Military ranks of Serbia

The rank insignia for commissioned officers.

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Serbian Army[1]
			Генерал General		Генерал-Потпуковник General-potpukovnik		Генерал-Мајор General-major		Бригадни Генерал Brigadni general		Пуковник Pukovnik		Потпуковник Potpukovnik		Мајор Major		Капетан Kapetan		Поручник Poručnik			Потпоручник Potporučnik
Serbian River Flotilla[1]
			Адмирал Admiral		Вице Адмирал Vice admiral		Контра Адмирал Kontra admiral		Комодор Komodor		Капетан Бојног Брода Kapetan bojnog broda		Капетан Фрегате Kapetan fregate		Капетан Корвете Kapetan korvete		Поручник Фрегате Poručnik fregate		Поручник Корвете Poručnik korvete			Потпоручник Potporučnik
Serbian Air Force and Air Defence[1]
			Генерал General		Генерал-Потпуковник General-Potpukovnik		Генерал-Мајор General-Major		Бригадни Генерал Brigadni General		Пуковник Pukovnik		Потпуковник Potpukovnik		Мајор Major		Капетан Kapetan		Поручник Poručnik			Потпоручник Potporučnik
Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

The rank insignia for NCOs and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Serbian Army[1]																																			No insignia
	Заставник I класе Zastavnik I klase						Заставник Zastavnik		Старији Водник I класе Stariji Vodnik I klase		Старији Водник Stariji Vodnik						Водник Vodnik						Млађи водник Mlađi vodnik				Десетар Desetar		Разводник Razvodnik						Војник Vojnik
Serbian River Flotilla[1]																																			No insignia
	Заставник I класе Zastavnik I klase						Заставник Zastavnik		Старији Водник I класе Stariji Vodnik I klase		Старији Водник Stariji Vodnik						Водник Vodnik						Млађи водник Mlađi vodnik				Десетар Desetar		Разводник Razvodnik						Војник Vojnik
Serbian Air Force and Air Defence[1]																																			No insignia
	Заставник I класе Zastavnik I klase						Заставник Zastavnik		Старији Водник I класе Stariji Vodnik I klase		Старији Водник Stariji Vodnik						Водник Vodnik						Млађи водник Mlađi vodnik				Десетар Desetar		Разводник Razvodnik						Војник Vojnik
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted

There were only three ranks in pre-World War I Serbia: General (from 1872), Army General (from 1900 to 1901) and Vojvoda (from 1901). Four ranks were introduced in Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in 1923, and lasted until 1945. There were only two types of shoulder cords: with double-headed eagle and coat of arms of Kingdom of SHS or Kingdom of Yugoslavia for Vojvoda and without for all other General ranks. The different general grades were indicated by 6-pointed stars on the cuffs. Also the backing cloth for the shoulder cords was light blue for army general (was honorary rank in the period from 1900–1901) and divisional generals and in a colour of service for brigadier general. During the Middle Ages, the Vojvoda was a military commander rank and a noble titule. In the Balkan Wars and World War I this title was used to designate the highest military rank in Serbian Army and later Royal Yugoslav Army (above the General - as equalent of Field Marshal in other armies). This rank was introduced by the law on the Organization of the Army Kingdom of Serbia in 1901. It has been awarded only during the war for: special merits of top generals. The first Vojvoda was promoted by the Great military decree of the Kingdom of Serbia on 20 October 1912. Only four people ever officially held that military rank: Radomir Putnik (got it in 1912), Stepa Stepanović (1914), Živojin Mišić (1914) and Petar Bojović (1918). Honorary title but not military rank held only French General Louis Franchet d'Espérey (1921). After unification of the Kingdom of Serbia into Kingdom SHS (later Kingdom Yugoslavia), no further officers were promoted to rank of Vojvoda. King of Yugoslavia held the rank of Supreme Commander and wear special Vojvoda uniform.

Ranks	Vojvoda	General
Epaulette
Ranks in Serbian	Војвода Vojvoda	Ђенерал Đeneral