View source for Brigadier

{{Short description|Military rank}}
{{Other uses|Brigadier (disambiguation)|Brigadier general}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2012}}
{{Military ranks}}
'''Brigadier''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|b|r|ɪ|ɡ|ə|ˈ|d|ɪər}} {{respell|BRIG|ə|DEER}}) is a [[military rank]], the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above [[colonel]], equivalent to a [[brigadier general]] or [[commodore (rank)|commodore]], typically commanding a [[brigade]] of several thousand soldiers. In other countries, it is a [[Non-commissioned officer|non-commissioned]] rank.

==Origins and history==
{{more citations needed|section|date=December 2022}}
The word and rank of "Brigadier" originates from [[France]]. In the [[French Army]], the '''Brigadier des Armées du Roi''' (Brigadier of the King's Armies) was a general officer rank, created in 1657. It was an intermediate between the rank of [[Mestre de camp]] and that of [[Maréchal de camp]].

The rank was first created in the cavalry at the instigation of [[Marshal Turenne]] on June 8, 1657, then in the infantry on March 17, 1668, and in the dragoons on April 15, 1672. In peacetime, the brigadier commanded his regiment and, in maneuvers or in wartime, he commanded two or three - or even four - regiments combined to form a brigade (including his own, but later the rank was also awarded to lieutenant-colonels, which allowed for the promotion of an officer who did not have his own regiment).

Before the rank of brigadier of the armies was dissolved in 1788, it was materialized by the wearing of a single star. And when it was abolished that year, the number of stars of its immediate superiors was not modified, which explains why today French generals have one more star on their insignia than their foreign counterparts (notably American).

Note that the rank of "Chef de brigade" created during the French Revolution replaced that of Colonel. A brigade commander then commanded... a half-brigade (a name that replaced the regiment).

The rank of Brigadier of the Armies reappeared during the Third Republic. It designates a colonel, experienced as a regimental commander, who has under his command several regiments without having the annexed units that would make this group a brigade. The army brigadier wears the colonel's uniform and insignia. The rank was definitively abolished in 1945.

Until 1788, a rank of {{lang|fr|brigadier des armées}} ("brigadier of the armies"), which could be described as a senior colonel or junior brigade commander, was used in the [[French Army]]. The normal brigade command rank was field marshal ({{lang|fr|[[maréchal de camp]]}}) (which elsewhere is a more senior rank). During the [[French Revolution]], the ranks of {{lang|fr|brigadier des armées}} and {{lang|fr|maréchal de camp}} were replaced by [[brigade general]] ({{lang|fr|général de brigade}}).

In common with many countries, France now uses the officer rank of [[brigade general]] (Général de brigade) instead of a "brigadier" rank. The {{lang|fr|brigadier des armées}} held a one-star insignia,<ref>[http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/Les-grades-dans-l-armee-de-terre.html Les grades dans l’armée de terre] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204195951/http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/Les-grades-dans-l-armee-de-terre.html |date=December 4, 2014 }}</ref> while the {{lang|fr|général de brigade}} inherited the {{lang|fr|maréchal de camp}} two-stars insignia. The disappearance of the {{lang|fr|brigadier}} rank is the reason that there is no one-star insignia in the French Army.

The rank of {{lang|fr|brigadier}} is still nonetheless used in some regiments as an equivalent of [[Corporal#France|corporal]]. By extension, this also applies to the {{lang|fr|[[National Gendarmerie#Ranks|gendarmerie]]}}, equivalent in rank to a corporal in the infantry.<ref name="Le dictionnaire de l'Académie française">{{cite dictionary |title=brigadier |dictionary=Le dictionnaire de l'Académie française |edition=9th |url=https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/academie9/brigadier |date=1992 |publisher=Académie française |location=Nancy}}</ref>

== NATO code ==
While the rank is used in a number of [[NATO countries]], it is ranked differently depending on the country.
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! rowspan=2| NATO code
! rowspan=2| Country<ref name=NATO>{{cite book |author1=[[NATO]] |title=STANAG 2116 NATO |date=2021 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |edition=7th |location=Brussels, Belgium |pages=D-1–D-3}}</ref>
! colspan=2| English equivalent
|-
! UK
! US
|-
! colspan=4| Officers
|-
! OF-6
| Norway, Slovenia
| '''Brigadier'''
| [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]]
|-
! OF-5
| Croatia
| colspan=2| [[Colonel]]
|-
! colspan=4| Other ranks
|-
! OR-8
| Spain
| [[Warrant officer (United Kingdom)|Warrant officer class 2]]
| [[Master sergeant#United States|Master sergeant]]
|-
! OR-3
| France
| [[Lance corporal#United Kingdom|Lance corporal]]
| [[Private first class#United States|Private first class]]
|}

==General officer rank==

===Gallery===
<gallery class="center">
<!-- In alphabetic order of Country please -->
File:Angola-Army-OF-7.svg|{{lang|pt|Brigadeiro}}<br />([[Angolan Army]])<ref name="Angola_Army">{{cite web |title=Postos do Exército |url=https://faa.ao/exe/posto_exe |website=faa.ao |publisher=Angolan Army |access-date=27 June 2021 |language=pt}}</ref>
File:Bundesheer - Rank insignia - Brigadier.png|{{lang|de|Brigadier}}<br />([[Austrian Land Forces]])<ref name="Austria_Army">{{cite web |title=Dienstgrade |url=https://www.bundesheer.at/abzeichen/dienstgrade.shtml# |website=bundesheer.at |publisher=Federal Ministry of Defence (Austria) |access-date=25 May 2021 |language=de}}</ref>
File:blank.svg|{{lang|pt|Brigadeiro}}<br />([[Cape Verdean Armed Forces|Cape Verdean National Guard]])<ref name="CapeVerde_Army">{{cite web |title=Patente |url=https://www.fa.gov.cv/index.php/uniforme/patente |website=fa.gov.cv |publisher=Cape Verdean Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=pt |archive-date=26 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726014311/https://www.fa.gov.cv/index.php/uniforme/patente |url-status=dead }}</ref>
File:Norway-army-OF-6.svg|{{lang|no|Brigader}}<br />([[Norwegian Army]])<ref name="Norway">{{cite web |title=Militære grader |url=https://www.forsvaret.no/om-forsvaret/uniformer-grader-medaljer/grader |website=forsvaret.no |publisher=Norwegian Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=no |date=4 February 2021}}</ref>
File:blank.svg|{{lang|pt|Brigadeiro}}<br />([[Armed Forces of São Tomé and Príncipe|Army of São Tomé and Príncipe]])
File:18-Slovenian Army-BG.svg|{{lang|sl|Brigadir}}<br />([[Slovenian Ground Force]])<ref name="Slovenia">{{cite web |title=Čini in razredi |url=https://www.slovenskavojska.si/o-vojski/cini-in-razredi/ |website=slovenskavojska.si |publisher=Slovenian Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=sl}}</ref>
File:CHE OF6 Br.svg|{{lang|de|Brigadier}}<br />([[Swiss Army]])<ref name="Switzerland">{{cite web |title=Gradabzeichen und Farben der Achselschlaufen |url=https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/die-schweizer-armee/mittel/militaerische-abzeichen/gradabzeichen-und-farben-der-achselschlaufen.html#ui-collapse-234 |website=vtg.admin.ch |publisher=Swiss Army |access-date=27 May 2021 |language=de}}</ref>
</gallery>

==Senior officer rank==
===British tradition===
{{see also|Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier (India)|Brigadier (Sri Lanka)}}
In many countries, especially those formerly part of the [[British Empire]], a brigadier is either the highest [[Field officer|field rank]] or most junior [[general]] appointment, nominally commanding a [[brigade]]. It ranks above [[colonel]] and below [[major general]].

The rank is used by the [[British Army]], the [[Royal Marines]], the [[Australian Army]], the [[Bangladesh Army]], the [[Indian Army]], the [[Sri Lankan Army]], the [[New Zealand Army]], the [[Pakistan Army]] and several others. Although it is not always considered a general officer rank, it is always considered equivalent to the [[brigadier general]] and [[brigade general]] rank of other countries. In [[NATO]] forces, brigadier is [[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers|OF-6]] on the rank scale.

"The grade of brigadier-general, also called, almost interchangeably, brigadier, first appeared in the British army during the reign of King James II. A warrant of 1705 placed the grade directly below major-general, but the appointment was always considered temporary and not continuous. The British were ambiguous over whether the holder was considered a general officer or a senior field grade office".<ref>''The Brigade: A History: Its Organization and Employment in the US Army'', Chapter 1, Brigades in the Continental Army, Brigades and Brigadier-Generals, pp. 8-9. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120916224402/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/Brigade-AHistory.pdf] . Retrieved 21 December 2016.</ref>

The title is derived from the equivalent British rank of brigadier-general, used until 1922 and still used in many countries. "Brigadier" was already in use as a generic term for a commander of a brigade irrespective of specific rank. Until the rank was dissolved in 1922, brigadier-generals wore a crossed sword and baton symbol on its own.

From 1922 to 1928, the British rank title used was that of colonel-commandant, with one crown and three 'pips', a rank which, although reflecting its modern role in the British Army as a [[senior colonel]] rather than a junior general, was not well received and was replaced with brigadier after six years. Colonel-commandant was only ever used for officers commanding brigades, depots or training establishments. Officers holding equivalent rank in administrative appointments were known as "colonels on the staff", also replaced by brigadier in 1928. Colonel-commandants and colonels on the staff wore the same rank badge later adopted by brigadiers.<ref name="Times">"New Army Rank of Brigadier", ''[[The Times]]'', 23 December 1997.</ref>

Until shortly after [[World War II]], brigadier was an appointment conferred on colonels (as commodore was an appointment conferred on naval captains) rather than a substantive rank.<ref name="Times"/>

In [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, and most [[Arabic language|Arabic]]-speaking countries (in which the rank is called ''amid''), the rank insignia comprises a crown (or some other national symbol) with three stars{{efn|In Britain, Australia, and many other Commonwealth and ex-Commonwealth countries, these are [[Order of the Bath]] stars.}}, (sometimes called "pips"), which are often arranged in a triangle. A brigadier's uniform may also have red [[gorget patch]]es. It is otherwise similar to that of a colonel (colonel's rank insignia have a crown/emblem with two stars/"pips".){{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

The [[Canadian Army]] used the rank of brigadier (following British tradition, with identical insignia) until the unification of the [[Canadian Forces]] in 1968. The rank then became [[brigadier-general]] with the insignia of [[St. Edward's Crown]] surmounting a crossed sword and baton over one gold maple leaf.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

===Spain===
The rank of a ''brigadier''<ref>[http://www.arbil.org/105brig.htm Cañete Paez, Francisco Angel : El brigadier. Empleo atípico en el generalato español de los siglos XVIII Y XIX : Revista Arbil: nº 105]</ref> was established by [[Philip V of Spain|Philip V]] in 1702 as an intermediate rank between [[colonel]] and true [[general]]s. In some [[Iberoamerican]] republics (see below), the rank survived after independence. In [[Spain]], brigadiers came to be considered full generals in 1871, and in 1889 they were renamed {{lang|es|[[brigade general|general de brigada]]}}. The historical rank is distinct from the current NCO rank of {{lang|es|brigada}}, although sometimes translators confuse the two. The name has survived as a [[cadet]] rank at the [[Escuela Naval Militar de Oficiales|Spanish Naval Academy]].

===Latin America===
Many countries in [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]] were formerly Spanish or Portuguese (Brazil) possessions. 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|Argentine]] and [[Brazilian Air Force]]s use a curious system of variations on brigadier for all ([[Argentina]]) or most ([[Brazil]]) general officers. The origin of this system is not entirely clear, but in the case of Argentina may be due to army air units being commanded by brigade generals before the establishment of the Air Force as an independent armed force.

===Gallery===
<gallery class="center">
<!-- In alphabetic order of Country please -->
File:Australian Army OF-6.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Australian Army]])<ref name="Australia">{{cite web |title=Badges of rank |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf |website=defence.gov.au |publisher=Department of Defence (Australia) |access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref>
File:Bosnia&Herzegovina-Army-OF-5.svg|{{lang|bs|Brigadir}}<br />([[Bosnian Ground Forces]])<ref name="Bosnia&Herzegovina">{{cite web |title=OBILJEŽJA I ČINOVI OS BIH |url=http://os.mod.gov.ba/vojna-oprema-naoruzanje-i-simboli-os-bih/oznake-cinova-i-uniforme-u-os-bih/Obilje%c5%beja_i_cinovi_OS_BiH/default.aspx?id=1737&langTag=bs-BA&template_id=181&pageIndex=1 |website=os.mod.gov.ba |publisher=Oružane snage Bosne i Hercegovine |access-date=30 September 2019 |language=bs}}</ref>
File:Botswana-Army-OF-6.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Botswana Ground Force]])<ref name="Botswana">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Ministries/State-President/Botswana-Defence-Force-BDF/About-the-BDF1/Ranks-and-Insignia/ |title=Ranks |publisher=Government of Botswana |access-date=22 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826111806/http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Ministries/State-President/Botswana-Defence-Force-BDF/About-the-BDF1/Ranks-and-Insignia/ |archive-date=26 August 2016 }}</ref>
File:SS.OO.8.EJER.BRIGADIER.svg|{{lang|es|Brigadier}}<br />([[Chilean Army]])<ref name="Chile_Army">{{cite web |url=http://www.ejercito.cl/grados-y-distintivos.php |title=Distintivos de grados |language=es |trans-title=Badges of degrees |access-date=20 January 2012 |website=ejercito.cl |publisher=Chilean Army |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120051649/http://www.ejercito.cl/grados-y-distintivos.php |archive-date=20 January 2012}}</ref>
File:Fijian-OF-06.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Fiji Infantry Regiment]])
File:Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier rank insignia.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Guyana Defence Force|Guyana Army]])<ref name="Guyana_Army">{{cite book |last1=Merrill |first1=Tim |title=Guyana and Belize: country studies |date=1993 |publisher=Library of Congress |lccn=93010956 |page=138 |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.guyanabelizecoun00merr_0/?sp=176&st=text |access-date=3 June 2021}}</ref>
File:Brigadier of the Indian Army.svg|Brigadier<br />{{small|({{langx|hi|ब्रिगेडियर}})}}<br />([[Indian Army]])<ref name="India_Army">{{cite web |title=Indian Army Rank Badges |url=https://www.indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=eONNmmCN+tNKI1W4lLePYA==&ParentID=07brfiSEictrT4pH/Ap2MDmEuFrOV7w+937sVMAJv7E= |website=indianarmy.nic.in |publisher=Indian Army |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>
File:Jamaica-Army-OF-6 (new).svg|Brigadier<br />([[Jamaica Defence Force|Jamaican Army]])<ref name="Jamaica">{{cite web |title=BADGES OF RANK |url=https://www.jdfweb.com/badges-of-rank/ |website=Official Jamaica Defence Force Website |access-date=16 November 2019 |date=2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820143541/https://www.jdfweb.com/badges-of-rank/ |archive-date=20 August 2020}}</ref>
File:13. Kenyan Army BG.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Kenya Army]])<ref>{{cite web |title=KDF Ranks |url=https://mod.go.ke/kdf-ranks/#1604604085917-4b478bbb-9515 |website=mod.go.ke |publisher=Ministry of Defence - Kenya |access-date=29 May 2021}}</ref>
File:13. Malawi Army - BG.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Malawi Army]])<ref name="MalawiOfficer">{{cite web |title=Commissioned Officers |url=https://mdf.gov.mw/commissioned |website=Malawi Defence Force |access-date=12 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250413100730/https://mdf.gov.mw/commissioned |archive-date=13 April 2025}}</ref>
File:14.Malta Army-BG.svg|Brigadier<br />{{small|({{langx|mt|Brigadier}})}}<br />([[Armed Forces of Malta|Army of Malta]])<ref name="Malta">{{cite web |title=Rank Insignia |url=https://afm.gov.mt/en/equipment/Pages/Rank-Insignia.aspx |website=afm.gov.mt |publisher=Armed Forces of Malta |access-date=26 May 2021}}</ref>
File:New Zealand-Army-OF-6.svg|Brigadier<br />([[New Zealand Army]])<ref name="NewZealand">{{cite web |title=Badges of Rank |url=https://nzdfpop.cwp.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Resources/21-Update_Rank-Poster-all-services.pdf |website=nzdf.mil.nz |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force |access-date=28 July 2022}}</ref>
File:OF-6 Pakistan Army.svg|Brigadier<br />{{small|({{langx|ur|بریگیڈیئر}})}}<br />([[Pakistan Army]])<ref name="Pakistan_Army">{{cite web |title=Pakistan Army Ranks with Salary and Insignia |url=https://pakistanforces.com/pakistan-army-ranks/ |website=pakistanforces.com |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>
File:PNGDF Land OF-06.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Papua New Guinea Defence Force|Papua New Guinea Land Element]])
File:Seychelles Army OF-06 (2018).svg|Brigadier<br />([[Seychelles People's Defence Force|Seychelles Infantry Unit]])<ref name="Seychelles">{{cite web |title=Rank structure |url=https://www.spdf.sc/rank-structure/ |website=spdf.sc |publisher=Seychelles People's Defence Forces |access-date=4 June 2021}}</ref>
File:blank.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Sierra Leone Army]])
File:Sri Lanka-army-OF-6.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Sri Lanka Army]])<ref name="SriLanka_Army">{{cite web |title=Dress Regulation PDF - Part I |url=https://www.army.lk/sites/all/themes/bootstrap/common/images/images2/downloads/Dress-regulation-2019-PART-I.pdf |website=army.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |pages=10-4–10-11 |date=January 2019 |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref>
File:Tonga-Army-OF-6.svg|Brigadier<br />([[His Majesty's Armed Forces (Tonga)|Tongan Land Component]])<ref name="Tonga">{{cite journal |title=Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Regulations 2009 |journal=Tonga Government Gazette Supplement Extraordinary |date=10 May 2010 |volume=5 |pages=151–153 |url=https://ago.gov.to/cms/phocadownload/2010-regulations/TongaDefenceServices(Amendment)Regulations2009s.pdf |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref>
File:blank.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force|Eswatini Army]])
File:Uganda-Army-OF-6.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Uganda People's Defence Force|Ugandan Land Forces]])<ref name="Uganda_Army">{{cite journal |title=Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces Act |journal=The Uganda Gazette |date=18 September 2019 |volume=CXII |issue=46 |pages=1851–1854 |url=https://www.updf.go.ug/Gazette.pdf |access-date=29 May 2021 |publisher=Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation |archive-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814162155/https://www.updf.go.ug/Gazette.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
File:British Army OF-6.svg|Brigadier<br />([[British Army]])<ref name="UK_Army">{{cite web |title=Rank structure |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/our-people/ranks/ |website=army.mod.uk |publisher=British Army |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>
File:Zimbabwe-Army-OF-6.svg|Brigadier<br />([[Zimbabwe National Army]])<ref name="ZimbabweOfficer">{{cite book |last1=Ehrenreich |first1=Frederick |editor1-last=Nelson |editor1-first=Harold D. |title=Zimbabwe: a Country Study |series=Area Handbook |date=1983 |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |lccn=83-11946 |page=267 |edition=3rd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D3R0AAAAMAAJ |access-date=5 July 2022 |chapter=National Security|isbn=9780160015984 }}</ref>
</gallery>

==Junior officer rank==
===United Kingdom===
In the UK, brigadier and sub-brigadier were formerly [[Subaltern (military)|subaltern]] ranks in the [[Royal Horse Guards]].<ref>{{cite book |page=446 |last=Murray |first=L. |title=The Young Man's Best Companion, and Book of General Knowledge |year=1821 }}</ref>{{when|date=October 2017}}

==Non-commissioned rank==
Brigadier also exists as a non-commissioned rank. This usage derives from the use of "brigade" to denote a squad or team, similar to the occasional English civilian usage "work brigade".

===France===
====Military====
In [[France]], and some countries whose forces were structured based on the method used in France, some branches of the army and the [[gendarmerie]]<ref name="Le dictionnaire de l'Académie française"/> use {{lang|fr|brigadier}} for a rank equivalent to {{lang|fr|[[Caporal (military rank)|caporal]]}} ([[corporal]]), and {{lang|fr|brigadier-chef}} for a rank equivalent to {{lang|fr|caporal-chef}}. Brigadier is used by arms of the army that are by tradition considered "mounted" arms, such as [[logistics]] or [[cavalry]] units. A similar usage exists elsewhere.

In the French gendarmerie, the brigadier ranks are used as in the army, i.e. as junior enlisted ranks ({{lang|fr|gradés}}), while the French police use brigadier ranks as their sub-officer ({{lang|fr|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, which are used to indicate professional ranks, are common.

In the French gendarmerie and in "mounted" arms of the French army, the brigadier ranks are:
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! rowspan=2| 
! colspan=2| OR-4
! colspan=2| OR-3
|-
! Army<ref name="France_Army">{{cite book |title=Instruction N° 10300/DEF/EMAT/LOG/ASH |date=13 June 2005 |publisher=Staff of the French Army |url=https://rescue18.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/INSTRUCTION-N-10300_DEF_EMAT_LOG_ASH-DEF_DCCAT_LOG_REG.pdf |access-date=30 May 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>
! Gendarmerie
! Army<ref name="France_Army"/>
! Gendarmerie
|-
! Shoulder
| [[File:Army-FRA-OR-04b.svg|50px]]
| [[File:France (Gendarmerie) OR-4.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Army-FRA-OR-03.svg|50px]]
| [[File:France (Gendarmerie) OR-3.svg|50px]]
|-
! Camouflage
| [[File:France-Army-OR-4b LowVis.svg|50px]]
| [[File:France (Gendarmerie) OR-4 Operational.svg|50px]]
| [[File:France-Army-OR-3 LowVis.svg|50px]]
| [[File:France (Gendarmerie) OR-3 Operational.svg|50px]]
|-
! French
| colspan=2| {{lang|fr|Brigadier-chef}}
| colspan=2| {{lang|fr|Brigadier}}
|-
! English translation
| colspan=2| Chief brigadier
| colspan=2| Brigadier
|}

====National police====
In the [[French National Police]], the sub-officer variations are used for [[non-commissioned officer]]s are: 
*{{lang|fr|Sous-brigadier}} ([[Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies Enlisted|OR-6]], equal to gendarmerie {{lang|fr|maréchal-des-logis-chef}})
*{{lang|fr|Brigadier}} ([[Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies Enlisted|OR-8]], equal to gendarmerie {{lang|fr|adjudant}})
*{{lang|fr|Brigadier-chef}} ([[Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies Enlisted|OR-9]], equal to gendarmerie {{lang|fr|adjudant-chef}})
*{{lang|fr|Brigadier-major}} ([[Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies Enlisted|OR-9]], equal to gendarmerie {{lang|fr|major}})

===Indonesia===
{{main article|Indonesian National Police#Ranks}}
{{see also|Police rank#Indonesia}}
In the [[Indonesian National Police]] force, this rank is referred to as the [[Constable]] ranks in the regular police units. It is equivalent to the "sergeant" rank in the armed forces. This rank is the most junior rank in the regular police units of Indonesia but is above the enlisted ranks ({{lang|id|Tamtama}}) of the special police units such as in the [[Mobile Brigade (Indonesia)|Mobile Brigade corps]] and [[water police]] units. This rank is below the "Sub-inspector" ({{lang|id|Ajun Inspektur Polisi}}) ranks. The police Brigadier ranks are as shown below:

*[[File:PDU BRIPKA KOM.png|25px]] {{lang|id|Brigadir Polisi Kepala}}, abbreviated {{lang|id|Bripka}} (Police Chief Brigadier)
*[[File:PDU BRIG KOM.png|25px]] {{lang|id|Brigadir Polisi}}, not abbreviated (Police Brigadier)
*[[File:PDU BRIPTU KOM.png|25px]] {{lang|id|Brigadir Polisi Satu}}, abbreviated {{lang|id|Briptu}} (Police Brigadier 1st class)
*[[File:PDU BRIPDA KOM.png|25px]] {{lang|id|Brigadir Polisi Dua}}, abbreviated {{lang|id|Bripda}} (Police Brigadier 2nd class)

In addition, Police Brigadier General ({{lang|id|Brigadir Jenderal Polisi}}) and Brigadier General ({{lang|id|Brigadir Jenderal}}) are [[general officer]] ranks in the [[Indonesian National Police|Indonesian Police]], [[Indonesian Army|Army]] and [[Indonesian Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] respectively.

===Italy===
In the Italian {{lang|it|[[Carabinieri]]}} and {{lang|it|[[Guardia di Finanza]]}}, the ranks of vice-brigadier ({{lang|it|vice brigadiere}}), brigadier ({{lang|it|brigadiere}}), and chief brigadier ({{lang|it|brigadiere capo}}) correspond roughly to the army ranks based on [[sergeant]]. The rank of brigade general ({{lang|it|generale di brigata}}) is used throughout the armed forces as the most junior general rank, and corresponds to the British rank title of brigadier.

===Netherlands===
{{lang|nl|Brigadier}} is traditionally the most senior non-commissioned rank in the Dutch police, for example the [[National Police Corps (Netherlands)|National Police Corps]] ({{lang|nl|[[National Police Corps (Netherlands)|Korps Nationale Politie]]}}). Its predecessors also used this rank. The [[Royal Marechaussee]] (military police/gendarmerie) does not use this rank.

===Spain===
In [[Spain]], a {{lang|es|brigada}} has a NATO rank code of [[Ranks and insignia of NATO Armies Enlisted|OR-8]] (and is thus a senior NCO). The Spanish rank {{lang|es|brigada}} is distinct from the Spanish-language ''brigadier [-general]'' used for senior officers in Latin America (and historically in Spain).

===Gallery===
<gallery class="center">
<!-- In alphabetic order of Country please -->
File:02. Burkina Faso Army - CPL.svg|{{lang|fr|Brigadier}}<br />([[Burkina Faso Armed Forces|Burkina Faso Ground Forces]])<ref name="BurkinaFaso1">{{cite web |title=LOI N° 037-2016/AN PORTANT CONDITIONS D'AVANCEMENT DES PERSONNELS D'ACTIVE DES FORCES ARMEES NATIONALES |url=https://lavoixdujuristebf.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/loi_037_avancement_personnel_fan.pdf |date=2015 |access-date=3 June 2021 |pages=17–21 |language=fr |archive-date=31 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831104305/https://lavoixdujuristebf.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/loi_037_avancement_personnel_fan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="BurkinaFaso2">{{cite web |title=LOI N° 019-2015/CNT PORTANT STATUT GENERAL DES PERSONNELS DES FORCES ARMEES NATIONALES |url=https://archives.assembleenationale.bf/IMG/pdf/loi_019_portant_statut_militaire_fan-2.pdf |date=2014 |access-date=3 June 2021 |language=fr |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328221120/https://archives.assembleenationale.bf/IMG/pdf/loi_019_portant_statut_militaire_fan-2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
File:06. EGLF-SGM.svg|{{lang|es|Brigada}}<br />([[Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea|Army of Equatorial Guinea]])
File:Army-FRA-OR-03.svg|{{lang|fr|Brigadier}}<br />([[French Army]])<ref name="France_Army" />
File:Monaco-army-OR-4.svg|{{lang|fr|Brigadier}}<br />([[Military of Monaco|Army of Monaco]])
File:Spain-Army-OR-8.svg|{{lang|es|Brigada}}<br />([[Spanish Army]])<ref name="Spain">{{cite web |title=Army Ranks & Insignia |url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/en/personal/divisas-empleos.html |website=ejercito.defensa.gob.es |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Spain) |access-date=30 May 2021}}</ref>
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of comparative military ranks]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Military ranks]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Commonwealth]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Francophonie]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Australia]]
[[Category:Former military ranks of Canada]]
[[Category:Military ranks of France]]
[[Category:Pakistan Army ranks]]
[[Category:One-star officers]]