The rank insignias of the Netherlands armed forces Table of contents | The rank insignias of the Netherlands armed forces
ROYAL NETHERLANDS NAVY
ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY
ROYAL NETHERLANDS AIR FORCE
ROYAL NETHERLANDS MARECHAUSSEE
FORMS OF ADDRESS IN THE ARMED FORCES
This brochure was published by:
Netherlands Ministry of Defence Directorate of Communication
April 2016
Graphic design/photography: Defence Media Centre | The Hague Royal Netherlands Navy The ranks have been grouped according to their rank group (Dag- and general oFcers, senior oFcers, junior oFcers, NCOs, corporals and other ranks). In the RNLN, a corporal is classed as an NCO. A distinction is made between the insignias of NCOs and other ranks of the Deet and those of the marine corps. Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore For the marines, the chevrons (V shaped symbols) have a red border. General Lieutenant Major General Brigadier (Marine corps) General (Marine corps) General (Marine corps) (Marine corps)
Captain Commander Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant Sub- Warrant Chief PeXy PeXy OFcer Commander Junior Grade Lieutenant OFcer OFcer Colonel Lieutenant Major Captain First Second Warrant Sergeant Sergeant (Marine corps) Colonel (Marine corps) (Marine corps) Lieutenant Lieutenant OFcer Major (Marine corps) (Marine corps) (Marine corps) (Marine corps) (Marine corps) (Marine corps)
Leading Rating Able Rating Ordinary Rating Junior Rating Corporal Marine Marine Marine (Marine corps) Class 1 Class 2 (Marine corps) (Marine corps) (Marine corps) Royal Netherlands Army
The ranks have been grouped according to their rank group (general oFcers, senior oFcers, junior oFcers, NCOs, corporals and other ranks).
For cavalry and military administration units, the insignias of the ranks of General Lieutenant Major Brigadier corporal up to and including sergeant major are in silver braid. General General General
Colonel Lieutenant Major Captain First Second OFcer Colonel Lieutenant Lieutenant Candidate
Warrant Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal Private Private Private OFcer Major Class 1 Class 1 Class 2 Royal Netherlands Air Force
The ranks have been grouped according to their rank group (general oFcers, senior oFcers, junior oFcers, NCOs, corporals and other ranks). General Lieutenant Major Air Commodore General General
Colonel Lieutenant Major Captain First Second OFcer Colonel Lieutenant Lieutenant Candidate
Warrant Sergeant Flight Sergeant Corporal Lance Private Private Private OFcer Major Sergeant Corporal Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Royal Netherlands Marechaussee
The ranks have been grouped according to their rank group (general oFcers, senior oFcers, junior oFcers, NCOs, corporals and other ranks). Lieutenant Major Brigadier General General General
Colonel Lieutenant Major Captain First Second OFcer Colonel Lieutenant Lieutenant Candidate
Warrant Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant Marechaussee Marechaussee Marechaussee Marechaussee OFcer Major Class 1 Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Forms of address in the armed forces
Most forms of address (the way somebody is addressed in a Royal Netherlands Army leXer or conversation) correspond with rank. A number of ranks, Lieutenant General, Major General, however, should be addressed di[erently. The following Brigadier General General overview shows the ranks that have an alternative form of Lieutenant Colonel Colonel (NL: Overste) First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant Lieutenant address. Warrant OFcer Warrant oFcer Sergeant Class 1 Sergeant Rank Forms of address Corporal Corporal Royal Netherlands Navy (5eet) Private Class 1,2,3 Private* Admiral, Vice Admiral Admiral Captain Colonel * Depending on the armed forces Service, service group or regiment, the form of address can also be: grenadier, riHeman, fuselier, commando, shock trooper, hussar, gunner, rider or pontonier. Commander (NL: Overste) Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Sub-Lieutenant and Lieutenant Sir/Madam Royal Netherlands Air Force Warrant OFcer Warrant OFcer (*) Lieutenant General, Major General General Sergeant Major Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel (NL: Overste) Able Rating, Ordinary Rating Rating First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant Lieutenant Flight Sergeant Sergeant * In the Netherlands nautical service, a warrant oAcer is addressed as opperschipper, Private Class 1,2,3 Private a sergeant major as captain (schipper), a sergeant as boatswain and a corporal as quartermaster. Royal Netherlands Marechaussee Lieutenant General, Major General, Royal Netherlands Navy (Marine Corps) Brigadier General General Lieutenant General, Major General, Lieutenant Colonel Colonel (NL: Overste) Brigadier General General First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant Colonel Colonel (NL: Overste) Sergeant Class 1 Sergeant First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant Lieutenant Marechaussee Class 1, 2, 3, 4 Marechaussee Warrant OFcer Warrant OFcer Sergeant Major Major Military chaplains are addressed by the form of address used within their religion, irrespective of Marine Class 1,2,3 Marine rank. For example minister, father, rabbi, imam, pandit, etc.