Irish Defence Forces rank insignia

Rank insignia in the Irish Defence Forces are an indication of the wearer's military rank, and worn by officers and enlisted members of Ireland's Defence Forces as an element of their uniform, typically on a single chest tab or as a shoulder board.[1]

Irish Army

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Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Combat[2]                  
  Irish Army[3][1]
                 
Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier-general Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Commandant Captain Lieutenant Second-Lieutenant
Lefteanant-ghinearál Maor-ghinearál Briogáidire-ghinearál Cornal Lefteanant-chornal Ceannfort Captaen Lefteanant Dara-lefteanant
Abbreviation Lt Gen Maj Gen Brig Gen Col Lt Col Comdt Capt Lt 2nd Lt
Other ranks
Rank group Non-commissioned officer Enlisted
Combat[4]                 No insignia
  Irish Army[3][1]
                No insignia
Sergeant major Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Company sergeant Company quartermaster sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private, 3 star Private, 2 star Recruit
Maor-Sáirsint Cathlán/Reisimint[a] Ceathrúsháirsint Cathlán/Reisimint[a] Sáirsint Complacht[b] Ceathrúsháirsint Complacht[b] Sáirsint Ceannaire Saighdiúr Singil, 3 Réalta Saighdiúr Singil, 2 Réalta Earcach
Abbreviation BSM/RSM BQMS/RQMS CS/BS/SS CQ/BQ/SQ Sgt Cpl Pte/Gnr/Tpr 3* Pte 2* Rec

Historic ranks

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
(1924–1942)[5]                  
Lieutenant-general Major-general Colonel Major Commandant Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
(1942–1944)[6]                  
Lieutenant-general Major-general Colonel Major Commandant Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
(1944–1971)[7]                  
Lieutenant-general Major-general Colonel Major Commandant Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Rank group Non-commissioned officer Enlisted
(1924–1949)[8]             No insignia
Abbreviation BSM BQMS Coy Sgt CQS Sgt Cpl Pte
(1949–1963)[9][10]                    
Abbreviation BSM/RSM BQMS/RQMS BS/CS/SS BQ/CQ/SQ Sgt Cpl, 2 Star Cpl, 1 Star Pte, 3 Star Pte, 2 Star Pte, 1 Star
(1963)[10]                   No insignia
Abbreviation BSM/RSM BQMS/RQMS BS/CS/SS BQ/CQ/SQ Sgt Cpl, 2 Star Cpl, 1 Star Pte, 3 Star Pte, 2 Star Pte

Irish Air Corps

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Irish Air Corps rank insignia are an indication of the wearer's military rank, and worn by officers and enlisted members of the Irish Air Corps as an element of their uniform.[11]

Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Irish Air Corps[12]
                 
Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier-general Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Commandant Captain Lieutenant Second-lieutenant
Lefteanant-ghinearál Maor-ghinearál Briogáidire-ghinearál Cornal Lefteanant-chornal Ceannfort Captaen Lefteanant Dara-lefteanant
Abbreviation Lt Gen Maj Gen Brig Gen Col Lt Col Comdt Capt Lt 2nd Lt
Other ranks
Rank group Non-commissioned officer Enlisted
  Irish Air Corps[12]
                  No insignia
Regimental sergeant major
Maor-sáirsint reisiminte
Regimental quartermaster sergeant
Ceathrúsháirsint reisiminte
Flight sergeant
Sáirsint eitleoige
Flight quartermaster sergeant
Ceathrúsháirsint eitleoige
Sergeant
Sáirsint
Corporal
Ceannaire
Airman 3 star
Eitleoir, 3 réalta
Airman 2 Star
Eitleoir, 2 réalta
Apprentice
Printíseach
Recruit
Earcach
Abbreviation RSM RQMS FS FQMS Sgt Cpl Amn 3* Amn 2* App Rec/G1

Irish Naval Service

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Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Irish Naval Service[13]
                 
Vice admiral
Leas-Aimiréal
Rear admiral
Seach-Aimiréal
Commodore
Ceannasóir
Captain
Captaen
Commander
Ceannasaí
Lieutenant commander
Lefteanant-Cheannasaí
Lieutenant
Lefteanant
Sub-lieutenant
Fo-Lefteanant
Ensign
Meirgire
Enlisted
Rank group Non-commissioned officer Enlisted
  Irish Naval Service[13]
                No insignia
Warrant officer
Oifigeach barántais
Senior chief petty officer
Ard-mhion-oifigeach sinsearach
Chief petty officer
Ard-mhion-oifigeach
Senior petty officer
Mion-oifigeach sinsearach
Petty officer
Mion-oifigeach
Leading seaman
Mairnéalach ceannais
Able seaman
Mairnéalach inniúil
Ordinary seaman
Mairnéalach
Seaman recruit
Earcach
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Prior to 2002 ranks for NCOs in the Naval Reserve were in blue instead of gold.[1]

Rank group Non-commissioned officer Enlisted
  Irish Naval
Service Reserve

(Pre-2002)
              No insignia
Senior chief petty officer
Ard-mhion-oifigeach sinsearach
Chief petty officer
Ard-mhion-oifigeach
Senior petty officer
Mion-oifigeach sinsearach
Petty officer
Mion-oifigeach
Leading seaman
Mairnéalach ceannais
Able seaman
Mairnéalach inniúil
Ordinary seaman
Mairnéalach
Seaman recruit
Earcach

Student officers

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Rank group Student officer
  Irish Army[3][2]    
   
Senior officer cadet
Dalta oifigeach sinsearch
Junior officer cadet
Dalta oifigeach sóisearach
Sr Cdt Jr Cdt
  Irish Air Corps[12]  
Officer cadet
Dalta oifigeach
O-Cdt
  Irish Naval Service[13]  
Officer cadet
Dalta Oifigeach

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Battalion (Cathlán), Regiment (Reisimint)
  2. ^ a b Battery (Ceallraí) in the Artillery. Squadron (Scuadrún) in the Cavalry.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Irish Military Insignia". irishmilitaryinsignia.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2007.
  2. ^ a b Perkins 2007, Rank Markings (Slider) - Officers.
  3. ^ a b c "Army Rank Markings". military.ie. Defence Forces (Ireland). Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  4. ^ Perkins 2007, Rank Markings (Slider) - Enlisted Personnel.
  5. ^ Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Officers, 1924 to 1942.
  6. ^ Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Officers, 1942 to 1944.
  7. ^ Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Officers, 1944 to 1971.
  8. ^ Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Enlisted Personnel, 1924.
  9. ^ Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Enlisted Personnel, 1949.
  10. ^ a b Perkins 2007, Rank Markings - Enlisted Personnel, Miscellaneous.
  11. ^ "Air Corps rank markings". irishmilitaryinsignia.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017.
  12. ^ a b c "Air Corps Rank Markings". military.ie. Defence Forces (Ireland). Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "Naval Service Rank Markings". military.ie. Defence Forces (Ireland). Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

Bibliography

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