Brigadier
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Brigadier(BRIG-uh-DEER) is a military rank, the meaning of which has a considerable variation.
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[edit] Officer rank
In many countries, especially those formerly part of the former British Empire, a Brigadier is either the highest field rank or most junior General appointment, nominally commanding a Brigade. It ranks above a full Colonel and below a Major General.
The rank is used by the British Army, Royal Marines, Australian Army, New Zealand Army, Pakistan Army, Indian Army and several others. Although it is not always considered a general officer rank, it is always considered equivalent to the Brigadier General or Brigade General of other countries. In NATO forces, Brigadier is OF-6 on the rank scale.
The title is derived from the equivalent former British rank of Brigadier General used until 1922, and still used in many forces including those of the US. "Brigadier" was already in use as a generic term for a commander of a Brigade irrespective of their specific rank.
From 1922 to 1928 the British rank title used was that of Colonel Commandant which, although reflecting its modern role in the British Army as a senior colonel rather than a junior general, was not well received. Until shortly after the Second World War, it was only an appointment conferred on Colonels (as Commodore was an appointment conferred on naval Captains) and not a substantive rank.
In Commonwealth and most Arabic-speaking countries (in which the rank is called Amid) the rank insignia comprises a crown (or national/presidential emblem in republics) with three stars (sometimes called "pips"), which are, in the Commonwealth, arranged in a triangle. A Brigadier's uniform may also have red collar flashes. It is otherwise similar to that of a Colonel (Colonels have a crown/emblem with two stars).
Until 1788, a rank of Brigadier des armées ("Brigadier of the Armies") existed in the French Army, which could be described as a senior colonel or junior brigade commander. The normal brigade command rank was Field Marshal (Maréchal de camp) (which elsewhere is a more senior rank). During the French Revolution, the ranks of Brigadier des armées and Maréchal de camp were replaced by Brigade General. In common with many countries, France now uses the officer rank of Brigade General instead of a "brigadier" rank.
[edit] Officer rank in Latin America
Brigadier (-General) is used in Latin America, in the normal sense of brigade commander rank (e.g. Colombia, Chile), although most Latin American nations instead use the rank of Brigade General. In Mexico, Brigadier General is the rank below Brigade General (both ranks falling between Colonel and Divisional General.)
However, both the Argentine Air Force and Brazilian Air Force use a curious system of variations on Brigadier for all (Argentina) or most (Brazil) general officers. The origin of this system is not clear.
In the Argentine Air Force these ranks are (most senior first):
- Brigadier-General (the highest rank, equivalent to the army's Lieutenant-General and the navy's Admiral)
- Brigadier-Mayor ("Brigadier-Major" equivalent to the army's Divisional General and the navy's Vice-Admiral)
- Brigadier (equivalent to the army's Brigade General and the navy's Rear-Admiral)
In the Brazilian Air Force these ranks are (most senior first):
- Tenente-Brigadeiro ("Brigadier-Lieutenant") is equivalent to Almirante-de-Esquadra (Admiral of Squadron) and General de Exército (General of Army).
- Major-Brigadeiro ("Brigadier-Major") is equivalent to Vice-Almirante (Vice Admiral) and General de Divisão (General of Division)
- Brigadeiro ("Brigadier") is equivalent to Contra-Almirante (Rear Admiral) and General de Brigada (General of Brigade)
Above these is the highest Brazilian Air force rank of Air Marshal, reserved for wartime.
[edit] Non-commissioned rank
Brigadier also exists as a non-commissioned rank
This usages derive from the use of "brigade" to denote a squad or team of cavalrymen, similar to the occasional English civilian usage "work brigade".
[edit] France
In France, and some countries whose forces were structured based on the method used in France, some branches of the army and the gendarmerie use brigadier for a rank equivalent to caporal (Corporal), and brigadier-chef for a rank equivalent to caporal-chef. Brigadier is used by arms of the army which are by tradition considered "mounted" arms such as logistics or cavalry units. A similar usage exists elsewhere.
In the French gendamerie, the brigadier ranks are used as in the army, i.e. as junior enlisted ranks (gradés), while the French police use brigadier ranks as their sub-officer (sous-officier) ranks. Since all professional police and gendarmes have sub-officer status in France, the gendarmerie brigadier ranks are rarely used, since they are used only by auxiliaries. On the other hand the police brigadier ranks, used differently to indicate professional ranks, are common.
In the French gendarmerie and in "mounted" arms of the French army the brigadier ranks are:
In the French National Police, the sub-officer variations are used for non-commissioned officers are:
- Sous-brigadier (OR-6, equal to gendarmerie maréchal-des-logis-chef)
- Brigadier (OR-8, equal to gendarmerie adjudant)
- Brigadier-chef (OR-9, equal to gendarmerie adjudant-chef)
- Brigadier-major (OR-9, equal to gendarmerie major)
[edit] Spain
In Spain, a Brigadier (Brigada) has a NATO rank code of OR-8 (and is thus a senior NCO). The Spanish rank Brigada contrasts with the Spanish Brigadier (General) used for officers in Latin America.
[edit] Italy
In the Italian Carabiniers and Guardia di Finanza, the ranks of vice-brigadier (vice brigadiere), brigadier (brigadiere), and chief brigadier (brigadiere capo) correspond roughly to the army ranks based on sergeant.
[edit] Salvation Army
Until 1973, the rank of Brigadier was also used in the Salvation Army. It ranked between Major and Lieutenant-Colonel[citation needed].
[edit] Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
The Ulster Defence Association (UDA), an outlawed Unionist paramilitary organization in Northern Ireland, also uses "brigadier" as a rank in its hierarchy, a brigadier being responsible for a geographical region. For example, Jackie McDonald, a senior member of the organization who got much media attention, is mentioned as "The UDA Brigadier for South Belfast".
[edit] See also
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Officer ranks of the  British Armed Forces |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Officer | OF(D) | OF-1 | OF-2 | OF-3 | OF-4 | OF-5 | OF-6 | OF-7 | OF-8 | OF-9 | OF-10 | ||
| Royal Navy: | Mid | SLt | Lt | Lt Cdr | Cdr | Capt | Cdre | RAdm | VAdm | Adm | Adm of the Fleet | ||
| Royal Marines: | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | |||
| Army: | OCdt | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | FM | |
| Royal Air Force: | OC / SO | APO / Plt Off | Fg Off | Flt Lt | Sqn Ldr | Wg Cdr | Gp Capt | Air Cdre | AVM | Air Mshl | Air Chf Mshl | MRAF | |
