Sub-Officer
Encyclopedia
Sub-Officer is a term used in many military forces used to indicate ranks below commissioned officers. Sub-Officer is equivalent to the term NCO
in the Commonwealth and USA. Historically armed forces using the term sub-officer have used it to refer to more senior non-commissioned ranks, typically from sergeant upwards, but often the term now covers all non-commissioned ranks.
There is also a specific rank of "sub-officer" in some armed forces and in the UK Fire and Rescue Services, and in the Irish Fire Services.
use Principal Sub-Officer (suboficial principal) and Sub-Officer Major (suboficial mayor, which can also translate as senior sub-officer) as the second highest and highest non-commissioned ranks. The Navy and Air Force also use other "superior sub-officer" ranks.
Argentine Superior Sub-Officer Ranks:
and in the Chilean Gendarmerie
, only two Sub-officer ranks are used and these are:
These sub-officer ranks are the same in all the military and police services.
units.) Lower non-commissioned ranks, such as corporal
and brigadier
, are not considered sub-officers. Traditionally, French sub-officers are often recruited directly as sub-officers rather than rising from more junior ranks.
fire services, between Leading Firefighter
and Station Officer
.
A Sub-Officer was usually in charge of a small one-pump
fire station or a watch in a larger station. In some brigades they may be in charge of multi-pump stations.
The badge of rank is two white or silver bars on the epaulette
s (or the collar of the firefighting uniform), the helmet was yellow with two 12.5mm bands on it.
With the transition from a rank based structure to a role based structure, the rank of Sub Officer has disappeared and is now replaced by the role of Watch Manager A. The role of Crew Commander
/ Crew Manager now wear the markings of two silver bars.
The female equivalent in the days when women in the fire services performed administrative and control room roles only was Senior Leading Firewoman. With the advent of mixed sex control rooms, the title has now changed to Senior Fire Control Operator (SFCOp).
.
A Sub-Station-Officer usually performs a command function in support of the Station Officer's role on the fireground, and occasionally may take command role at less-serious incidents and takes command when the Station Officer is absent.
The badge of rank is two white or silver bars on the epaulette
s (or the collar of the firefighting uniform), the helmet is yellow with two black 12.5mm bands on it.
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
in the Commonwealth and USA. Historically armed forces using the term sub-officer have used it to refer to more senior non-commissioned ranks, typically from sergeant upwards, but often the term now covers all non-commissioned ranks.
There is also a specific rank of "sub-officer" in some armed forces and in the UK Fire and Rescue Services, and in the Irish Fire Services.
Argentina
In Argentina the term sub-officer indicated only the more senior non-commissioned ranks. Now these ranks are known as "superior sub-officers" and lower ranks as "junior sub-officers". All the Argentine armed forcesMilitary of Argentina
The Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, in Spanish Fuerzas Armadas de la República Argentina, are controlled by the Commander-in-Chief and a civilian Minister of Defense...
use Principal Sub-Officer (suboficial principal) and Sub-Officer Major (suboficial mayor, which can also translate as senior sub-officer) as the second highest and highest non-commissioned ranks. The Navy and Air Force also use other "superior sub-officer" ranks.
Argentine Superior Sub-Officer Ranks:
| Argentine Army Rank | Argentine Navy Rank | Argentine Air Force Rank |
|---|---|---|
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- |
| Sub-officer Major - Suboficial Mayor | Sub-officer Major - Suboficial Mayor | Sub-officer Major - Suboficial Mayor |
| Principal Sub-officer - Suboficial Principal | Principal Sub-officer - Suboficial Principal | Principal Sub-officer - Suboficial Principal |
| Adjutant Sergeant - Sargento Ayudante | Sub-officer First Class - Suboficial Primero | Adjutant Sub-officer - Suboficial Ayudante |
| Sergeant First Class - Sargento Primero | Sub-officer Second Class - Suboficial Segundo | Auxiliary Sub-officer - Suboficial Auxiliar |
Chile
In all three services of the Chilean Armed Forces, in the Carabineros de ChileCarabineros de Chile
thumb|250px|Carabineros de Chile, patrolling a street in [[Santiago, Chile|Santiago]]The Carabiniers of Chile, are the uniformed Chilean national police force and gendarmerie, created on April 27, 1927. Their mission is to maintain order and create public respect for the laws of the country...
and in the Chilean Gendarmerie
Chilean Gendarmerie
The Chilean Gendarmerie, in Spanish Gendarmería de Chile, is the title of Chile's uniformed national prison service. The title is historic, and the service is not an actual gendarmerie. The service evolved out of Chilean Army units which were given police and prison duties.It is an armed service...
, only two Sub-officer ranks are used and these are:
- Suboficial (Sub-officer)
- Suboficial Mayor (Sub-officer Major)
These sub-officer ranks are the same in all the military and police services.
France
In France a sub-officer is sergeant (or equivalent) and above as well as the rank of student sub-officer. (The equivalents to sergeant are 2nd Master in the French navy, and Maréchal-des-logis in some army units (often abbreviated to "margi"), mostly cavalry and logistics arms, and most gendarmerieGendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
units.) Lower non-commissioned ranks, such as corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
and brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
, are not considered sub-officers. Traditionally, French sub-officers are often recruited directly as sub-officers rather than rising from more junior ranks.
UK Fire and Rescue Services
Sub-Officer (usually addressed as "Sub") was a rank in the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
fire services, between Leading Firefighter
Leading Firefighter
Leading Firefighter was a rank in the British fire services, between Firefighter and Sub-Officer. A Leading Firefighter was usually in charge of a single fire appliance...
and Station Officer
Station Officer
Station Officer is a rank in a number of Commonwealth and other fire services, including those in Australia, the United Kingdom and the New Zealand Fire Service.-Australia and New Zealand:...
.
A Sub-Officer was usually in charge of a small one-pump
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
fire station or a watch in a larger station. In some brigades they may be in charge of multi-pump stations.
The badge of rank is two white or silver bars on the epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s (or the collar of the firefighting uniform), the helmet was yellow with two 12.5mm bands on it.
With the transition from a rank based structure to a role based structure, the rank of Sub Officer has disappeared and is now replaced by the role of Watch Manager A. The role of Crew Commander
Crew Commander
A Crew Commander or Crew Manager is a rank within the fire service in the United Kingdom. It is superior to a Firefighter but inferior to a Watch Commander / Watch Manager....
/ Crew Manager now wear the markings of two silver bars.
The female equivalent in the days when women in the fire services performed administrative and control room roles only was Senior Leading Firewoman. With the advent of mixed sex control rooms, the title has now changed to Senior Fire Control Operator (SFCOp).
Republic of Ireland Fire and Rescue Services
Sub-Station-Officer (usually addressed as "Sub" or "Subbo") is a rank in the Irish Fire Services, below the rank of Station OfficerStation Officer
Station Officer is a rank in a number of Commonwealth and other fire services, including those in Australia, the United Kingdom and the New Zealand Fire Service.-Australia and New Zealand:...
.
A Sub-Station-Officer usually performs a command function in support of the Station Officer's role on the fireground, and occasionally may take command role at less-serious incidents and takes command when the Station Officer is absent.
The badge of rank is two white or silver bars on the epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s (or the collar of the firefighting uniform), the helmet is yellow with two black 12.5mm bands on it.