Italian Army ranks

History

Italian Army officers used to wear the ranks on the sleeve, like naval officers. Since 1946, insignia were changed in order to align with NATO regulations. In 1973 the system had the following slight change: the wreath was added to the stars for general officers, instead of the silver epaulette; the crown was added to the stars for field officers, instead of a gold band on the edge of the epaulette; the stars began to be placed near the edge of the epaulette instead of in the center. These changes were mostly intended to make insignia more easily recognizable on the field uniform.

Chart

The chart below represents the Italian Army rank insignia used on the slip-on of winter service uniforms. The color of the uniforms is khaki.[1]

Officers who are assigned to a position acting in a higher rank than their own wear the insignia of the higher rank but the highest star of the insignia is trimmed in red enamel. Similarly, an officer temporarily assigned to a position attaining a higher rank in the absence of the incumbent officer, wear the star in bronze colour.

As can be seen, the Italian rank system has a large number of junior NCO ranks. Several ranks (which are variations on corporal) have a "chosen" version of the rank, "chosen" having the same sense of "leading", as in the historic British Army appointment of "chosen man" (now called lance-corporal).

Officers
Generals
generale[2]
General
generale di corpo d'armata[3]
(tenente generale)
Corps General (Lieutenant general)
generale di divisione
(maggior generale)
Divisional general
(Major general)
generale di brigata
(brigadier generale)
Brigade General
(Brigadier general)
Senior officers
colonnello
Colonel
tenente colonnello
Lieutenant colonel
maggiore
Major
Junior officers
primo capitano
First captain
capitano
Captain
tenente
Lieutenant
sottotenente
Second lieutenant
Sub-officers
Marshals
primo maresciallo luogotenente
First Marshal Lieutenant
(sub-officers)
NATO Eq.: OR-9, Warrant officer/Sergeant Major of the Army
primo maresciallo
Transl.: First marshal
NATO Eq.: OR-9, Command Sergeant Major
maresciallo capo
Transl.: Chief marshal
NATO Eq.: OR-9, Sergeant major
maresciallo ordinario
Transl.: Ordinary marshal
NATO Eq.: OR-8, First sergeant
maresciallo
Transl.: Marshal
NATO Eq.: OR-8, Master sergeant
Sergeants
sergente maggiore capo
Transl.: Chief sergeant major
NATO Eq.: OR-7, Sergeant first class
sergente maggiore
Transl.: Sergeant-major
(paratrooper)
NATO Eq.: OR-6, Staff sergeant
sergente maggiore
Transl.: Sergeant-major
NATO Eq.: OR-6, Staff sergeant
sergente
Transl.: Sergeant
(paratrooper)
NATO Eq.: OR-5, Sergeant
sergente
Transl.: Sergeant
NATO Eq.: OR-5, Sergeant
Ratings
Permanent service volunteers
caporalmaggiore capo scelto
Transl.: Senior Chief Corporal-Major
NATO Eq.: OR-4, Corporal/Lance sergeant
caporalmaggiore capo
Transl.: Chief Corporal-Major
NATO Eq.: OR-4, Corporal/Master corporal
caporale maggiore scelto
Transl.: Senior Corporal-Major
NATO Eq.: OR-4, Corporal
primo caporalmaggiore
Transl.: First Corporal-Major
NATO Eq.: OR-4, Corporal/Lance corporal
Enlisted
Temporary service volunteers
caporalmaggiore
Transl.: Corporal-Major
(paratrooper)
NATO Eq.: OR-3, Private first class
caporalmaggiore
Transl.: Corporal-Major
NATO Eq.: OR-3, Private first class
caporale
Transl.: Corporal
(paratrooper)
NATO Equivalent rank: OR-2, Private
caporale
Translation: Corporal
NATO Equivalent rank: OR-2, Private
(no insignia)
soldato
Soldier (Private or Recruit)

STANAG 2116 ranking

Officers

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
 Italy
(Edit)
primo capitano capitano
No equivalent
generale
(Chief of Defense Staff only)
generale di corpo d'armata con incarichi speciali
(Chief of Army General Staff only)
generale di corpo d'armata
(tenente generale)
generale di divisione
(maggior generale)
generale di brigata
(brigadier generale)
colonnello tenente colonnello maggiore tenente sottotenente allievo ufficiale
AbbreviationGen.Gen.CSMD Gen.CSMEGen.CdAGen.Div.Gen.Brig.Col.Ten.Col.Magg.Pr.Cap Cap.Ten.S.Ten.
  • Before 1947 generale d'armata rather than generale was the title of a four star general.
  • The chief of the Italian Army is a generale di corpo d'armata con incarichi speciali (special duties) NATO rank OF-9. The insignia has four stars with the higher star has a red enamel.
Pay gradeO-11O-10O-9O-8O-7O-6O-5O-4O-3O-2O-1

Enlisted

NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Italy Italy[4]
(Edit)
Caporale maggiore capo scelto Caporale maggiore capo Caporale maggiore scelto Primo caporale maggiore
Primo maresciallo luogotenente Primo maresciallo Maresciallo capo Maresciallo ordinario Maresciallo Sergente maggiore capo Sergente maggiore Sergente Caporal maggiore Caporale Soldato
Abbreviation1° Mar. Lgt.1° Mar.Mar. Ca.Mar. Ord.Mar.Serg. Magg. Ca. Serg.Magg.Serg.
CMCS CMC C.le Magg. Sc. 1° C.le Magg.
C.le Magg.C.leSold.
Pay gradeE-9E-8E-7E-6E-5E-4E-3E-2E-1

This chart represents the Italian Army enlisted rank insignia with seniority decreasing left-to-right inside a given pay grade. All ranks of sergente or higher are considered as Non Commissioned Officers. Airborne units personnel wear the chevrons on a blue base.

History

Enlisted insignia saw no significant changes until 1973 when the chevrons were moved from the sleeve to the epaulette. In 1997 the new ranks from 1°CM to CMCS were created for permanent service enlisted personnel, and the new insignia were created. in the same year, the rank of C.le Sc. was created as top rank for conscript personnel, and the new insignia was created.

Current usage

The rank of caporale is not a command grade and only results in a higher paygrade, and may be attained by conscript personnel. The ranks up to caporal maggiore may be attained by temporary service personnel. Higher ranks may only be attained by permanent service personnel. Sergeants generally have team command tasks, and are appointed in the rank only after several months training course. The rank of soldato is used only for recruits and is substituted by the following, depending on the branch or service:

Notes

  1. In the images the Pantone colour khaki 16-0726 TC, rendered as RGB 161 143 94, has been used.
  2. until 1947 Generale d'Armata
  3. The chief of the Italian Army is now a generale di corpo d'armata con incarichi speciali (special duties) NATO rank OF-8. The insignia has four stars with the higher star in red enamel.
  4. Italian Army web site
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