Iraqi Army Ranks Insignia
Encyclopedia
Iraqi military ranks
Every military needs discipline and respect in order to achieve its objective. The military uses ranks in order to achieve a chain of command
Chain of Command
Chain of Command may refer to:* Chain of command, in a military context, the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed* "Chain of Command" , the fifth episode of the first season of Beast Wars...
that is responsible for work to go smoothly. The Iraqi Military uses a very well known system of ranking in order to achieve its objectives.
History
The Iraqi military adopted its system of ranking from the British Military. The Iraqi Military uses one of the most known ranking systems. The ranks are very similar of the American counter parts, but they differ in the way they appear.Before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, NCOs in the Iraqi Army had limited input and commanded less authority than their western counterparts, as was the norm in eastern bloc countries which the Iraqi army was modelled on at the time.
U.S. Military Transition Teams are now training Iraqi NCOs to bridge the gap between the officers and rank-and-file soldiers.
Officer ranks
| Order | Rank | Insignia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Highest Rank) | Field Marshal Field Marshal Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical... مهيب |
 |
| 2 | General General A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given.... فريق أول |
 |
| 3 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... فريق |
 |
| 4 | Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general... لواء |
 |
| 5 | Brigadier General Brigadier General Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000... عميد |
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| 6 | Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures... عقيد |
 |
| 7 | Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence... مقدم |
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| 8 | Major Major Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ... رائد |
 |
| 9 | Captain نقيب |  |
| 10 | 1st Lieutenant ملازم أول |  |
| 11 (Lowest rank) | 2nd Lieutenant ملازم |  |
Lower officer ranks
- 2nd Lieutenant "MOLAZIM" (ملازم) is the junior officer and the first officer rank. It is portrayed by one star on the shoulder.
- 1st Lieutenant "MOLAZIM AWAL" (ملازم أول) is the second rank of officer. It is portrayed by two stars on the shoulder.
- Captain "NAQEEB" (نقيب) is the third rank of officer. They usually are the start of considerable responsibility level. They are portrayed by three stars on the shoulder.
- MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
"RA'ED" (رائد) is the fourth of the officer ranks, it is portrayed by the republican eagleCoat of arms of IraqThe coat of arms or state emblem of Iraq is a golden black eagle looking towards the viewer's left dexter. The eagle is the Eagle of Saladin associated with 20th-century pan-Arabism, bearing a shield of the Iraqi flag, and holding a scroll below with the Arabic words الجمهورية العراقية .- History...
. - Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
"MOQADDAM" (مقدم) is the junior grade for colonel and usually holds a great deal of responsibility, especially in the military medical field. It is portrayed by the republican eagleCoat of arms of IraqThe coat of arms or state emblem of Iraq is a golden black eagle looking towards the viewer's left dexter. The eagle is the Eagle of Saladin associated with 20th-century pan-Arabism, bearing a shield of the Iraqi flag, and holding a scroll below with the Arabic words الجمهورية العراقية .- History...
and a star. - ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
"AQEED" (عقيد) is the senior officer for the type of officers listed above. It is portrayed by two stars and the republican eagle.
Upper officer ranks (generals)
- Brigadier GeneralBrigadier GeneralBrigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
"AMID" (عميد) is the lowest general rank. They take command of the direct field oporations and are directors of some corps. i.e Royal maintenance corp. It is portrayed by three stars in a triangle shape with the republican eagle above them. - Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
"LIWA" (لواء) is the second lowest general rank. They are usually responsible in the highest military positions with considerable military authority. It is portrayed by two swords crossing with the republican eagle above them. - Lieutenant generalLieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
"FAREEQ" (فريق) it is perhaps the rank with most of the general authority and responsibility. It is usually for direct assistants of the head of joint chiefs of staff of the military. It is portrayed by two crossing swords with a star and the republican eagle above them. - GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
or Full General "FAREEQ AWAL" (فريق أول) is usually the head of joint chiefs of staff. He (after the Prime Minister who is the commander-in-chiefCommander-in-ChiefA commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
based on the new Iraqi Constitution) has the most authority over the military and is considered to be the most powerful general. It is portrayed by two swords crossing with two stars and the republican eagle above them. - Field MarshalField MarshalField Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
"MUHEEB" (مهيب) is the highest military rank and the commander-in-chiefCommander-in-ChiefA commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the military until 2003. This rank is reserved for the president. It is portrayed by two crossing swords and two wheat plants around it with the republican eagleCoat of arms of IraqThe coat of arms or state emblem of Iraq is a golden black eagle looking towards the viewer's left dexter. The eagle is the Eagle of Saladin associated with 20th-century pan-Arabism, bearing a shield of the Iraqi flag, and holding a scroll below with the Arabic words الجمهورية العراقية .- History...
above them. However, this rank is no longer in use by the new Iraqi Army , Saddam HusseinSaddam HusseinSaddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
was the only one who had this rank during his presidency.
External links
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/insignia-officer.htm