To make it easier to understand where some ranks fit in the various forces included, I have created my own grading system.

The rationale behind this is simple, while some countries have a national grading system (the United States for example). They are really designed to fit (obviously) their own forces. In the case of the US grading system it has influenced many European countries and certainly the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).  Several NATO and former Warsaw pact forces have recently added new or disestablished ranks.  (Sweden, Romania, Poland to name a few).

But even this is mostly in the officer corps and many nations still have far very different systems for

As mentioned under about this site, rank translations are really meaningless and are in many cases totally incorrect. Robb Mavins as an internal document that served several purposes.

Military Rank Grades

Flag  Officer: Generally includes Admirals and Commodores of the Naval and Sea services. Identical  to General Officers

Commissioned Officer:

Intermediate Officer:

Officer Candidate:

Non Commissioned Officer /Enlisted Member:

 

NA-Navy Forces - Navy is used in the context of sea forces whose primary mission is sea of fresh water  combat.

AR-Army Forces -  Army is used in the context of ground forces.

AI-Air Force - Air Force is used the context of air to air or air to ground combat and includes traditional air  as well as rocket and missile forces.

MA-Marine Forces: Marine is used in the context of Naval Infantry, amphibious forces, coast artillery.

CG-Coast Guard - used in the context

Education of Canadian Forces Cadet Instructor List officers in allied & NATO rank structures.

Education of UN posted officers in allied & NATO rank structures.

Collecting information for publication.

The author was at the time part of a UN  consulting group creating an international standard for rank insignia discussions and notes.

Basically this site is dedicated to study of rank insignia and military organization.

You will find drawings or pictures of the insignia of most of the world's armed forces including  Canada, United States, Mexico, most of South America, Europe & Asia

The original focus of this site was sea and naval forces. This includes sea auxiliary, marine, merchant navy and coast guard forces. Information included is on historical as well as current forces.

Also you will find links to some of the best resources on the net, a bibliography and links to the services featured herein.