Military ranks of Cape Verde

Summary

Military ranks of Cape Verde are the insignia used to denote rank in the Cape Verdean Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Coast Guard.

A colonel, pictured in 2019
Enlisted men of the ranks of segundo-cabo (left) and Sargento-principal (right)

Background edit

The Cape Verdean Armed Forces have existed since independence from Portugal in 1975. The currently comprise 1,200 personnel in the National Guard, plus 200 Coast Guard and 100 in the Air Force (which organisationally comes under the Coast Guard). The structure and organisation is defined by the Decree-Law no. 30/2007 of August 20. The National Guard and Coast Guard have their own headquarters which are responsible to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, a colonel. The Chief of Staff also has responsibility for the armed forces' Staff Command and Logistics Command.[1] The chief of staff is supported by a deputy, also a colonel. The Coast Guard use the same rank structure as the land forces and have been commanded by an officer with the rank of major (2013) or lieutenant-colonel (2011).[2][3]

The organisation is headed by a General Chief of Staff who, in 2015, held the rank of Major-General.[4] The armed forces as a whole come under the control of the civilian government.[1]

Commissioned officer ranks edit

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Cape Verdean National Guard[5]
                 
Major-general Brigadeiro-general Coronel Tenente-coronel Major Capitão Primeiro tenente Tenente Subtenente
  Cape Verdean Coast Guard[6]
             
Capitão–de–mar Capitão–de–navio Capitão-de–patrulha Capitão-tenente Primeiro-tenente Tenente Guarda-marinha

Student officer ranks edit

Rank group Student officer
  Cape Verdean National Guard[5]  
Aspirante
  Cape Verdean Coast Guard[6]  
Aspirante à oficial

Enlisted edit

This table illustrates the rank insignia of enlisted members of the national guard and coast guard.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Cape Verdean National Guard[5]
                            No insignia
Sargento-mor Sargento-chefe Sargento-principal Primeiro-sargento Segundo-sargento Sargento Furriel Instruendo curso de sargento Cabo-principal Cabo de Secção Cabo-adjunto Primeiro-cabo Segundo-cabo Instruendo curso de cabo Soldado


  Cape Verdean Coast Guard[6]
                       
Sargento-mor Sargento-chefe Sargento-principal Primeiro-sargento Segundo-sargento Furriel Segundo-furriel Cabo-principal Cabo de secção Cabo-adjunto Primeiro-cabo Segundo-cabo

Former ranks edit

Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Cape Verdean National Guard
(1992–2012)
               
Colonel
Coronel
Lieutenant Colonel
Tenente-coronel
Major
Major
Captain
Capitão
First Lieutenant
Primeiro tenente
Lieutenant
Tenente
Second Lieutenant
Subtenente
Officer Cadet
Aspirante
  Cape Verdean National Guard
(1975–1992)
                 
Brigade Commandant
Comandante de brigada
First Commandant
Primeiro comandante
Commandant
Comandante
Major
Major
Captain
Capitão
First Lieutenant
Primeiro tenente
Lieutenant
Tenente
Second Lieutenant
Subtenente
Officer Cadet
Aspirante}
Enlisted
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Cape Verdean National Guard
(1992–2012)
                    No insignia
Sergeant-major
Sargento-mor
Chief sergeant
Sargento-chefe
Master sergeant
Sargento-principal
First sergeant
Primeiro-sargento
Second sergeant
Segundo-sargento
Sergeant
Sargento
Lance sergeant
Furriel
Master corporal
Cabo-adjunto
First corporal
Primeiro-cabo
Second corporal
Segundo-cabo
Soldado
  Cape Verdean National Guard
(1975–1992)
        No insignia
First sergeant
Primeiro-sargento
Second sergeant
Segundo-sargento
Lance sergeant
Terceiro-sargento
First soldier
Primeiro-soldado
Soldado

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Cape Verde's Armed Forces". Global Security. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  2. ^ Worldwide Government Directory with Intergovernmental Organizations 2013. CQ Press. 2013. p. 308. ISBN 978-1-4522-9937-2.
  3. ^ "Nigeria: Groups Meet Over Illegal Fishing, Piracy in WECA". Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Angola: Chief of Staff of Cape Verde's Army in Luanda". All Africa. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Patente". fa.gov.cv (in Portuguese). Cape Verdean Armed Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Anexo A". Boletim Oficial (in Portuguese). Government of Cape Verde. 1 (4): 133–136. 18 January 2017.