Military ranks in the World of Avatar

Military ranks are a system of hierarchical relationships employed to clearly define a chain of command within the military.

Army
The chain of command is not very well defined in the Water Tribe. There is no overall military commander of the Water Tribes and as such, command is divided between the two polar factions.



Tribal Chief
A Tribal Chief (首長, shǒuzhǎng) is the leader of a Water Tribe settlement. Several chiefs are present in the Southern Water Tribe, which consists of various villages scattered along the region of the South Pole. All of these chiefs are virtually equal in power and serve more as figures of guidance rather than authoritative political figures. There is one sole chief of the Northern Water Tribe and he seems to have more power than his southern faction counterparts. In principle, however, all chiefs are equal and convene together to make decisions. The chief of the Northern Water Tribe is advised by a council made up of the most influential members of the tribe. Master Pakku and Princess Yue were among these people in their day.

Known Tribal Chiefs include:
 * Chief Arnook (Northern Water Tribe)
 * Chief Hakoda (Southern Water Tribe)

Lieutenant
There have been subtle hints which imply the existence of a lieutenant-like position in the military of the Water Tribe. Bato may be the lieutenant of the Southern Water Tribe, as he wears a uniform different from that of the other warriors and is shown to act in a high-ranking position second only to Hakoda. It is also suggested that Hahn was a lieutenant of the Northern Water Tribe, as evidenced by his close relationship to the governing family and being entrusted with the critical mission to capture Zhao.

Possible lieutenants include:
 * Hahn (Northern Water Tribe)
 * Bato (Southern Water Tribe)

Army
The Earth Kingdom Army is commanded by the Council of Five. The council is the highest authority in the Earth Kingdom military (apart from the Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se and the Earth King himself) and oversaw the country's entire war effort against the Fire Nation during the Hundred Year War. The council is headed by General How, the commanding officer of the military. Among the council members is General Sung, who defended Ba Sing Se's Outer Wall from attack by a giant drill. The other three generals were briefly seen but remain unnamed.

General
General is the highest rank in the Earth Kingdom Army. Each general is in charge of bases located in the Earth Kingdom or can serve as members of the Council of Five in Ba Sing Se.

Known generals include:
 * General How (Head of the Council of Five)
 * General Fong
 * General Sung
 * General Chin †

Captain
A captain is the commander, or second-in-command, of a company of soldiers or a squadron. In Omashu, it was shown that captains are of a high enough rank to be able to speak with the King of Omashu and discuss military affairs.

Known captains include:
 * Captain Yung
 * Earthbender captain

Corporal
A corporal is a soldier more experienced than a private, with additional leadership duties. The earthbender captain seemed to trust his corporal enough with handling the powerful General Iroh.

Known corporals include:
 * Earthbending corporal

Army
The Fire Nation Army was the largest and primary branch of the Fire Nation and was the key force in conquering the Earth Kingdom. It employs a great variety of different vehicles and soldiers.

General


General is the highest rank in the Fire Nation Army. Different generals vary in position and the extent of their power varies as well. Generals with more authority are often referred to as High Generals. Most High Generals work with the Fire Lord to construct crucial battle plans that would benefit the nation's war efforts the most. For instance, the war meeting held by the Fire Lord in a flashback consisted of High Generals whose collective goal was to develop a battle plan that would lead to the fall of Ba Sing Se.

Each general is assigned a different position, such as invading the Earth Kingdom capital or overseeing the production of weapons in a factory.

Known generals include:
 * General Azulon †
 * General Bujing
 * General Iroh
 * General Shinu
 * General Shu
 * General Mung

Colonel
A colonel is usually a military title rated as the highest or second-highest field rank below the general, or "flag" grades. In some small military forces, it can be the highest rank held. A colonel can be placed in charge of a fortress or be in charge of a certain fighting group, such as the Yuyan Archers or the Rough Rhinos.

Known colonels include:
 * Colonel Mongke
 * Colonel Shinu (eventually promoted to general)

Captain
Captain, also a rank in the Fire Nation's Navy and air force, was an officer rank below colonel. Usually, captains led units into battles. Some captains were in charge of garrisons.

Known captains include:
 * Captain Chey (prior to desertion)
 * Guard captain

Navy
The Navy is the Fire Nation's aquatic fighting force and is the biggest navy in the Avatar World, larger even than that of the Water Tribe. The navy split into at least two fleets, the Eastern and Western fleets, and is commanded by admirals. Separate ships have their own commanding officers.

Admiral


Admiral is the highest rank in the Fire Nation Navy, preceded by commander. The title has been used since the inception of the navy and gives whoever bears the title very high authority and command over an entire fleet. Admirals are appointed directly by the Fire Lord.

One notable bearer of the title was Admiral Zhao, who held the position for a very short time, approximately one month. Zhao was famous for several feats as an admiral. One was the brief capture of Avatar Aang by employing the Yuyan Archers. The Avatar was recaptured by the banished Prince Zuko, disguised as the Blue Spirit. Zhao later led the Siege of the North and, during the invasion, killed the Moon Spirit, Tui. Consequently, Zhao was killed by the Ocean Spirit, La.

Named admirals of the Eastern and Western Fleets, Admiral Chan and Admiral Liang respectively, commanded around 100 ASC.

Known admirals include:
 * Admiral Chan
 * Admiral Jeong Jeong (prior to desertion)
 * Admiral Liang
 * Admiral Zhao †

Commander
A commander is in charge of the captains and responsible for carrying out an admiral's commands. They are also placed in charge of blockades and a considerable number of ships, but still have nowhere near as much power as an admiral.

Known commanders include:
 * Commander Zhao (prior to gaining the rank of Admiral)
 * Southern Raiders commander
 * Yon Rha (formerly)

Captain


A captain is an officer charged with overseeing a particular vessel. He is under the direct command of a commander. A captain could also oversee a royal vessel, a position held, for example, by Azula's ship captain. Captain is also a rank in the air force.

Known captains include:
 * Azula's ship captain
 * Captain Li
 * Captain Zhao (Zuko addressed Zhao by this title before the latter corrected him and stated that he had been promoted to commander.)

Lieutenant
A lieutenant is the lowest ranking officer in the Fire Nation military. A lieutenant is under the direct command of the captain of his ship. They have more power than ordinary soldiers, but not by much.

Known lieutenants include:
 * Lieutenant Jee
 * Lieutenant Zhao

Private
Privates are not considered officers and are under the command of a ship's lieutenant.

Air Force


The Fire Nation Air Force is the airborne branch of the Fire Nation's military and was only operated in the final stages of the Hundred Year War. There were no named members of the air force. The air force was put out of commission during the Battle at Wulong Forest, when the airship fleet was destroyed by Sokka, Suki, and Toph.

Captain
Captain was a rank in the Fire Nation Air Force. Captains were given command of Fire Nation airships and their crews. Captain is also a rank in the Fire Nation Navy as well as the Fire Nation Army.

Known captains include:
 * Airship captain

General
General is the highest rank one can achieve in the United Forces. Generals are in charge of leading the United Forces' fleet of battleships wherever they are needed.

Known generals include:
 * General Iroh

Commander
Commander is the second highest known rank in the United Forces. Commanders can also lead fleets of battleships.

Known commanders include:
 * Commander Bumi