With this report, we blow up our trilogy on the hierarchy of the Armed Forces. Let’s fly: just like the Army and Navy, the Air Force has more than 20 posts, spread across 22 different groups. Among these groups, those that effectively enter combat are the Infantry Squadron and the Aviation Squadron. The Infantry is the arm of the Air Force that operates on land, taking care of the security of air bases and airports in times of peace and taking up arms for land battles during wars – despite receiving combat training, the soldiers of the Air Force Infantry have a primary defense function. The Aviation Board, as the name implies, brings together the officers who fly the country’s military planes. To be part of this group, you must be at least a lieutenant, studying for at least four years at the Air Force Academy and taking a specific course to fly. Planes take to the air with a very lean structure. In small models, such as the F-5 fighters, there is only room for one person, who is both the pilot and the aircraft commander, who responds directly to orders from the squadron or group leader. On larger aircraft, such as those used for troop transports, there is usually a first pilot who acts as commander and a second pilot or deputy commander. To move up in rank in the Air Force hierarchy, the military needs to have a long career, undergo performance evaluations and participate in several refresher courses – the process is very similar to what happens in the Army and Navy. One last detail: it is good to clarify that the highest rank is not always linked to commanding the most powerful aircraft. As aircraft captains are pilots, they need to take specific courses to learn how to operate new models. Therefore, it can happen that a better-trained captain commands an invoked plane in place of a colonel who has not taken the necessary courses.
To fly a plane, you have to pass a specific course and reach the rank of lieutenant.
post
Soldier
troop divisions
infantry cadre
Occupying the lowest rank in the hierarchy, the soldier takes care of the security of the Air Force bases
post
cabin boy
troop divisions
infantry cadre
It is a type of soldier who helps with kitchen services at air bases.
post
Cable
troop divisions
infantry cadre
Lead the squads, small units formed by a corporal and four soldiers
post
Third Sergeant
Second Sergeant
First Sergeant
Petty Officer
troop divisions
infantry cadre
Soldiers with these ranks command the so-called combat groups, which bring together two squads
aviation board
The Aviation Board does not have the so-called “graduates”, the name given to lower-ranking military personnel. To join this weapon, the candidate needs to take a four-year course at the Air Force Academy to learn to fly. After graduation, he leaves the course as a lieutenant
post
second lieutenant
First lieutenant
troop divisions
infantry cadre
In the infantry, these soldiers lead platoons, formed by three combat groups
aviation frame
When the military reaches second lieutenant, he can already fly planes
post
Captain
troop divisions
infantry cadre
Leads the companies, encompassing three platoons, with about 90 soldiers
aviation frame
He commands the squadrons, small groups of aircraft. Generally, they serve for the training of pilots
post
Major
troop divisions
infantry cadre
Responsible for Infantry battalions, which have from 180 to 450 soldiers
aviation board
Leads squadrons, groups of an average of three or four planes of the same type — a set of F-5 fighters, for example
post
Lieutenant Colonel
troop divisions
infantry cadre
Command special infantry battalions, strategic units that can be deployed to border regions
aviation board
Command groups, sets of three or four planes that can be of different types — a group of F-5 and Mirage fighters, for example
post
colonel
troop divisions
infantry cadre
The military officer with the highest rank possible in this branch of the Air Force is responsible for the ground command of the entire Infantry
aviation board
Responsible for one of the 19 air bases in Brazil. They can be considered the «barracks» of the Air Force.
post
Brigadier
troop divisions
infantry cadre
From this graduation onwards, there are no posts for higher-ranking soldiers in the Infantry. Anyone who wants to pursue a career can switch to aviation, but needs to study at the Air Force Academy. As only people over 20 years of age can start the course there, the few aviators who come from the Infantry are corporals or soldiers, posts in which the average age is low.
aviation board
Commands one of the three Air Forces (FAE) that make up the Air Force: one takes care of helicopters, another of transport planes and the third of attack aircraft, such as fighters
post
Brigadier Major
troop divisions
infantry cadre
From this graduation onwards, there are no posts for higher-ranking soldiers in the Infantry. Anyone who wants to pursue a career can switch to aviation, but needs to study at the Air Force Academy. As only people over 20 years of age can start the course there, the few aviators who come from the Infantry are corporals or soldiers, posts in which the average age is low.
aviation board
Responsible for one of the seven Regional Air Commands (Comar) in the country, which together oversee all of Brazil’s airspace
post
Brigadier Lieutenant
troop divisions
infantry cadre
From this graduation onwards, there are no posts for higher-ranking soldiers in the Infantry. Anyone who wants to pursue a career can switch to aviation, but needs to study at the Air Force Academy. As only people over 20 years of age can start the course there, the few aviators who come from the Infantry are corporals or soldiers, posts in which the average age is low.
aviation board
Supervises the General Air Command (Comgar), which brings together all approximately 800 combat aircraft and decides on the Air Force’s military actions
post
Lieutenant-Brigadier chosen by the President of the Republic
troop divisions
infantry cadre
Among the highest ranking officers, one of them is chosen to command the entire Air Force. Above him, there may be an air marshal, a position created only in times of war.
post
Ministry of Defense
troop divisions
infantry cadre
Reporting directly to the President, the Minister of Defense directs the Armed Forces and makes the most important decisions regarding troop organization. He doesn’t necessarily have to be a military man.