
Enlisting and serving within the junior ranks, allowing you to reach Senior NCO level (typically starting at Sergeant). Receiving commission into the CO grade after completing their military academy. Within the UK, there are three ways in which an member of the armed forces can become an CO: Several countries around the world require their CO’s to have achieved a prerequisite degree, which isn’t the case within the UK, although a large percentage of British CO’s are university graduates. As a whole, CO’s received training which is intensely focused on general leadership and management, as well as receiving training related to their individual military speciality. They are high ranking officers who have derived their authority from a commission issued by the monarch. In contrast to NCO’s, CO’s hold higher ranks within the British armed forces. Sergeants, Staff Sergeants and RAF Flight Sergeant / Chief Technicians are also considered Senior NCO’s. Within the United Kingdom, NCOs are divided into two categories: Lance Corporals and Corporals. They are the link between other ranks and Commissioned Officers (CO). Their training and education emphasises on leadership and management, as well as combat training. The role of an NCO is of great importance as they are the primary leaders who are responsible for carrying out and executing the mission and training of British armed forces personnel. This is because they are the initial and most prominent line of leaders across the vast majority of military personnel. The Royal Navy equivalent to a NCO’s is a Petty Officer (PO), usually referred to as Senior Ratings.Īmongst military personnel and industry specialists, NCO’s are often referred to as the “backbone” of the nation’s armed forces. There are different classes of NCO’s: from Junior NCO to Senior / Staff NCO. NCO’s include all personnel which rank from corporals, sergeants and staff sergeants. NCO’s are individuals who have gained a position of authority through promotion within the other ranks. #Military enlisted ranks code
All ranks within the British armed forces are categorised using the NATO ranking code system from OR-1 (junior enlisted) to OR-9 (Senior NCO’s). Within the Other ranks group, there are separate tiers of authority – Warrant Officer (WO) and Non-Commisioned Officers (NCO), which are discussed below. The equivalent for the Royal Navy is ‘Ratings’. Instead ‘Other ranks’ is used to describe members of the armed forces who do not hold a commission, or a position of high command. In contrast the US rankings, the British armed forces do not use the term ‘Enlisted’ ranks. At the top of the hierarchy sit the Officers, these are the individuals who hold the positions of authority, either bestowed upon them by the granting of a commission or a warrant. Within the British armed forces, there are two distinct tiers to ranking structure: Officers and Other ranks. This article will present a brief introduction into the British Armed forces and demystify some of their seemingly complex and multifaceted rankings.
Highly trained individuals from across The Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are ready to be deployed anywhere around the world to meet a variety of challenges to protect civilians. Today, the British armed forces protect the nation and its dependent territories non-stop. The English Army was formed as a military force in the 17th century but it wasn’t until 1707, when the English and Scottish armies amalgamated into one operational entity of command. The British armed forces form a vital barrier and resilience to external threats, ensuring the safety of civilian lives across the breadth and width of the United Kingdom.