Modern Greek military ranks are based on Ancient Greek and Byzantine terminology.
In the army and air force, these names are often based on the unit or post that a holder of each rank usual commands. For example, a tagmatarchis is in charge of a tagma, which is derived from an Ancient Greek word translatable as "command", "order", or "class", and in modern Greek is a unit equivalent to a battalion in other armies; hence a modern tagmatarchis is a rank equivalent to major in other armies. Similarly, a lochagos normally commands a lochos (a word that originally meant "warband"), which in Ancient Greece was a 100-strong hoplite unit, but in modern Greek usage is equivalent to an infantry company. Hence a lochagos is the equivalent of a captain in other armies, and the modern Greek equivalent of an army first lieutenant is the modern neologism ypolochagos: literally, "sub-captain". Likewise, the modern Greek equivalent of a sergeant is a lochias.
The suffixes -agos and -archos (or -arches), which are often found in Greek rank names, are derived from the roots agein "to lead" and archein "to rule", respectively.
Air Force
The Hellenic Air Force, is the youngest of the three services (founded in 1930). Its insignia are based on the British Royal Air Force, while it uses Army rank titles when translated to English.[1]
Officer ranks
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Πτέραρχος Pterarchos |
Αντιπτέραρχος Antipterarchos |
Υποπτέραρχος Ypopterarchos |
Ταξίαρχος Taxiarchos |
Σμήναρχος Sminarchos |
Αντισμήναρχος Antisminarchos |
Επισμηναγός Episminagos |
Σμηναγός Sminagos |
Υποσμηναγός Yposminagos |
Ανθυποσμηναγός Anthyposminagos |
NCO and other ranks
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ανθυπασπιστής[a] Anthypaspistis |
Αρχισμηνίας Archisminias |
Επισμηνίας Episminias |
Σμηνίας Sminias |
Υποσμηνίας Yposminias |
Σμηνίτης Sminitis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No equivalent |
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Κληρωτός Σμηνίας Klirotos Sminias |
Σμηνίτης Sminitis |
Army
Officer ranks retain the style introduced in 1970, with the flaming grenade replacing (since 1975) the phoenix introduced by the Regime of the Colonels in 1973.
Officer ranks
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Στρατηγός Stratigos |
Αντιστράτηγος Antistratigos |
Υποστράτηγος Ypostratigos |
Ταξίαρχος Taxiarchos |
Συνταγματάρχης Syntagmatarchis |
Αντισυνταγματάρχης Antisyntagmatarchis |
Ταγματάρχης Tagmatarchis |
Λοχαγός Lochagos |
Υπολοχαγός Ypolochagos |
Ανθυπολοχαγός Anthypolochagos |
Δόκιμος Έφεδρος Αξιωματικός Dokimos efedros aksiomatikos |
NCO and other ranks
NCO ranks (excl. OR-9 and conscript ranks) have undergone some changes through the years, the latest being in 2004.[4]
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Arm/corps insignia only | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ανθυπασπιστής[a] Anthypaspistis |
Αρχιλοχίας Archilochias |
Επιλοχίας Epilochias |
Λοχίας Lochias |
Δεκανέας Dekaneas |
Υποδεκανέας Ypodekaneas |
Στρατιώτης Stratiotis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No equivalent |
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Δόκιμος Έφεδρος Αξιωματικός Dokimos Efedros Axiomatikos[a] |
Λοχίας Lochias |
Δεκανέας Dekaneas |
Υποδεκανέας Ypodekaneas |
Υποψήφιος Έφεδρος Βαθμοφόρος Ypopsifios Efedros Bathmoforos |
Στρατιώτης Stratiotis |
Navy
Officer ranks retain the structure introduced in 1936, whilst NCO ranks have undergone changes after 1975.
Officer ranks
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ναύαρχος Navarchos |
Αντιναύαρχος Antinavarchos |
Υποναύαρχος Yponavarchos |
Αρχιπλοίαρχος Archiploiarchos |
Πλοίαρχος Ploiarchos |
Αντιπλοίαρχος Antiploiarchos |
Πλωτάρχης Plotarchis |
Υποπλοίαρχος Ypoploiarchos |
Ανθυποπλοίαρχος Anthypoploiarchos |
Σημαιοφόρος Simaioforos |
Σημαιοφόρος Επίκουρος Αξιωματικός Simaioforos epikouros axiomatikos |
NCO and other ranks
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ανθυπασπιστής[a] Anthypaspistis |
Αρχικελευστής Archikelefstis |
Επικελευστής Epikelefstis |
Κελευστής Kelefstis |
Δίοπος Diopos |
Ναύτης Naftis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No equivalent |
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Σημαιοφόρος Επίκουρος Αξιωματικός Simaioforos Epikouros Axiomatikos |
Κελευστής Kelefstis |
Δίοπος Diopos |
Ναύτης Naftis |
See also
- Military of Greece
- Kingdom of Greece Army Ranks
- Royal Hellenic Navy rank insignia
- Royal Hellenic Air Force ranks
Notes
References
- ^ "Hellenic Airforce Ranks".
- ^ a b "Διακριτικά" [Ranks]. haf.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Air Force. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Επωμίδες Φ/Π Στολών" [Shoulders for PV Uniforms]. army.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Army. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ tanea.gr (2004-10-11). "Aλλάζουν το εθνόσημο και οι «σαρδέλες»". ΤΑ ΝΕΑ (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ^ "Διακριτικά Φ/Π Στολών Υπαξιωματικών Αποφοίτων ΣΜΥ" [Badges F / P Uniforms of Non-Commissioned Officer Graduates]. army.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Army. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Διακριτικά Βαθμών Προσωπικού ΠΝ" [Insignia of Personnel Ranks]. hellenicnavy.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Navy. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Διακριτικά Βαθμών Προσωπικού ΠΝ" [Insignia of Personnel Degrees]. hellenicnavy.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Navy. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
External links
- Hellenic Airforce Ranks, Hellenic Air Force website
- Διακριτικά Ελληνικού Στρατού (Hellenic Army Insignia), Hellenic Army website
- Διακριτικά Βαθμών Προσωπικού ΠΝ (Hellenic Navy Personnel Rank Insignia), Hellenic Navy website