Spain: Army Rank Insignia 1908

[Luke2]

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This is the situation at the beginning of the 20th century. There where only two categories, officers and enlisted. The enlisted had only four ranks; private, pfc, corporal and sergeant. Brigadier Generals had one silver star, while Major Generals had one gold star.

Source: http://www.foropolicia.es/foros/divisas ... 04959.html

[Luke2]

In 1912 the enlisted category was divided into primary enlisted and secondary enlisted. The first category contained privates, pfc and corporals; the second category sergeants and the new ranks of brigada and suboficial.

Source: as above.

[Luke2]

The republican government abolished the top generals ranks, and removed the crown from the rank insignia of the two general ranks kept.

An NCO corps was created containing subteniente (new), subayudante (previous suboficial), brigada and sargento primero (new).

Enlisted now contained sergeant, corporal, pfc and private.

Source: as above.

I will continue with the remaining developments until 2013 another day. Those of you who are eager to see what has happened can go to the original source. /Luke

[Luke2]

In 1934 the ranks of Subayudante and Sargento Primero was abolished, and Sargento became a NCO rank. The rank of Subteniente was abolished in 1935. 1939 the two top general ranks where restored. 1940 Cabo Primero was added to the enlisted ranks. The crowns above the generals' rank stars where returned in 1942. The following year, the white star of General de Brigada was changed into a yellow, and the number of stars was increased with one for each rank above.

Source: as above, where images of the situation after each of these changes can be found.

[Luke2]

The ranks of Primo Sargento and Subteniente where reintroduced in 1960. With the death of Franco and the factual re-establishment of monarchy, the Bourbon crowns where restored to the generals' rank insignia in 1976. In 1986 the placement of the rank insignia was moved from the cuffs, to the epaulets.

[Luke2]

1989 saw the introduction of a new top NCO rank: Suboficial Mayor, and a new rank insignia for Subteniente. The rank of Soldado de Primera is abolished about the same time.

[Luke2]

The beginning transformation of the Spanish army from a conscript army to a volunteer army is shown by the introduction of special rank insignia that separates national servicemen from professional soldiers in the most junior ranks. Soldado profesional is given the old rank insignia of Pfc, and replacement corporal is placed between this rank and corporal.

[JMRamos]

1999 would see yet another rank adjustment. By that year the Captain General rank became a 5-star rank, as always held by the King of Spain in his constitutional duty as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and the 4 star rank became that of a General of the Army.

The rank of Corporal Major, created that same year, became the highest enlisted rank, and the rank of Private First Class was reinstated.

There were no changes in the NCO ranks.

[Luke2]

Thanks for the input JMRamos. Please continute with the remaining changes, your are more knowledgeable than me. /Luke

[JMRamos]

The 2002 rank system abolished the special enlisted ranks and mirrored the complete professionalization of the ground forces.

In 2006, the Defense Ministry ordered a halt on all future PFC promotions in the Army (but not in the other services), thus the rank is now held in abeyance in the Army only.



As the current (2013) rank system shows, the Ensign rank is now also held in abeyance only by active officers, as the rank is now used by graduate students of the General Military Academy.

[JMRamos]

On to the army officer cadet and cadet NCO insignia:



Notice the difference on the chevrons of officer and NCO cadets.

[JMRamos]

Now to the Spanish Navy ranks of today.

[JMRamos]

These are from the General Branch, and now towards the Navy Corps of Engineers, Specialists Branch and the Logistics Branch, all staff corps manned by officers with ratings provided by the General Branch.

[JMRamos]

Now to the Marine Corps. The Spanish Navy Marines, with roots taking back to the Tercio days, are the world's oldest Marine infantry formation.



Unlike the Army, the Navy retains the rating of Seaman Apprentice and the Marine enlisted rank of Private First Class, and promotions still continue.

[Luke2]

What does the Cuerpo de Especialistas do? /Luke

[JMRamos]

The Specialist Corps are the Spanish Navy officers who serve in the various naval specialty arms.

[Luke2]

Such as?

[JMRamos]

Such as?

Administration, armaments, ship propulsion, services, operations and ship navigation. They are graduates of a 3-year specialist officer course in the Naval Academy.

[Luke2]

Thanks!

[JMRamos]

Former ratings insignia of the Navy

Former ranks of the Navy Marines