Le 15 July 2022

French Army Ranks

The Army ranks are substantially the same as the National Gendarmerie ranks and those of the Air and Space Force from a statutory and protocol point of view. Only the appellations and insignia change. Let's discover together the different ranks of the Army.

Table of Contents:

General Information
Officers
Non-commissioned officers
- Senior non-commissioned officers
- Junior non-commissioned officers
Enlisted personnel

Army Ranks: General Information

If you are considering becoming a soldier or military reservist, it is essential to know its codes, rules, and practices in force. Indeed, protocol and respect for hierarchy play a predominant role in the French armed forces. Thus, regarding appellations, a certain formalism must be respected:

If the officer is a man, we will precede his rank with "my" when addressing him. If the officer is a woman, we will call her directly by her rank. For example, we will say "my general" or directly "general".
The appellations remain the same regardless of their hierarchical rank, in other words whether the person being addressed has a higher or lower rank.
It is sometimes possible to call a subordinate by their first name.
There are exceptions for certain categories of officers, army commissioners or chaplains for whom the appellation "Mr." or "Mrs." will be used.

If you are still undecided about joining the Army and you are between 18 and 29 years old, you can complete your military discovery preparation (PMD).

Army Officers

The ranks of general officers of the Army

The ranks of general officers of the Army, ranked from highest to lowest:

General of the Army
Corps General
Major General
Brigadier General

The ranks of senior officers of the Army

The ranks of senior officers of the Army, ranked from highest to lowest:

Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major

The ranks of junior officers of the Army

The ranks of junior officers of the Army, ranked from highest to lowest

Captain
Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Officer Candidate

Non-commissioned officers of the Army

The ranks of senior non-commissioned officers of the Army

The ranks of senior non-commissioned officers of the Army, ranked from highest to lowest:

Major
Chief Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer

The ranks of junior non-commissioned officers of the Army

The ranks of junior non-commissioned officers of the Army, ranked from highest to lowest:

Staff Sergeant
Sergeant

Enlisted personnel of the Army

The ranks of enlisted personnel of the Army, ranked from highest to lowest:

Senior Corporal First Class
Corporal First Class
Corporal
Soldier

Want to learn more about the French Army? Discover our articles on military berets, military camouflage, the military salute, or even the one on military medals. You can also consult our articles dedicated to gendarmerie ranks and national police ranks.

Do you have a question?

What are the equivalences between Army ranks and those of other branches of the French military, such as the National Gendarmerie and the Air and Space Force?

Army ranks, such as General of the Army, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain, have equivalences with the ranks of other branches of the French military, such as the National Gendarmerie and the Air and Space Force. These equivalences vary according to the specific hierarchy of each branch. For example, a General of the Army in the Army may correspond to a General in other branches. However, exact titles and responsibilities may differ slightly from one branch to another.

Are there differences in living and working conditions between Army members holding positions of different ranks, for example regarding housing, travel, or working hours?

Differences in living and working conditions within the Army, according to ranks, are manifested by more spacious and better-equipped housing for officers and senior non-commissioned officers, compared to enlisted personnel. Additionally, officers may benefit from more diverse housing options, including housing outside barracks. Travel is often more frequent and over longer distances for officers and non-commissioned officers, especially when they hold command or responsibility positions. Regarding working hours, those of officers and non-commissioned officers may be more irregular and extended, while enlisted personnel tend to have more regular hours, although all may be subject to periods of standby or guard duty according to operational necessities.

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