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This reference list provides the military ranks used by the United States Army and Navy during the First World War. It includes officer and enlisted grades, with abbreviations in the traditional period style. Where no exact modern equivalent exists, the literal WWI-era form has been retained.

United States Military Ranks (1914–1918)

The United States entered the First World War with a rank system that reflected established Anglo-American traditions, reinforced by legislation from the late 19th century. The Army recognized General of the Armies as a dignity above the four-star General, followed by Lieutenant General, Major General, and Brigadier General. Field and company officers followed the standard hierarchy from Colonel through Second Lieutenant. The enlisted scale extended from Sergeant Major and First Sergeant down through Corporal, Private First Class, and Private. The U.S. Navy paralleled this system, recognizing Admiral of the Navy as the highest naval dignity, followed by Admiral, Vice Admiral, and Rear Admiral. Commissioned officers extended from Captain to Ensign, with warrant officers and petty officers providing vital technical leadership. Enlisted sailors progressed from Seaman Recruit to Seaman, structured by three grades of petty officer. This system emphasized clarity and reflected the United States’ rapid transition from a modest peacetime force to a mass wartime establishment.

Army Ranks

Army Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
General of the Armies	Gen. of Armies	General of the Armies
General	Gen.	General
Lieutenant General	Lt. Gen.	Lieutenant General
Major General	Maj. Gen.	Major General
Brigadier General	Brig. Gen.	Brigadier General
Colonel	Col.	Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel	Lt. Col.	Lieutenant Colonel
Major	Maj.	Major
Captain	Capt.	Captain
First Lieutenant	1st Lt.	First Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant	2nd Lt.	Second Lieutenant

Army Enlisted

Army Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Sergeant Major	Sgt. Maj.	Sergeant Major
First Sergeant	1st Sgt.	First Sergeant
Master Sergeant	M. Sgt.	Master Sergeant
Sergeant First Class	SFC	Sergeant First Class
Staff Sergeant	SSgt.	Staff Sergeant
Sergeant	Sgt.	Sergeant
Corporal	Cpl.	Corporal
Private First Class	PFC	Private First Class
Private	Pvt.	Private

Navy Ranks

Naval Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Admiral of the Navy	Adm. of Navy	Admiral of the Navy
Admiral	Adm.	Admiral
Vice Admiral	V. Adm.	Vice Admiral
Rear Admiral	R. Adm.	Rear Admiral
Captain	Capt.	Captain
Commander	Cmdr.	Commander
Lieutenant Commander	Lt. Cmdr.	Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant	Lt.	Lieutenant
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Lt. j.g.	Lieutenant Junior Grade
Ensign	Ens.	Ensign

Navy Enlisted

Naval Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Master Chief Petty Officer	MCPO	Master Chief Petty Officer
Senior Chief Petty Officer	SCPO	Senior Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer	CPO	Chief Petty Officer
Petty Officer First Class	PO1	Petty Officer First Class
Petty Officer Second Class	PO2	Petty Officer Second Class
Petty Officer Third Class	PO3	Petty Officer Third Class
Seaman	SN	Seaman
Seaman Apprentice	SA	Seaman Apprentice
Seaman Recruit	SR	Seaman Recruit

Note: Abbreviations follow traditional U.S. usage, capitalized with periods (e.g., Gen., Maj., Capt.).

This reference list provides the military ranks used by the Austro-Hungarian Army and Navy during the First World War. It includes officer and enlisted grades, with abbreviations and English renderings. Where no exact modern equivalent exists, the literal historical form has been retained.

Introductory Note — Austro-Hungarian Military Ranks (1914–1918)

The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy maintained a complex military hierarchy that reflected both its dynastic traditions and its multinational character. The general officer corps included Feldmarschall and Generaloberst, supported by branch-specific titles such as General der Infanterie, General der Kavallerie, and Feldzeugmeister. The intermediate grade of Feldmarschalleutnant was unique to the Habsburg system, falling between major general and full general. Field and company officers followed continental usage, with Hauptmann and the cavalry’s Rittmeister at company level, while Fähnrich and Kadett represented the path of junior entrants. The enlisted and NCO ladder included Stabsfeldwebel, Zugsführer, and Korporal, echoing German but with distinctive Austrian usage. The Navy paralleled contemporary German and British practice, recognizing Grossadmiral at the apex, while scaling down to Matrose IV. Klasse at the recruit level. This structure embodied the Empire’s balancing of historical tradition with modern coalition warfare needs.

Army Ranks

Army Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Feldmarschall	FM	Field Marshal or General of the Army
Generaloberst	GO	Colonel General
General der Infanterie	GdI	General of Infantry
General der Kavallerie	GdK	General of Cavalry
Feldzeugmeister	FZM	General of Artillery
Feldmarschalleutnant	FML	Lieutenant Field Marshal
Generalmajor	GM	Major General
Oberst	Obst	Colonel
Oberstleutnant	Obstlt	Lieutenant Colonel
Major	Mjr	Major
Hauptmann	Hptm	Captain
Rittmeister (Cavalry)	Rittm	Cavalry Captain
Oberleutnant	Oblt	First Lieutenant
Leutnant	Lt	Lieutenant
Fähnrich	Fhn	Ensign
Offizierstellvertreter	Offstv	Acting Officer
Kadett	Kdt	Cadet

Army Enlisted

Army Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Stabsfeldwebel	Stbsfw	Staff Sergeant
Feldwebel	Fw	Master Sergeant
Unteroffizier	Uffz	Non-Commissioned Officer, Sergeant
Zugsführer	Zgsf	Master Corporal
Korporal	Kpl	Corporal
Gefreiter	Gfr	Private First Class
Soldat	—	Private

Navy Ranks

Naval Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Grossadmiral	GrAdm	Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral	Adm	Admiral
Vizeadmiral	VAdm	Vice Admiral
Kontreadmiral	KAdm	Rear Admiral
Linienschiffskapitän	Lkpt	Captain
Fregattenkapitän	Fkpt	Commander
Korvettenkapitän	Kkpt	Lieutenant Commander
Linienschiffsleutnant	Lschlt	Lieutenant
Fregattenleutnant	Flglt	Lieutenant Junior Grade
Korvettenleutnant	Kklt	Sub-Lieutenant
Fregattenfähnrich	Ffhr	Ensign
Korvettenfähnrich	Kfhr	Midshipman
Seefähnrich	Sfr	Naval Academy Midshipman
Kadett (Navy)	Kdt	Naval Academy Candidate

Navy Enlisted

Naval Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Oberstabsbootsmann	OStBtsm	Master Chief Petty Officer
Stabsbootsmann	StBtsm	Senior Chief Petty Officer
Bootsmann	Btsm	Chief Petty Officer
Oberbootsmannmaat	OBtsmaat	Petty Officer First Class
Bootsmaat	Btsmaat	Petty Officer Second Class
Quartiermeister	Qm	Leading Seaman
Matrose I. Klasse	Mat I	Seaman First Class
Matrose II. Klasse	Mat II	Seaman Second Class
Matrose III. Klasse	Mat III	Seaman Apprentice
Matrose IV. Klasse	Mat IV	Recruit

Note: Equivalences are approximate. Titles such as Feldmarschalleutnant ('Lieutenant Field Marshal') and Feldzeugmeister ('General of Artillery') are shown in their literal historical form, which differs from later NATO or U.S. rank structures.

This reference list provides the military ranks used by the Belgian Army during the First World War. It includes officer and enlisted grades, with abbreviations and English renderings. Where no exact modern equivalent exists, the literal historical form has been retained.

Belgian Military Ranks (1914–1918)

The Belgian Army employed a French-influenced rank system but preserved certain national distinctions. General officers were limited to Lieutenant General and General-Major, forming a compact two-tier general staff. Field and company officer ranks followed continental convention, though the unique grade of Capitaine-Commandant functioned as a senior company commander without a precise Anglo-American counterpart. Junior officers progressed through Capitaine, 1er Lieutenant, and Sous-Lieutenant. The enlisted structure featured Adjudant as a senior warrant/NCO, with Sergent-Major, Sergent, Caporal, and Soldat forming the backbone of the system. Cavalry and artillery branches retained the parallel titles of Maréchal des Logis and Brigadier. This compact hierarchy reflected Belgium’s small peacetime establishment, which expanded rapidly under mobilization in 1914.

Officer Ranks

Officer Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Lieutenant General	Lt. Gen.	Lieutenant General
General-Major	Gen. Maj.	Major General
Colonel	Col.	Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel	Lt. Col.	Lieutenant Colonel
Major	Maj.	Major
Capitaine-Commandant	Capt.-Cmdt.	Captain-Commandant (Company Commander)
Capitaine	Capt.	Captain
1er Lieutenant	1er Lt.	First Lieutenant
Sous-Lieutenant	S/Lt.	Second Lieutenant

Enlisted Ranks

Enlisted Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Adjudant	Adjt.	Warrant Officer / Senior NCO
1er Sergent-Major	1er Sgt. Maj.	First Sergeant Major
1er Sergent	1er Sgt.	First Sergeant
Sergent / Maréchal des Logis	Sgt. / MdL	Sergeant / Cavalry-Artillery Sergeant
Caporal / Brigadier	Cpl. / Brig.	Corporal / Cavalry-Artillery Corporal
Soldat de 1ère classe	Pvt. 1cl.	Private First Class
Soldat	Pvt.	Private

Note: The Belgian rank of Capitaine-Commandant was unique and had no direct Anglo-American equivalent; it functioned as a senior company commander rank. Adjudant was a senior NCO / warrant-officer grade. Maréchal des Logis and Brigadier were the cavalry/artillery equivalents of Sergeant and Corporal.

This reference list provides the military ranks used by the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Flying Corps / Royal Naval Air Service (and later the RAF from April 1918) during the First World War. It includes officer and enlisted grades, with abbreviations in period usage and English renderings. Where no exact modern equivalent exists, the literal historical form has been retained.

British Military Ranks (1914–1918)

The British Army followed a rank system broadly aligned with its continental allies, while retaining distinctive titles and traditions. General officers ranged from Field Marshal through Brigadier General, the latter serving as the one-star grade until its replacement by Brigadier in 1921. Field and company officers progressed from Colonel down to Second Lieutenant. The enlisted system included two warrant officer classes, along with Sergeant Major, Sergeant, Corporal, and Private, reflecting the Army’s reliance on strong NCO leadership. The Royal Navy maintained its historic hierarchy from Admiral of the Fleet through Midshipman, supported by Chief Petty Officers and multiple seaman grades. In aviation, the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service created specialized ranks such as Squadron Commander, Flight Commander, and Flight Sub-Lieutenant, until the merger into the Royal Air Force in April 1918 introduced standardized airman grades from Aircraftman upward. This structure demonstrates how Britain adapted its long-standing military traditions to the demands of modern combined-arms warfare.

Army Ranks

Army Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Field Marshal	FM	Field Marshal
General	Gen.	General
Lieutenant General	Lt. Gen.	Lieutenant General
Major General	Maj. Gen.	Major General
Brigadier General	Brig. Gen.	Brigadier General
Colonel	Col.	Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel	Lt. Col.	Lieutenant Colonel
Major	Maj.	Major
Captain	Capt.	Captain
Lieutenant	Lt.	Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant	2nd Lt.	Second Lieutenant

Army Enlisted

Army Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Warrant Officer Class I	WO1	Warrant Officer 1st Class
Warrant Officer Class II	WO2	Warrant Officer 2nd Class
Sergeant Major	Sgt. Maj.	Sergeant Major
Sergeant	Sgt.	Sergeant
Corporal	Cpl.	Corporal
Lance Corporal	L. Cpl.	Lance Corporal
Private	Pte.	Private

Navy Ranks

Naval Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Admiral of the Fleet	Adm. of Fleet	Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral	Adm.	Admiral
Vice Admiral	V. Adm.	Vice Admiral
Rear Admiral	R. Adm.	Rear Admiral
Commodore	Cdre.	Commodore
Captain	Capt.	Captain
Commander	Cmdr.	Commander
Lieutenant Commander	Lt. Cmdr.	Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant	Lt.	Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant	Sub-Lt.	Sub-Lieutenant
Midshipman	Mid.	Midshipman

Navy Enlisted

Naval Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Chief Petty Officer	CPO	Chief Petty Officer
Petty Officer 1st Class	PO1	Petty Officer 1st Class
Petty Officer 2nd Class	PO2	Petty Officer 2nd Class
Leading Seaman	LS	Leading Seaman
Able Seaman	AB	Able Seaman
Ordinary Seaman	OS	Ordinary Seaman
Boy	Boy	Boy (naval rating under 18)

Royal Flying Corps / Royal Naval Air Service Ranks

Air Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Wing Captain (RNAS)	Wg. Capt.	Wing Captain
Wing Commander (RFC/RNAS)	Wg. Cmdr.	Wing Commander
Squadron Commander	Sqn. Cmdr.	Squadron Commander
Flight Commander	Flt. Cmdr.	Flight Commander
Flight Lieutenant	Flt. Lt.	Flight Lieutenant
Flight Sub-Lieutenant (RNAS)	Flt. Sub-Lt.	Flight Sub-Lieutenant
Flying Officer	F/O	Flying Officer

RFC / RAF Enlisted

Air Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Flight Sergeant	Flt. Sgt.	Flight Sergeant
Sergeant	Sgt.	Sergeant
Corporal	Cpl.	Corporal
Leading Aircraftman	LAC	Leading Aircraftman
Aircraftman 1st Class	AC1	Aircraftman 1st Class
Aircraftman 2nd Class	AC2	Aircraftman 2nd Class
Air Mechanic	AM	Air Mechanic

Note: Brigadier General was the valid one-star rank during the First World War; the title “Brigadier” was only introduced in 1921. The ranks of Air Marshal and Air Vice Marshal were created in 1919 and are therefore not included here. Abbreviations follow traditional British usage of the period. In addition to the core British Army, Royal Navy, and wartime air arms (Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service), troops from across the British Empire also fought under the Union Jack during 1914–1918. These included the self-governing Dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland, as well as the British Indian Army and colonial formations such as the King’s African Rifles and the British West Indies Regiment. Dominion forces generally followed British rank patterns, though India retained distinct indigenous officer grades such as Jemadar and Subadar. While organized nationally, these forces served within the overall British command structure and under the British flag.

This reference list provides the military ranks used by the Bulgarian Army during the First World War. It includes officer and enlisted grades, with period abbreviations and English renderings. Where no exact modern equivalent exists, the literal historical form has been retained .

Bulgarian Military Ranks (1914–1918)

The Bulgarian Army entered the First World War with a rank structure modeled closely on Russian Imperial practice, reinforced by German influence. General officers included General ot pekhotata (Infantry), General ot kavaleriyata (Cavalry), and General ot artilleriyata (Artillery), supported by General-leytenant and General-mayor. Field and company officers descended through Polkovnik, Podpolkovnik, Maior, Kapitan, and the cavalry-specific Rotmistr. Junior grades included Poruchik and Podporuchik, with Ofitserski Kandidat representing cadets or officer candidates. The enlisted hierarchy placed Feldfebel at the top as the senior NCO, followed by Podofitser and Kandidat-podofitser. The cavalry used Vakhmistr as an additional senior NCO grade, while Efreitor and Rednik covered privates. This system underscored Bulgaria’s integration of Russian-derived nomenclature with adaptations suited to its national military culture.

Officer Ranks

Officer Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
General ot pekhotata	Gen ot pekh	General of Infantry
General ot kavaleriyata	Gen ot kav	General of Cavalry
General ot artilleriyata	Gen ot art	General of Artillery
General-leytenant	Genlt	Lieutenant General
General-mayor	Genmaj	Major General
Polkovnik	Polk	Colonel
Podpolkovnik	Podpolk	Lieutenant Colonel
Maior	Maj	Major
Kapitan	Kapt	Captain
Rotmistr (cavalry)	Rotm	Cavalry Captain
Poruchik	Por	First Lieutenant
Podporuchik	Podpor	Second Lieutenant
Ofitserski Kandidat (Cadet)	OfKand	Officer Candidate / Cadet

NCO & Enlisted Ranks

Enlisted Rank	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Feldfebel	—	Sergeant Major / Top NCO
Podofitser	—	Sergeant
Kandidat-podofitser	—	Corporal / Junior NCO
Vakhmistr (cavalry)	—	Senior Cavalry NCO (equivalent to Feldfebel)
Efreitor	Efr	Private First Class
Rednik	Redn	Private

This reference list provides the military ranks used by the French Army and Navy during the First World War. It includes officer and enlisted grades, with abbreviations in period usage and English renderings. Where no exact modern equivalent exists, the literal historical form has been retained.

French Military Ranks (1914–1918)

The French Army maintained a hierarchy rooted in Napoleonic precedent, retaining only two active general officer ranks: Général de division and Général de brigade, while Maréchal de France remained a dignity rather than a service grade. Field and company officers followed the continental model, including Colonel, Lieutenant-colonel, Commandant (as Chef de bataillon or Chef d’escadrons depending on branch), Capitaine, Lieutenant, Sous-lieutenant, and Aspirant. Enlisted and NCO ranks were highly structured, with Adjudant-chef and Adjudant acting as senior NCOs, while Sergent, Caporal, and Soldat formed the basic troop ladder; mounted branches retained Maréchal des logis and Brigadier. The French Navy paralleled this system, with flag officers ranging from Amiral to Contre-amiral, supported by three captaincies (Capitaine de vaisseau, Capitaine de frégate, Capitaine de corvette). Naval enlisted ranks emphasized technical specialization, with Maîtres and Quartier-maîtres forming the petty officer cadre, while Matelot and Mousse represented common seamen and recruits. This system reflected France’s long continuity of military tradition and its adaptation to the coalition warfare of 1914–1918.

Army — Officer Ranks

Army Rank (French)	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Maréchal de France (dignity)	—	Marshal of France
Général de division	Gén. de div.	Major General
Général de brigade	Gén. de brig.	Brigadier General
Colonel	Col.	Colonel
Lieutenant-colonel	Lt-col.	Lieutenant Colonel
Commandant (Chef de bataillon / Chef d’escadrons)	Cdt	Commandant (Major)
Capitaine	Cap.	Captain
Lieutenant	Lt	First Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant	S.-Lt	Second Lieutenant
Aspirant	Asp.	Officer Candidate / Probationary Officer

Army — NCO & Enlisted Ranks

Army Rank (French)	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Adjudant-chef	Adj.-chef	Senior Warrant Officer / Senior NCO
Adjudant	Adj.	Warrant Officer / Senior NCO
Sergent-major	Serg.-maj.	Company Sergeant Major
Sergent	Serg.	Sergeant
Caporal-chef	Cpl-chef	Corporal First Class
Caporal	Cpl	Corporal
Maréchal des logis-chef (mounted branches)	MdL-chef	Sergeant First Class (mounted)
Maréchal des logis (mounted branches)	MdL	Sergeant (mounted)
Brigadier (mounted branches)	Brig.	Corporal (mounted)
Soldat de 1re classe	Sdt 1cl	Private First Class
Soldat de 2e classe	Sdt 2cl	Private

Navy — Officer Ranks (Marine nationale)

Navy Rank (French)	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Amiral	Am.	Admiral
Vice-amiral	V.A.	Vice Admiral
Contre-amiral	C.A.	Rear Admiral
Capitaine de vaisseau	C.V.	Captain
Capitaine de frégate	C.F.	Commander
Capitaine de corvette	C.C.	Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant de vaisseau	L.V.	Lieutenant
Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe	E.V.1	Lieutenant (junior)
Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe	E.V.2	Ensign
Aspirant	Asp.	Naval Officer Candidate

Navy — NCO & Enlisted Ranks

Navy Rank (French)	Abbreviation	English Rendering
Maître principal	Mtr princ.	Master Chief Petty Officer
Premier maître	PM	Chief Petty Officer 1st Class
Maître	Mtr	Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class
Second maître	SM	Petty Officer 1st Class
Quartier-maître	QM	Petty Officer 2nd Class
Matelot breveté	Mat br	Able Seaman
Matelot	Mat	Seaman
Mousse	—	Ship’s Boy

Note: General officer grades in WWI were général de brigade and général de division; Maréchal de France was a dignity. Naval flag grades were amiral, vice-amiral, contre-amiral. Abbreviation forms varied in period documents; forms shown here reflect common WWI usage.