Puneet Varma (Editor)

Iraqi Army ranks insignia

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Iraq Army Officer rank insignia in use today.

Officer ranks

Lower officer ranks

  • 2nd lieutenant Mulazim (ملُازِم) is the junior officer and the first officer rank. Its insignia is one star on the shoulder.
  • 1st lieutenant Mulazim awwal (مُلازِم أوَّل) is the second rank of officer. Its insignia is two stars on the shoulder.
  • Captain Naqeeb (نقيب) is the third rank of officer, and is marked as the start of considerable responsibilities for an officer. Its insignia is three stars on the shoulder.
  • Major Rai'd (رائِد) is the fourth of the officer ranks, its insignia is the republican eagle.
  • Lieutenant colonel Muqaddam (مُقَدَّم) is the junior grade for colonel and usually holds a great deal of responsibility, especially in the military medical field. Its insignia is the republican eagle and a star.
  • Colonel Aqeed (عقيد) is the senior officer for the type of officers listed above. Its insignia is two stars and the republican eagle.

    • Senior officer ranks (generals)

  • Brigadier general Amid (عميد) is the lowest general rank. They typically command brigades, and take command of the direct field operations or are directors of some corps. e.g. maintenance corps. Also performs MOD cargo inspection on US Military aircraft. Its insignia is three stars in a triangle shape with the republican eagle above them.
  • Major general Liwaa (لِواء) is the second-lowest general rank, typically in command of divisions. They are usually staffed in the highest military commands, with considerable authority. Its insignia is two swords crossing with the republican eagle above them.
  • Lieutenant general Fareeq (فَريق) is perhaps the rank with most of the general authority and responsibility. It is a rank usually held by direct assistants of the head of joint chiefs of staff of the military. Its insignia is two crossing swords with a star and the republican eagle above them.
  • General or full general Fareeq awwal (فريق أوَّل) is usually the head of joint chiefs of staff. He (after the prime minister who is the commander-in-chief based on the new Iraqi Constitution) has the most authority over the military and is considered to be the most powerful general. Its insignia is two swords crossing with two stars and the republican eagle above them.
  • Field marshal Maheeb (مَهيب) is the highest military rank and was the commander-in-chief of the military until 2003. This rank is reserved for the president. It is portrayed by two crossing swords and two wheat plants around it with the republican eagle above them. However, this rank is no longer in use by the new Iraqi Army. This rank is reserved for the President, with Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, the fourth President of Iraq, the first president to hold this rank during his term in office, followed by Saddam Hussein.
  • Staff officer A red strip along the outer edge of the shoulder board indicates the officer is a staff course graduate. Staff officers are elite commanders, selected from those who have successfully completed a six-month entry preparatory course, then successfully completing the two-year staff officers' course in the School of Staff Officers. Prior to the invasion of Iraq by US forces in 2003, it was highly unlikely that any general commanding battle forces, i.e. non-technical or medical, would progress beyond the rank of major general, if he was not already a staff officer.

    • References

    Iraqi Army ranks insignia Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA