Greek military ranks

Modern Greek military ranks are based on Ancient Greek & Byzantine terminology, even though the ranks correspond to those of other Western armies. For example, ancient hoplite unit of approximately 100 men, the lochos, is today the name for a company of soldiers; its commander, as in ancient times, is a lochagos, while his lieutenants are called ypolochagoi - literally, "sub-captains" - a modern neologism. A sergeant is known as a lochias. A tagmatarchis (major) commands a tagma (battalion) and so forth. Thus, every officer or non-commissioned officer is in the land and air forces is generally named after the type of unit he commands, with the suffix -agos (from agein, "to lead") or -archos / arches (from archein, "to rule").

Officer ranks

Air Force

Category	Greek rank	Transliteration	British Equivalent	NATO
General Officers
	Πτέραρχος	Pterarchos	Air Chief Marshal	OF-9
	Αντιπτέραρχος	Antipterarchos	Air Marshal	OF-8
	Υποπτέραρχος	Ypopterarchos	Air Vice-Marshal	OF-7
	Ταξίαρχος Αεροπορίας	Taxiarchos Aeroporias	Air Commodore	OF-6
Senior Officers
	Σμήναρχος	Sminarchos	Group Captain	OF-5
	Αντισμήναρχος	Antisminarchos	Wing Commander	OF-4
	Επισμηναγός	Episminagos	Squadron Leader	OF-3
Junior Officers
	Σμηναγός	Sminagos	Flight Lieutenant	OF-2
	Υποσμηναγός	Yposminagos	Flying Officer	OF-1
	Ανθυποσμηναγός	Anthyposminagos	Pilot Officer	OF-1

• The United States Air Force uses the same terms to designate its officers as the Army, as given below.

Army

Category	Greek Rank	Transliteration	English Equivalent	NATO
General Officers
	Στρατηγός	Stratigos	General	OF-9
	Αντιστράτηγος	Antistratigos	Lieutenant General	OF-8
	Υποστράτηγος	Ypostratigos	Major General	OF-7
	Ταξίαρχος	Taxiarchos	Brigadier or Brigadier General	OF-6
Field Grade Officers
	Συνταγματάρχης	Syntagmatarchis	Colonel	OF-5
	Αντισυνταγματάρχης	Antisyntagmatarchis	Lieutenant Colonel	OF-4
	Ταγματάρχης	Tagmatarchis	Major	OF-3
Company Grade Officers
	Λοχαγός	Lochagos	Captain	OF-2
	Υπολοχαγός	Ypolochagos	Lieutenant	OF-1
	Ανθυπολοχαγός	Anthypolochagos	Second Lieutenant	OF-1

Navy

Category	Greek Rank	Transliteration	English Equivalent	NATO
Flag Officers
	Ναύαρχος	Navarchos	Admiral	OF-9
	Αντιναύαρχος	Antinavarchos	Vice Admiral	OF-8
	Υποναύαρχος	Yponavarchos	Rear Admiral	OF-7
	Αρχιπλοίαρχος	Archiploiarchos	Commodore	OF-6
Senior Officers
	Πλοίαρχος	Ploiarchos	Captain	OF-5
	Αντιπλοίαρχος	Antiploiarchos	Commander	OF-4
	Πλωτάρχης	Plotarchis	Lieutenant Commander	OF-3
Junior Officers
	Υποπλοίαρχος	Ypoploiarchos	Lieutenant	OF-2
	Ανθυποπλοίαρχος	Anthypoploiarchos	Sub-Lieutenant	OF-1
	Σημαιοφόρος	Simaioforos	Ensign	OF-1

See also

• Military of Greece
• Hellenic Army
  • Hellenic Army officer rank insignia
  • Hellenic Army enlisted rank insignia
• Hellenic Navy
  • Royal Hellenic Navy Ranks
• Hellenic Air Force

External links

• greekmilitary.net