Chapter 2 - Personnel
           
Table 2.24 NATO Rank Codes and UK Service Ranks
NATO Code Royal Navy1   Royal Marines2 Army Royal Air Force
Officers
OF-10 Admiral of the Fleet   - Field Marshal Marshal of the RAF
OF-9 Admiral   General General Air Chief Marshal
OF-8 Vice Admiral   Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Air Marshal
OF-7 Rear Admiral   Major General Major General Air Vice-Marshal
OF-6 Commodore   Brigadier Brigadier Air Commodore
OF-5 Captain   Colonel Colonel Group Captain
OF-4 Commander   Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Wing Commander
OF-3 Lieutenant Commander   Major Major Squadron Leader
OF-2 Lieutenant   Captain Captain Flight Lieutenant
OF-1 Sub-Lieutenant   Lieutenant/2nd Lieutenant Lieutenant/2nd Lieutenant Flying Officer/Pilot Officer
OF(D) Midshipman   - Officer Designate Officer Designate
           
Other Ranks
OR-9 Warrant Officer Class 1   Warrant Officer Class 1 Warrant Officer Class 1 Warrant Officer
OR-8 Warrant Officer Class 2   Warrant Officer Class 2 Warrant Officer Class 2 -
OR-7 Chief Petty Officer   Colour Sergeant Staff Sergeant Flight Sergeant/ Chief Technician
OR-6 Petty Officer   Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant
OR-4 Leading Rate   Corporal Corporal Corporal
OR-3 -   Lance Corporal4 Lance Corporal Lance Corporal5
OR-2 Able Rating3   Marine3 Private (Classes 1 to 3) Junior Technician/ Leading Aircraftman/ Senior Aircraftman
OR-1 -   - Private (Class 4)/Junior Aircraftman


1.    The Royal Navy introduced a Warrant Officer Class 2 on 1 April 2004.
2.    Royal Marine officer ranks were aligned with those of the Army on 1 July 1999.
3.    The rates of Able Rating and Ordinary Seaman were merged on 1 April 1999, as were the corresponding ranks of Marine 1st class and Marine 2nd class.        The ranks of Junior Rating and Junior Marine were also abolished.
4.    Rank introduced in 2008.
5.    Rank introduced in 2010 in the RAF.
 

Civilian equivalents to military ranks
NATO Code   Ministry of Defence civilian grade equivalent
OF-10 } Permanent Under Secretary/
2nd Permanent Under Secretary
OF-9
OF-8   SCS1 3-star2
OF-7   SCS1 2-star3
OF-6   SCS1 1-star4
-   Band B15
OF-5   Band B26
OF-4   Band C17
OF-3   Band C28
OF-2   Band D9
 
1.    Senior Civil Service.
2.    Formerly Grade 2, Deputy Under Secretary.
3.    Formerly Grade 3, Assistant Under Secretary.

4.    Formerly Grades 4 and 5, Executive Director and Assistant Secretary.
5.    Formerly Grade 6, Senior Principal Officer and equivalents.
6.    Formerly Grade 7, Principal Officer and equivalents.
7.    Formerly Senior Executive Officer and equivalents.
8.    Formerly Higher Executive Officer and equivalents.
9.    Formerly Executive Officer and equivalents.