Republic of China Armed Forces rank insignia

Summary

The Military ranks of the Republic of China are the ranks used by the Republic of China Armed Forces.[a] The official military rank names in Traditional Chinese are identical across all different military branches, but their English translations may be different.

Commissioned officer ranks edit

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General/flag officers Field/senior officers Junior officers
Rank 一級上將 二級上將 中將 少將 上校 中校 少校 上尉 中尉 少尉
Mandarin Yījí Shàngjiàng Èrjí Shàngjiàng Zhōngjiàng Shaojiàng Shàngxiào Zhōngxiào Shàoxiào Shàngwèi Zhōngwèi Shàowèi
Taiwanese Hokkien It-kip Siōng-chiòng Jī-kip Siōng-chiòng Tiong-chiòng Siáu-chiòng Siōng-hāu Tiong-hāu Siáu-hāu Siōng-ùi Tiong-ùi Siáu-ùi
Hakka Yit-khi̍p Song-chiông Ngi-khi̍p Song-chiông Chûng-chiông Seu-chiông Song-káu Chûng-káu Seu-káu Song-ví Chûng-ví Seu-ví
Literal translation First class upper leader Second class upper leader Middle leader Junior leader Upper field officer Middle field officer Junior field officer Upper officer Middle officer Junior officer
  Republic of China Army[1]                    
Translation[2] Full general General Lieutenant general Major general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
  ROC Military Police[1]                
Translation[2] Lieutenant general Major general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
  ROC Navy[3]                            
Translation[2] Full admiral Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign
  ROC Marine Corps[1]                  
Translation[2] General Lieutenant general Major general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
  ROC Air Force[4]                    
Translation[2] Full general General Lieutenant general Major general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Rank group General/flag officers Field/senior officers Junior officers

Other ranks edit

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Non-commissioned officers Enlisted personnel
Rank 一等士官長 二等士官長 三等士官長 上士 中士 下士 上等兵 一等兵 二等兵
Mandarin Yīděng Shìguānzhǎng Èrděng Shìguānzhǎng Sānděng Shìguānzhǎng Shàngshi Zhōngshi Xiàshi Shàngděng Bīng Yīděng Bīng Èrděng Bīng
Taiwanese It-téng Sū-koaⁿ-tiúⁿ Jī-téng Sū-koaⁿ-tiúⁿ Sàm-téng Sū-koaⁿ-tiúⁿ Siōng-sū Tiong-sū Hā-sū Siōng-téng Peng It-téng Peng Jī-téng Peng
Hakka Yit-tén Sṳ-kôn-chóng Ngi-tén Sṳ-kôn-chóng Sâm-tén Sṳ-kôn-chóng Song-sṳ Chûng-sṳ Ha-sṳ Song-tén Pîn Yit-tén Pîn Ngi-tén Pîn
Literal translation First class warrior commander Second class warrior commander Third class warrior commander Upper warrior Middle warrior Lower warrior Upper class soldier First class soldier Second class soldier
Translation[2][5] First class master sergeant Second class master sergeant Third class master sergeant Sergeant Staff sergeant Corporal Private upper class Private first class Private
  Republic of China Army[1]                  
  ROC Military Police[1]                  
  ROC Navy[3]                  
  ROC Marine Corps[1]                  
  ROC Air Force[4]                  

Historic ranks edit

After the government of the Republic of China relocated to Taiwan in December 1949, the military rank system had a large reform in 1956. As a result, the contemporary rank structure is closer to the one used by the United States Armed Forces.

Officer rank edit

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Rank 特級上將 一級上將 二級上將 中將 少將 代將 上校 中校 少校 上尉 中尉 少尉
Mandarin Tèjí shàngjiàng Yījí shàngjiàng Èrjí shàngjiàng Zhōngjiàng Shàojiàng Dàijiāng Shàngxiào Zhōngxiào Shàoxiào Shàngwèi Zhōngwèi Shàowèi
1958–1980[6]                        
1980–2000[7] Abolished                      

Other ranks edit

Rank group Non-commissioned officers Soldiers
上士 中士 下士 上等兵 一等兵 二等兵
Shàng shì Zhōng shì Xiàshì Shàngděngbīng Yī děng bīng Èrděngbīng
  Republic of China National Army[8]            

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Colloquially known as the Taiwanese Armed Forces to distinguish from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

References edit

Citations edit

Sources edit

  • Mollo, Andrew (2001). The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, Insignia & Organisation. Leicester: Silverdale books. ISBN 1-85605-603-1.
  • "Lùhǎikōng jūnfú zhì tiáolì fù tú" 陸海空軍服制條例附圖 [Drawings of the Uniform Regulations of the Army, Navy and Air Force] (PDF). Gazette of the Presidential Palace (6769): 65–67. 7 November 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  • Ministry of National Defense (4 December 2019). "Act of Commission for Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Armed Forces". law.moj.gov.tw. Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  • Ministry of National Defense (19 January 2022). "Act of Military Service for Volunteer Enlisted Soldiers". law.moj.gov.tw. Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  • Ping, Xu, ed. (2009). Zhōngguó bǎinián jūnfú (zēngbǔ bǎn) 中国百年军服 (增补版) [China Regimental 100 Years] (2nd ed.). Gold Wall Press. ISBN 978-7-80084-679-3. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  • Shang Rong Wu (2018). 100 Years of the Chinese Military Uniform (in Chinese). King Kong Publishing. ISBN 978-986-97216-1-5. Retrieved 27 September 2022.

External links edit

  • "Taiwan". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 17 August 2012.