Italian Army ranks

The Italian Army ranks are the ranks used by the Italian Army, the insignia for which are worn on epaulettes of shirts. Ranks in the Italian Army indicate both their officers' status and seniority, as dedicated members of the Italian militia. As of 2024, the lowest rank is "soldato semplice" and the highest rank is "generale". There are a total of 32 ranks in seven categories. These categories include: temporary service volunteers, permanent service volunteers, sergeants, marshals (NCOs), junior officers, senior officers, and generals.^[1]

In order to clearly show an officer's rank as a form of identification and authority, insignia patches are worn by all members of the Italian army. In each ranking category of officer, there is a trend in the symbols shown on their insignia patches. As soldiers gain ranks, the symbols on their insignia become more detailed and recognizable, such as adding an additional star or stripe per higher rank achieved.^{[2][better source needed]}

Current ranks

The chart below represents the Italian Army rank insignia used on the slip-on of winter service uniforms. The color of the uniforms is khaki.^[3]

Officers who are assigned to an acting position corresponding to a higher rank than their own wear the insignia of the higher rank, but with the highest star of the insignia trimmed in red enamel. Similarly, an officer temporarily assigned to a position of higher rank in the absence of the incumbent officer displays the highest star in the colour bronze.

The Italian rank system has a large number of junior NCO ranks. Several ranks (which are variations on corporal) have a "chosen" version of the rank, "chosen" having the same sense of "leading", as in the historic British Army appointment of "chosen man" (now called lance-corporal).

Officers

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
	Officers
	Generals										Senior officers						Junior officers
Italian Army[4] v t e
			Generale		Generale di Corpo d'Armata (Tenente Generale)		Generale di Divisione (Maggior Generale)		Generale di Brigata (Brigadier Generale)		Colonnello		Tenente Colonnello		Maggiore		Primo capitano	Capitano	Tenente			Sottotenente

Special ranks

NATO Code	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2	OF-1
Special ranks[4]

Enlisted

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
	Sub-officers																						Volunteer ratings				Enlisted
	Marshals								Sergeants														Permanent service volunteers				Temporary service volunteers
Italian Army[4][5] v t e							Maresciallo capo Maresciallo ordinario Maresciallo																Gradutato aiutante Primo graduato Graduato capo Graduato scelto Graduato
	Primo luogotenente		Luogotenente		Primo maresciallo				Sergente maggiore aiutante	Sergente maggiore capo	Sergente maggiore						Sergente										Caporal maggiore		Caporale						Soldato
Translation	First sub-lieutenant		Sub-lieutenant		First marshal		Chief marshal Ordinary marshal Marshal		Chief sergeant major adjutant	Chief sergeant major	Sergeant major						Sergeant						Graduate adjutant First graduate Chief graduate Graduate select Graduate				Corporal-major		Corporal						Private

History

Enlisted insignia saw no significant changes until 1973 when the chevrons were moved from the sleeve to the shoulder board. In 1997 the new ranks from 1°CM to CMCS were created for permanent service enlisted personnel, and the new insignia were created. in the same year, the rank of C.le Sc. was created as top rank for conscript personnel with corresponing shoulder board insignia.

Current usage

The rank of caporale is not a command grade and only results in a higher paygrade, and may be attained by conscript personnel. The ranks up to caporal maggiore may be attained by temporary service personnel. Higher ranks may only be attained by permanent service personnel. Sergeants generally have team command tasks, and are appointed in the rank only after several months in a training course.

The rank of soldato is used only for recruits and is substituted by the following, depending on the branch or service of their assignment

• Fante/Fan. (Infantryman)
• Alpino/Alp. (Mountain infantryman)
• Bersagliere/Bers. (Marksman, Rifleman)
• Paracadutista/Par. (Parachutist)
• Granatiere/Gra. (Grenadier)
• Lagunare/Lag. (Lagoon infantryman)
• Artigliere/Art. (Artilleryman, Gunner)
• Trasmettitore/Trs. (Signaller)
• Assistente di Sanità/Asa. (Medic)
• Cavaliere/Cav. (Cavalryman)
• Lanciere/Lanc. (Lancer)
• Dragone/Dra. (Dragoon)
• Carrista/Cr. (Tanker)
• Autiere/Aut. (Driver)
• Geniere/Gnr. (Pioneer, Sapper)
• Guastatore/Guast. (Combat Sapper)
• Incursore/Inc. (Special Forces Operator)

History

Italian Army officers used to wear the ranks on the sleeve, like naval officers. Since 1946, insignia were changed in order to align with NATO regulations. In 1973 the system had the following slight change: the "bastion wall" was added to the stars for general officers, instead of the silver shoulder board; the civic crown was added to the stars for field officers, instead of a gold band on the edge of the epaulette or shoulder strap; the stars began to be placed near the edge of the epaulette instead of in the center. These changes were mostly intended to make insignia more easily recognizable on the field uniform.

Timeline of change

See also: Military ranks of the Kingdom of Italy and Military ranks of the Italian Social Republic

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Italian Army (1947–1972)[6]
			Generale di corpo d'armata con incarichi speciali		Generale di corpo d'armata		Generale di divisione		Generale di brigata		Colonnello comandante di reggimento	Colonnello	Tenente colonnello		Maggiore		Primo capitano	Capitano	Primo tenente		Tenente		Sottotenente
Italian Army (1972–?)

Enlisted ranks introduced in 2018

Other rank insignia
NATO Code	OR-9	OR-7	OR-4
Shoulder board
Italian[7]	Primo luogotenente q.s.[8]	Sergente maggiore capo q.s.	Caporale maggiore capo scelto q.s.
English	Sub-lieutenant (special class)	Chief Sergeant Major (special class)	Senior Chief Corporal-Major (special class)

Enlisted name changes in 2022

On 5 August 2022 the Caporale maggiore ranks in OR-4 were retitled as Graduato.^[5] Primo luogotenente q.s. and Sergente maggiore capo q.s. were also renamed.^[5]

NATO code	OR-9	OR-7	OR-4
Insignia
(1975–2018)				Caporale maggiore capo scelto	Caporale maggiore capo	Caporale maggiore scelto	Primo caporale maggiore
(2018–2022)	Primo luogotenente q.s.	Sergente maggiore capo q.s.	Caporale maggiore capo scelto q.s.	Caporale maggiore capo scelto	Caporale maggiore capo	Caporale maggiore scelto	Primo caporale maggiore
(2022–Present)	Primo luogotenente	Sergente maggiore aiutante	Gradutato aiutante	Primo graduato	Graduato capo	Graduato scelto	Graduato

References

1. "Italian Ranks". Over the Front. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022.
2. US 6339866, French Vaughn, "Method and apparatus for a removable nametag or insignia" (patent)
3. In the images the Pantone colour khaki 16-0726 TC, rendered as RGB 161 143 94, has been used.
4. "i gradi dell'Esercito Italiano - distintivi di incarico e funzionali" (PDF). esercito.difesa.it (in Italian). Italian Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
5. "LEGGE 5 agosto 2022, n. 119" [Law 5 August 2022, n. 119] (in Italian). Archived from the original on 24 May 2024.
6. "Le Insegne di grado dal 1945 al 1972". esercito.difesa.it (in Italian). Italian Army. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
7. "Riordino delle carriere del 27/02/2018" [Reorganization of careers of 27/02/2018] (PDF) (in Italian). 27 February 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2018.
8. q.s. - (qualifica speciale - special rank)