR-5 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OR-4 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OR-3 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OR-2 camo.svg No insignia
Flag of the Irish Defence Forces.svg  Irish Army [3] [1]
Ireland-Army-OR-9.svg Ireland-Army-OR-8.svg Ireland-Army-OR-7.svg Ireland-Army-OR-6.svg Ireland-Army-OR-5.svg Ireland-Army-OR-4.svg Ireland-Army-OR-3.svg Ireland-Army-OR-2.svg No insignia
Sergeant major Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Company sergeant Company quartermaster sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private, 3 star Private, 2 star Recruit
Maor-Sáirsint Cathlán/Reisimint [lower-alpha 1] Ceathrúsháirsint Cathlán/Reisimint [lower-alpha 1] Sáirsint Complacht [lower-alpha 2] Ceathrúsháirsint Complacht [lower-alpha 2] SáirsintCeannaireSaighdiúr Singil, 3 RéaltaSaighdiúr Singil, 2 RéaltaEarcach
AbbreviationBSM/RSMBQMS/RQMSCS/BS/SSCQ/BQ/SQSgtCplPte/Gnr/Tpr 3*Pte 2*Rec

Historic ranks

Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officersOfficer cadet
(1924–1942) [5] Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Lieutenant-generalMajor-generalColonelMajorCommandantCaptainLieutenantSecond lieutenant
(1942–1944) [6] Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Lieutenant-generalMajor-generalColonelMajorCommandantCaptainLieutenantSecond lieutenant
(1944–1971) [7] Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Lieutenant-generalMajor-generalColonelMajorCommandantCaptainLieutenantSecond lieutenant
Rank groupNon-commissioned officerEnlisted
(1924–1949) [8] Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg No insignia
AbbreviationBSMBQMSCoy SgtCQSSgtCplPte
(1949–1963) [9] [10] Ireland-Army-OR-7.svg Ireland-Army-OR-6.svg Ireland-Army-OR-7 (1949).svg Ireland-Army-OR-6 (1949).svg Ireland-Army-OR-4.svg Ireland-Army-OR-4b (1949).svg Ireland-Army-OR-4a (1949).svg Ireland-Army-OR-3.svg Ireland-Army-OR-2.svg Ireland-Army-OR-1 (1949).svg
AbbreviationBSM/RSMBQMS/RQMSBS/CS/SSBQ/CQ/SQSgtCpl, 2 StarCpl, 1 StarPte, 3 StarPte, 2 StarPte, 1 Star
(1963) [10] Ireland-Army-OR-9 (1963).svg Ireland-Army-OR-8 (1963).svg Ireland-Army-OR-7.svg Ireland-Army-OR-6.svg Ireland-Army-OR-5.svg Ireland-Army-OR-4b (1963).svg Ireland-Army-OR-4a (1963).svg Ireland-Army-OR-3.svg Ireland-Army-OR-2.svg No insignia
AbbreviationBSM/RSMBQMS/RQMSBS/CS/SSBQ/CQ/SQSgtCpl, 2 StarCpl, 1 StarPte, 3 StarPte, 2 StarPte

Irish Air Corps

Irish Air Corps rank insignia are an indication of the wearer's military rank, and worn by officers and enlisted members of the Irish Air Corps as an element of their uniform. [11]

Officers
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officersOfficer cadet
Flag of the Irish Air Corps.svg  Irish Air Corps [12]
Ireland-AirForce-OF-8.svg Ireland-AirForce-OF-7.svg Ireland-AirForce-OF-6.svg Ireland-AirForce-OF-5.svg Ireland-AirForce-OF-4.svg Ireland-AirForce-OF-3.svg Ireland-AirForce-OF-2.svg Ireland-AirForce-OF-1b.svg Ireland-AirForce-OF-1a.svg
Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier-general Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Commandant Captain Lieutenant Second-lieutenant
Lefteanant-ghinearálMaor-ghinearálBriogáidire-ghinearálCornalLefteanant-chornalCeannfortCaptaenLefteanantDara-lefteanant
AbbreviationLt GenMaj GenBrig GenColLt ColComdtCaptLt2nd Lt
Other ranks
Rank groupNon-commissioned officerEnlisted
Flag of the Irish Air Corps.svg  Irish Air Corps [12]
Irish Air Corps OR-9.svg Irish Air Corps OR-8.svg Irish Air Corps OR-7.svg Irish Air Corps OR-6.svg Irish Air Corps OR-5.svg Irish Air Corps OR-4.svg Irish Air Corps OR-3.svg Irish Air Corps OR-2.svg Irish Air Corps OR-1.svg No insignia
Regimental sergeant major
Maor-sáirsint reisiminte
Regimental quartermaster sergeant
Ceathrúsháirsint reisiminte
Flight sergeant
Sáirsint eitleoige
Flight quartermaster sergeant
Ceathrúsháirsint eitleoige
Sergeant
Sáirsint
Corporal
Ceannaire
Airman 3 star
Eitleoir, 3 réalta
Airman 2 Star
Eitleoir, 2 réalta
Apprentice
Printíseach
Recruit
Earcach
AbbreviationRSMRQMSFSFQMSSgtCplAmn 3*Amn 2*AppRec/G1

Irish Naval Service

Officers
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officersOfficer cadet
Irish Naval Service Colour.svg  Irish Naval Service [13]
Generic-Navy-(star)-O10.svg Generic-Navy-(star)-O9.svg Generic-Navy-(star)-O8.svg Generic-Navy-(star)-O7.svg Generic-Navy-(star)-O5.svg Generic-Navy-(star)-O4.svg Generic-Navy-(star)-O3.svg Generic-Navy-(star)-O2.svg Generic-Navy-(star)-O1.svg
Vice admiral
Leas-Aimiréal
Rear admiral
Seach-Aimiréal
Commodore
Ceannasóir
Captain
Captaen
Commander
Ceannasaí
Lieutenant commander
Lefteanant-Cheannasaí
Lieutenant
Lefteanant
Sub-lieutenant
Fo-Lefteanant
Ensign
Meirgire
Enlisted
Rank groupNon-commissioned officerEnlisted
Irish Naval Service Colour.svg  Irish Naval Service [13]
Ireland-Navy-OR-9.svg Ireland-Navy-OR-8.svg Ireland-Navy-OR-7.svg Ireland-Navy-OR-6.svg Ireland-Navy-OR-5.svg Ireland-Navy-OR-4.svg IE Navy Rank Insignia-AS.svg IE Navy Rank Insignia-OS.svg No insignia
Warrant officer
Oifigeach barántais
Senior chief petty officer
Ard-mhion-oifigeach sinsearach
Chief petty officer
Ard-mhion-oifigeach
Senior petty officer
Mion-oifigeach sinsearach
Petty officer
Mion-oifigeach
Leading seaman
Mairnéalach ceannais
Able seaman
Mairnéalach inniúil
Ordinary seaman
Mairnéalach
Seaman recruit
Earcach

Prior to 2002 ranks for NCOs in the Naval Reserve were in blue instead of gold. [1]

Rank groupNon-commissioned officerEnlisted
Flag of Ireland.svg Irish Naval
Service Reserve

(Pre-2002)
Ireland Navy Reserve Pre-2002 OR-8.svg Ireland Navy Reserve Pre-2002 OR-7.svg Ireland Navy Reserve Pre-2002 OR-6.svg Ireland Navy Reserve Pre-2002 OR-5.svg Ireland Navy Reserve Pre-2002 OR-4.svg IE Navy Rank Insignia-AS.svg IE Navy Rank Insignia-OS.svg No insignia
Senior chief petty officer
Ard-mhion-oifigeach sinsearach
Chief petty officer
Ard-mhion-oifigeach
Senior petty officer
Mion-oifigeach sinsearach
Petty officer
Mion-oifigeach
Leading seaman
Mairnéalach ceannais
Able seaman
Mairnéalach inniúil
Ordinary seaman
Mairnéalach
Seaman recruit
Earcach

Student officers

Rank groupStudent officer
Flag of the Irish Defence Forces.svg  Irish Army [3] [2] Ireland-Army-OF-D.svg Ireland-Army-OF-D.svg
Ireland-Army-OF-D2 camo.svg Ireland-Army-OF-D1 camo.svg
Senior officer cadet
Dalta oifigeach sinsearch
Junior officer cadet
Dalta oifigeach sóisearach
Sr CdtJr Cdt
Flag of the Irish Air Corps.svg  Irish Air Corps [12] Irish Air Corps OF-D.svg
Officer cadet
Dalta oifigeach
O-Cdt
Irish Naval Service Colour.svg  Irish Naval Service [13] Ireland-Navy-OF-(D).svg
Officer cadet
Dalta Oifigeach

Notes

  1. 1 2 Battalion (Cathlán), Regiment (Reisimint)
  2. 1 2 Battery (Ceallraí) in the Artillery. Squadron (Scuadrún) in the Cavalry.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Irish Military Insignia". irishmilitaryinsignia.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2007.
  2. 1 2 Perkins 2007, Rank Markings (Slider) - Officers.
  3. 1 2 3 "Army Rank Markings". military.ie. Defence Forces (Ireland). Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  4. Perkins 2007, Rank Markings (Slider) - Enlisted Personnel.
  5. Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Officers, 1924 to 1942.
  6. Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Officers, 1942 to 1944.
  7. Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Officers, 1944 to 1971.
  8. Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Enlisted Personnel, 1924.
  9. Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Enlisted Personnel, 1949.
  10. 1 2 Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Enlisted Personnel, Miscellaneous.
  11. "Air Corps rank markings". irishmilitaryinsignia.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 "Air Corps Rank Markings". military.ie. Defence Forces (Ireland). Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 "Naval Service Rank Markings". military.ie. Defence Forces (Ireland). Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

Bibliography