Uniform Insignia Forum

Dear Administrators,

I am sorry to tell you but there is a certain misplacement of the rankinsignia about the Belgian Military Police on this site:
http://www.uniforminsignia.org/show.php?podkategorie=Military%20Police&stat=Belgium&id=822
The correct order is shown on this site:
http://www.uniforminsignia.org/show.php?stat=Belgium&podkategorie=Army&num=3&id=2050
Belgian Military Police grades exist from the lowest Soldaat / Soldat till Generaal-majoor / Général-major. From Adjudant off till Generaal-majoor the square shoulderloops red with white borders are worn.

The correct order of Adjudants ranks is:
Adjudant-chef: single silver star with silver palm below
Adjudant eerste klasse*: single silver star with thin short silver bar above
Adjudant: single silver star

*The rank of Adjudant eerste klasse was abolished at about 1961 and these insignia were till some time used also for Adjudant-chef.

Dear Mister Mococh,

I have seen your new design about Belgian Military Police insignia, these are my comments:
- The order and design of the rankinsignia is correct
- All insignia are present, but Adjudant eerste klasse / Adjudant de premičre classe is missing. I would insert it for completenes. Is was abolished on 27-12-1961. It was still worn afterwards till retirement or till promotion to Adjudant-chef. The difference between these Adjudant ranks is: Adjudant +8 years service is Adjudant eerste klasse / Adjudant de premičre classe. Adjudant with +8 years service and passed Examination BM (=Brevet Militaire) became Adjudant-chef. Nobody wear the Adjudant eerste klasse / Adjudant de premičre classe insignia anymore. For a short time these insignia were also worn by Adjudant-chef of the Gendarmerie / Rijkswacht.
-To make things complicated in Belgium there are 3 official languages, all of equal standing: Dutch, French and German. German speaking people(= 1% of Belgian population) are used to French speaking. Dutch is actually Flemish and French is Wallon. It differs in using of words and ways of speaking. The German rankstitles are seldom used.
-Belgian Military Police= DUT: Belgische Military Politie FRE: Police Militaire Belgique GER: Belgischer Militär Polizei. In Belgium the prefix Belgium is never used.
-Ranktitles and insignia DUT / FRE / GER / UKD:
IIxx : Generaal-majoor / Général-major / Generalmajor / Major General
IIx : Brigadegeneraal / Général de Brigade / Brigadegeneral / Brigadier General (not Brigadier) (5)
Ixxx : Kolonel / Colonel / Oberst / Colonel
Ixx : Luitenant-kolonel / Lieutenant-colonel / Oberstleutnant / Lieutenant Colonel
Ix : Majoor / Major / Major / Major
xxxI : Kapitein-commandant / Capitain-commandant / Erster Hauptmann (4) / Captain Commandant (3)
xxx : Kapitein / Capitaine / Hauptmann / Captain
xx : Luitenant / Lieutenant / Leutnant / Lieutenant
x : Onderluitenant / Sous-lieutenant / Unterleutnant / Under Lieutenant
{x : Adjudant-chef / Adjudant-chef / Oberadjudant / Chief Warrant Officer
xI : Adjudant eerste klasse (1) / Adjudant de premičre classe / Erster Adjudant oder Adjudant Erster Klasse (2) / Warrant Officer First Class (UKD)
x : Adjudant / Adjudant / Adjudant / Warrant Officer (UKD)

Remarks:
(1) Old method of writing is "klas", now "klasse" is used.
(2) I do not know the exact translation but I think the last one is correct.
(3) In earlier times the rank of Captain Commandant was also named First Captain / Eerste Kapitein / Premier Capitaine. I think the change happend after the Second World War I do not know the exact dates.
(4) I do not know if it is "Erste" or "Erster", my German is not that good.
(5) The rank of Kolonel Brigadecommandant / Colonel Commandant de Brigade could be used in Military Police, but it would be very rare and only when a Military Police Colonel would hold this appointment. This rank is in English better translated as Brigadier. Only Colonels serving outside of Europe like United Nations operations are appointed Brigadegeneral / Général de Brigade until the end of there appointment. The they become Colonel again.
I hope that this is of assistance to your question.
Yours sincerely,

Peter Meijlaers

Dear Mr Mococh,

I made one mistake in my comments. The Military Police Major General and Brigadier General always wear black slîp-ons with red borders and Lightning Bolts like all Generals do. Only from Colonel to Adjudant the red with white slip-ons are worn. The only distinction is the red Baret with Military Police insignia when no kepi is worn. There is only one Major General, and no Brigadier General, except when a Colonel would be appointed outside Europe (see remark 5). He is chief of the entire military police and has residence at the Royal Palace in Brussels.
Yours sincerely,

Peter Meijlaers

PS: Great insignia artwork!!!

Dear Mister Mococh,

All the insignia are present, and or good looking. Only the Generalsinsignia need changes. Here are some corrections:
II** , II* : Major Generals and Brigadier Generals do not wear the MP Bursting Bomb but the Generals Lightning Bolts Bundle instat. Only Colonels and below wear MP Bursting Bomb.
Switch the Major General and Brigadier General insignia so that the Major General ranks last.
***I: FRE: I forgot the E in CapitainE-commandant, I am sorry.
{x: GER: OBERadjudant.
xI: FRE: Adjudant de premičre CLASSE

Nice to know: In NATO service a Belgian Captain Commandant ranks equal to a USA or UKD Major because of his long service record: 16 years in normal service for Captain Commandant. A Belgian Major has 18 years. Some are promoted faster: pilots, medical officers.
You made very nice artwork and you are a great graphical artwork artist. I hope to be one day as good as you are. But it will take some time.
Yours sincerely,

Peter Meijlaers