The Military ranks of the Colombian armed forces consist of the list and ordering of the different military ranks, for the Officers, Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers, seamen and airmen ("other ranks") of the Military Forces of Colombia.
The ranks are visually represented by insignias placed on the uniforms, usually at the shoulders, sleeves and shirt collars.
Note that a literal translation from Spanish to English may be misleading as the rank names don't necessarily follow the customary order used in anglophone military ranks in all cases. Furthermore, Colombia is not a member of NATO, so there is not an official equivalence between the Colombian military ranks and those defined by NATO. The displayed parallel is approximate and for illustration purposes only.
Foundational law
The professional ranking of the Military Forces of Colombia is founded on the article 217 of the Political Constitution of Colombia,[1] regimented through multiple Laws and Decrees, starting with the Decree #1790 from 2000,[2] up to the latest and most updated one, Law #1405 of 2010.[3]
According to the former, the rankings of the military officers were slightly modified: It adds the ranks of "Lieutenant General" (Spanish: Teniente General) for the Army and the National Police, "Air Lieutenant General" (Spanish: Teniente General del Aire) for the Air Force, and "Squadron Admiral" ( Spanish: Almirante de Escuadra) for the Navy. These ranks are identified by 3 (three) stars or suns according to the service branch.
This change was instituted in order to more accurately reflect international standards in the command structure used by other armed forces. The maximum rank formally achievable by an officer of the armed forces is that of General or Admiral of 4 (four) stars or suns, according to the service branch.
In terms of protocol, the established order for the forces is Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, as established by the Military Rules of Protocol (Reglamento de Protocolo Militar FFMM)[4]
The Colombian Army is the largest of the three service branches of the Military Forces of Colombia, tasked with defending sovereignty and law and order across the national territory.
The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Army personnel.[5][6]
The Colombian Navy (Spanish: Armada de la República de Colombia) is the maritime service branch of the Military Forces of Colombia, responsible for security and defense in both the Atlantic (Caribbean) and Pacific seas of Colombia, the extensive network of rivers inside the country, and a few small land areas under its direct jurisdiction.
The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Navy personnel.
[5][8]
In Colombia, the Marine Infantry is a Corps depending on the Colombian Navy and not a full service branch on its own. Being tasked with amphibious and riverine and littoral operations, the MI presents a somewhat odd combination of ranking names derived from the Army, combined with naval insignias.
The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Marine Infantry personnel.[5]
The Colombian Air Force is the service branch of the Military Forces of Colombia tasked with the protection and defense of the Colombian sovereign airspace.
The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Air Force personnel.[5]
Colombian National Army[7]
Colombian National Navy[9]
Colombian Aerospace Force[10]
