Greek Armed Forces ranks

This article covers the rank insignia of the present day Greek armed forces .

Designation of the ranks

The modern ranks of the Greek armed forces are based on ancient Greek or Byzantine terminology. In ancient times, a unit of about 100 hoplites was called Lochos and the leader of these Lochagos. Today the rank of captain is called Lochagos (Λοχαγός) and the first lieutenant with Ypolochagos (Υπολοχαγός = sub- captain ). A sergeant is a Lochias. A Tagmatarchis (Ταγματάρχης = major ) commands a Tagma ( battalion ). Every officer in the land and air forces of the Greek armed forces is named after the unit he commands and the ending -agos (from ancient Greek ἄγω = to lead ) or -archos (from ancient Greek ἄρχω = to rule ).

Ranks

army

Officers (Αξιωματικοί)
Officers
Rank group	Generals (Ανώτατοι αξιωματικοί)				Staff officers (Ανώτεροι αξιωματικοί)			Captains / lieutenants (Αξιωματικοί)			Officer Candidate (Έφεδροι)
Epaulette
Rank	general	Lieutenant General	Major general	Brigadier General	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	major	Captain	lieutenant	Sub-lieutenant	Officer student
Greek designation	Στρατηγός	Αντιστράτηγος	Υποστράτηγος	Ταξίαρχος	Συνταγματάρχης	Αντισυνταγματάρχης	Ταγματάρχης	Λοχαγός	Υπολοχαγός	Ανθυπολοχαγός	Δόκιμος Έφεδρος Αξιωματικός
Transliteration	Stratigos	Andistratigos	Ypostratigos	Taxiarchoes	Syndagmatarchis	Antisyndagmatarchis	Day matarchis	Lochagos	Ypolochagos	Anthypolochagos	Dokimos Efedros Axiomatikos
NATO rank code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF (D)

NCOs (Υπαξιωματικοί) and crew ranks (Οπλίτες)
NCOs							Teams
Rank group	Specialist service officer with rank under lieutenant (Ανθυπασπιστές)	NCOs (Υπαξιωματικοί)					Teams (Οπλίτες)
Epaulette
Rank	Sergeant Major	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant Major	sergeant	no equivalent	corporal	Lance Corporal	no equivalent	Sagittarius
Greek designation	Ανθυπασπιστής	Αρχιλοχίας	Επιλοχίας	Λοχίας		Δεκανέας	Υποδεκανέας		Στρατιώτης
Transliteration	Anthypaspistis	Archilochias	Epilochias	Lochias		Deaneas	Ypodecanese		Stratiotis
NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1

Recruits
Candidate Sergeant							Teams
Rank group	NCO candidate (Έφεδροι υπαξιωματικοί)						Teams (Έφεδρες οπλίτες)
Epaulette
Rank	Officer student	no equivalent	no equivalent	sergeant	no equivalent	corporal	Lance Corporal	no equivalent	Sagittarius
Greek designation	Δόκιμος Έφεδρος Αξιωματικός			Υποδεκανέας		Υποψήφιος Έφεδρος Βαθμοφόρος	Στρατιώτης
Transliteration	Dokimos Efedros Axiomatikos			Ypodecanese		Ypopsichios Efedros Vathmoforos	Stratiotis
NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1

marine

Officers (Αξιωματικοί)
Officers
Rank group	Generals (Ανώτατοι αξιωματικοί)				Staff officers (Ανώτεροι αξιωματικοί)			Captains / lieutenants (Αξιωματικοί)			Officer Candidate (Έφεδροι)
Epaulette
Sleeve badge
Rank	admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Flotilla admiral	Sea captain	Frigate captain	Corvette Captain	Lieutenant captain	Lieutenant at sea	Sub-lieutenant	Officer student
Greek designation	Ναύαρχος	Αντιναύαρχος	Υποναύαρχος	Αρχιπλοίαρχος	Πλοίαρχος	Αντιπλοίαρχος	Πλωτάρχης	Υποπλοίαρχος	Ανθυποπλοίαρχος	Σημαιοφόρος	Σημαιοφόρος Επίκουρος Αξιωματικός
Transliteration	Nafarchus	Andinafarchos	Yponafarchus	Archipliarchos	Pliarchos	Andipliarchus	Plotarchus	Ypoplotarchos	Anthipopliarchus	Simaioforos	Simaioforos Epikouros Axiomatikos
NATO rank code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF (D)

NCOs (Υπαξιωματικοί) and crew ranks (Οπλίτες)
NCOs							Teams
Rank group	Specialist service officer with rank under lieutenant (Ανθυπασπιστές)	NCOs (Υπαξιωματικοί)					Teams (Οπλίτες)
Epaulette
Sleeve badge
Rank	Chief of Staff	Staff Captain	Chief Boatswain	Boatswain	no equivalent	Corporal	no equivalent		sailor
Greek designation	Ανθυπασπιστής	Αρχικελευστής	Επικελευστής	Κελευστής		Δίοπος			Ναύτης
Transliteration	Anthypaspistis	Archikelefstis	Epicular ejaculation	Kelefstis		Diopos			Naftis
NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1

Recruits
Candidate Sergeant							Teams
Rank group	NCO candidate (Έφεδροι υπαξιωματικοί)						Teams (Έφεδρες οπλίτες)
Epaulette
Sleeve badge
Rank	Officer student	no equivalent	no equivalent	Boatswain	no equivalent	Corporal	no equivalent	no equivalent	sailor
Greek designation	Σημαιοφόρος Επίκουρος Αξιωματικός			Κελευστής		Δίοπος			Ναύτης
Transliteration	Simaioforos Epikouros Axiomatikos			Kelefstis		Diopos			Naftis
NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1

air force

Officers (Αξιωματικοί)
Officers
Rank group	Generals (Ανώτατοι αξιωματικοί)				Staff officers (Ανώτεροι αξιωματικοί)			Captains / lieutenants (Αξιωματικοί)			Officer Candidate (Έφεδροι)
Sleeve badge
Rank	general	Lieutenant General	Major general	Brigadier General	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	major	Captain	lieutenant	Sub-lieutenant	no equivalent
Greek designation	Πτέραρχος	Αντιπτέραρχος	Υποπτέραρχος	Ταξίαρχος Αεροπορίας	Σμήναρχος	Αντισμήναρχος	Επισμηναγός	Σμηναγός	Υποσμηναγός	Ανθυποσμηναγός
Transliteration	Pterarchus	Andipterarchos	Ypopterarchus	Taxiarchos aeroporias	Sminarchus	Antisminarchos	Episminarchus	Sminagos	Yposminagos	Anthyposminagos
NATO rank code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF (D)

NCOs (Υπαξιωματικοί) and crew ranks (Οπλίτες)
NCOs							Teams
Rank group	Specialist service officer with rank under lieutenant (Ανθυπασπιστές)	NCOs (Υπαξιωματικοί)					Teams (Οπλίτες)
Epaulette
Sleeve badge
Rank	Sergeant Major	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant Major	sergeant	no equivalent	corporal	no equivalent		Aviator
Greek designation	Ανθυπασπιστής	Αρχισμηνίας	Επισμηνίας	Σμηνίας		Υποσμηνίας			Σμηνίτης
Transliteration	Anthypaspistis	Archisminias	Episminias	Sminias		Yposminias			Sminitis
NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1

Recruits
Candidate Sergeant							Teams
Rank group	NCO candidate (Έφεδροι υπαξιωματικοί)						Teams (Έφεδρες οπλίτες)
Epaulette									no sign
Rank	no equivalent	no equivalent	no equivalent	no equivalent	Sergeant	no equivalent	no equivalent	no equivalent	Aviator
Greek designation					Κληρωτός Σμηνίας				Σμηνίτης
Transliteration					Klirotos Sminias				Sminitis
NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1