Rank Structure of Armed Forces of Pakistan
Ranks in the Pakistan Armed Forces
Since the military forces of the sub-continent used to fight for the British for many years before independence, a similar ranking structure is followed as the English troops to this day. Accordingly, the army, navy, and the air force all have several levels of ranking officers that command the enrolled troops and help them become battle-ready.
Here’s a quick comparison of the ranks of each of these divisions.
Moreover, each of the ranks has its own military insignia, usually worn on the shoulder of the uniform of the serving personnel. The last four rows of each division represent the top-most positions, going from one-star to four-star ranks.
Now, let’s cover the roles and responsibilities for military ranks below, taking each division and each of its ranks in turn.
RANKS OF THE PAKISTAN ARMY
The Pakistan Army awards the following ranks to its officers, starting from Second Lieutenant up to General. Here are the roles of the different ranking officers in the Pakistan Army:
SECOND LIEUTENANT (2ND-LT)
A Second Lieutenant is the lowest rank of a commissioned officer in the Pakistan Army. Generally, the Second Lieutenant leads the infantry soldiers into battle, giving orders to the platoon sergeant who relays them to the squad leaders and the soldiers accordingly. The position is often held for 1 to 2 years, with around 30 soldiers under their command.
LIEUTENANT (LT)
The next Pakistan Army rank after Second Lieutenant and often referred to as ‘First Lieutenant’, this officer has a bit more expertise on the battlefield and might lead only specialised units or platoons. They might also be in charge of indirect-fire systems, with long-range weapons as part of the army’s artillery unit.
CAPTAIN (CAPT)
Addressed by their ranks, Captains oversee more than 100 soldiers in a company-sized unit, often with assistance from a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). This is also the highest rank where officers are expected to lead and command soldiers on a personal level. They also put their skills and expertise to good use by teaching at cadet schools and training centres.
MAJOR (MAJ)
Majors generally serve as staff officers, rather than being out on the battlefield. They might be responsible for overseeing a task force for logistical or operational missions as well.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL (LT-COL)
This Pakistan Army rank commands a battalion of up to 1,000 soldiers with an experienced NCO assistant. They might also be chosen as Executive/Commanding Officers for a task force.
COLONEL (COL)
Another rank that serves as a staff officer, Colonels are often the communication line between the battlefield and the office. They might also have the authority to advise senior officials on important matters.
BRIGADIER (BRIG)
Brigadiers or Brigadier Generals often have a choice to stay out on the field to command a brigade or to direct operations and missions as a staff officer.
MAJOR GENERAL (MAJ-GEN)
Division sized units of about 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers are led by a Major General, who might also be appointed in a senior staff position in the Ministry of Defence.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL (LT-GEN)
Commanding corps units of more than 20,000 soldiers, Lieutenant Generals often also have a say in appointing staff in the Ministry of Defence.
GENERAL (GEN)
The senior-most level of a commissioned officer in the army, a General, usually has decades of experience and service. They are in charge of all of the operations that fall within their regional jurisdiction. The Chief of Staff of the Army is also a General.
RANKS OF THE PAKISTAN NAVY
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.As we continue to discuss the ranks in the Pakistan Armed Forces, let’s move on to the ranks and roles of officers in the Pakistan Navy:
MIDSHIPMAN
An initially commissioned officer for the Pakistan Navy is given the title of Midshipman. This is the training phase for becoming a Naval Officer, based on the specialities that a recruit wants to master.
SUB LIEUTENANT (S/LT)
After about 2 years of training, Midshipmen are promoted to the Sub Lieutenant rank, where they monitor the crew as the first stage of becoming a Lieutenant.
LIEUTENANT (LT)
Lieutenants in a naval fleet ensure that the crew onboard is carrying out their respective duties. It is a job that holds a lot of responsibility as Lieutenants are also often responsible for posting a crewmember on guard to watch for enemy attacks.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER (LT-CDR)
The commanding officer of a small craft is called the Lieutenant Commander, with their own small crew. Officers holding this rank often choose to lead a particular department in the Navy.
COMMANDER (CDR)
Overseeing a warship or a submarine, the Commander is usually the second in command after the Captain. Commanders may also work in naval bases onshore or choose to take up a position with the Ministry of Defence.
CAPTAIN (CAPT)
Captains have command over larger ships or senior positions in shore-based establishments. The Captain is generally responsible for the wellbeing of the crew and the craft, including the maintenance of logbooks, settling disciplinary issues, delegating job roles, rationing food supplies, and more.
COMMODORE (CDRE)
As a Commodore, a naval officer can choose to command a fleet of vessels or take on bigger roles in an on-shore base. They also assist the Rear Admirals in their duties as required.
REAR ADMIRAL (R-ADM)
This position gives officers the power to fly their own flags on their ships and command their own ships to protect the squadron and support it during battle.
VICE ADMIRAL (V-ADM)
Aside from assisting the Admiral, the Vice Admiral can run the ships and the fleet if required. They might also take up prominent positions in the government.
ADMIRAL (ADM)
As the senior-most naval rank, it gives an officer complete control over a fleet of ships along with having a ship bearing their own flag. They might choose to have the Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral on board their own vessel if required. This rank is equivalent to that of a General in the Pakistan Army.
RANKS OF THE PAKISTAN AIR FORCE
Now, let’s discuss the ranks of the Pakistan Air Force in detail below:
PILOT OFFICER (PLT-OFF)
The first step to becoming a commissioned officer with the Air Force is to become a Pilot Officer. This role demands on-ground duties to be fulfilled on the path to becoming a Flying Officer.
FLYING OFFICER (FLG-OFF)
Flying Officers might not necessarily fly just yet. Many are aircrew or on-ground support, while some do have command of flights on-ground bases.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT (FLT-LT)
Having a choice to join the aircrew or the on-ground branches, Flight Lieutenants are often given command over a small unit, usually of specially trained officers.
SQUADRON LEADER (SQN-LDR)
Squadron Leaders start off with overseeing ground-based operations and squadrons. They will be asked to supervise a squad that is in the particular division of their choice. They might also be asked to command a small flying squadron based on the Wing Commander’s approval.
WING COMMANDER (WG-CDR)
Flying squadrons are generally commanded by a Wing Commander, who might also supervise a Squadron Leader after giving them a few military units to oversee. Wing Commanders might also choose to command an administrative wing rather than a flying squadron.
GROUP CAPTAIN (GP-CAPT)
Overseeing training institutes and flying bases are two of the core roles of a Group Captain. They may also have command over military aviation units, called groups.
AIR COMMODORE (AIR-CDRE)
Air Commodores generally hold senior positions within groups and are regarded as air officers. They may command groups or opt for on-ground positions on the base.
AIR VICE MARSHAL (AVM)
Military aviation units or groups are generally commanded by an Air Vice Marshall. The role is also commonly known as the Chief of the Air Staff, encompassing a range of duties.
AIR MARSHAL (AM)
Acting as the Commander in Chief of the Air Force or taking on similar senior positions, Air Marshals are second in command to Air Chief Marshals. Fighter pilots may also be awarded this high-ranking position based on their service history.
AIR CHIEF MARSHAL (ACM)
The Air Chief Marshal is usually the Commander in Chief of the Air Force, and it is the highest rank bestowed in the Pakistan Air Force.
