The South African National Defence Force's rank system is largely based on the British system, with the Air Force (and later the Military Health Service) sharing the Army rank titles. Rank titles changed over time as did the insignia.
In June 2008 [2] a new series of warrant officer ranks were introduced.
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Union of South Africa Army (1928–1953) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Field Marshal Veldmaarskalk | General Generaal | Lieutenant General Luitenant-Generaal | Major General Generaal-Majoor | Brigadier Brigadier | Colonel Kolonel | Lieutenant Colonel Luitenant-Kolonel | Major Majoor | Captain Kaptein | Lieutenant Luitenant | Second Lieutenant Tweede Luitenant | Officer Candidate Kandidaatoffisier |
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Union of South Africa Army (1928–1953) | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II | Staff Sergeant Stafsersant | Sergeant Sersant | Corporal Korporaal | Lance Corporal Onderkorporaal | Private Soldaat |
During the apartheid era, the South African Army's rank structure was shared between the Army, Air Force and SAMS with some small differences. In the Air Force a staff sergeant was a flight sergeant for example. The Air Force ranks had a blue background and the NCO stripes were blue. For SAMS the ranks had a maroon background.
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Army (1961–1994) [3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Generaal [note 1] | Lieutenant General Luitenant-Generaal | Major General Generaal-Majoor [note 2] | Brigadier Brigadier | Colonel Kolonel | Chief Commandant Hoofkommandant [note 3] | Commandant Kommandant | Major Majoor | Captain Kaptein | Lieutenant Luitenant [note 4] | Second Lieutenant Tweede Luitenant [note 5] | Officer Candidate Kandidaatoffisier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Air Force (1961–1994) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Generaal | Lieutenant General Luitenant-Generaal | Major General Generaal-Majoor | Brigadier Brigadier | Colonel Kolonel | Commandant Kommandant | Major Majoor | Captain Kaptein | Lieutenant Luitenant | Second Lieutenant Tweede Luitenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Navy (1961–1994) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral Admiraal | Vice Admiral Vise-Admiraal | Rear Admiral Skoutadmiraal | Commodore Kommodoor | Captain Kaptein | Commander Kommandeur | Lieutenant Commander Luitenant-Kommandeur | Lieutenant Luitenant | Sub Lieutenant Onderluitenant | Ensign Vaandrig | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Medical Service (1961–1994) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Generaal | Lieutenant General Luitenant-Generaal | Major General Generaal-Majoor | Brigadier Brigadier | Colonel Kolonel | Commandant Kommandant | Major Majoor | Captain Kaptein | Lieutenant Luitenant | Second Lieutenant Tweede Luitenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Army (1961–1994) [3] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergeant Major of the Army Sersant-Majoor van die Leër | Warrant officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I | Warrant officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II | Staff sergeant Stafsersant | Sergeant Sersant | Corporal Korporaal | Lance corporal Onderkorporaal | Private Soldaat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Air Force (1961–1994) | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergeant Major of the SA Air Force Sersant-Majoor van die SA Lugmag | Warrant Officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I | Warrant Officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II | Flight sergeant Vlugsersant | Sergeant Sersant [note 6] | Corporal Korporaal [note 7] | Lance corporal Onderkorporaal [note 8] | Aircraftman Vliegtuigman [note 9] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Navy (1961–1994) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Master at Arms of the South African Navy Sersant-Majoor van die SA Vloot | Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II | Chief petty officer Eerste Bootsman | Petty officer Bootsman | Leading seaman Baasseeman | Able seaman Bevare Seeman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted |
Note: in the artillery and anti-aircraft corps, the corporal and lance-corporal are called "bombardier" (bombardeer) and "lance-bombardier" (onderbombardeer). The private is called a "gunner" in the artillery and anti-aircraft, a "rifleman" in the infantry, a "trooper" in the armoured corps, a "sapper" in the engineers, a "signalman" in the signals corps, and a "scout" in the intelligence corps.
Any warrant officer class 1 could be posted to substantive posts, including
However they would retain the rank of WO1, while wearing unique rank insignia. To distinguish the posting different colour backgrounds were used; for example, red for regimental sergeant major and black for command sergeant major. The sergeant major of each arm of service wore insignia topped by the arms of their respective arm of service.
In 2008 the warrant officer ranks were expanded to make each substantive rank a formal rank.
The SA Army was formed in 1912 as the Union Defence Force. It was given its present name in 1951. The rank system is derived from that of the British Army.
The ranks of General Officers changed in September 2003 when the rank previously called Brigadier became known as Brigadier General. [4] [5]
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Army (1994-2002) [6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Generaal | Lieutenant General Luitenant-Generaal | Major General Generaal-Majoor | Brigadier Brigadier | Colonel Kolonel | Commandant Kommandant | Major Majoor | Captain Kaptein | Lieutenant Luitenant | Second Lieutenant Tweede Luitenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Army [7] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | 2nd lieutenant | Candidate officer |
Equivalent NATO rank | WO-5 | WO-4 | WO-3 | WO-2 | WO-1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Army | ||||||||||
Master chief warrant officer | Senior chief warrant officer | Chief warrant officer | Master warrant officer | Senior warrant officer |
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Army (1994-2002) [6] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I | Warrant officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II | Staff sergeant Stafsersant | Sergeant Sersant | Corporal Korporaal | Lance corporal Onderkorporaal | Private (or equivalent) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Army [7] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent) |
The SA Air Force was formed in 1920. Unlike many other Commonwealth air forces, it had an army style rank system. In 2002 the Air Force officer rank insignia structure was changed from one which was shared with the Army to a new pattern based on stripes. The Air Force stated that this was "in order to bring it more in line with international forms of rank". [8] The army-style rank titles were retained. Note: The rank of General is only used when the Chief of the Air Force is also the Chief of the Defence Force which has occurred on occasion in the past. In 2005 the South African Air Force redesigned its insignia completely, while keeping the Army titles.
Rank group | General/Flag/Air officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Air Force (1994-2002) [6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Generaal | Lieutenant General Luitenant-Generaal | Major General Generaal-Majoor | Brigadier Brigadier | Colonel Kolonel | Commandant Kommandant | Major Majoor | Captain Kaptein | Lieutenant Luitenant | Second Lieutenant Tweede Luitenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Air Force [9] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer candidate |
Equivalent NATO rank | WO-5 | WO-4 | WO-3 | WO-2 | WO-1 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Air Force | ||||||
Master chief warrant officer | Senior chief warrant officer | Chief warrant officer | Master warrant officer | Senior warrant officer |
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Air Force (1994-2002) [6] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II | Flight Sergeant Vlugsersant | Sergeant Sersant | Corporal Korporaal | Lance corporal Onderkorporaal | Aircraftman Vliegtuigman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Air Force [9] | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Flight sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Aircraftman |
The SA Navy was originally two separate organisations, namely the South African Division of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (formed in 1913) and the South African Naval Service (formed in 1922 and renamed the "Seaward Defence Force" in 1939). They amalgamated in 1942 to form the SA Naval Forces, which were renamed "SA Navy" in 1951. The rank system is based on that of the (British) Royal Navy. [10]
The ranks of flag officers changed in 1997 when the rank previously called Commodore became known as Rear Admiral (Junior Grade). [11]
Rank group | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Navy (1994-2002) [6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral Admiraal | Vice Admiral Vise-Admiraal | Rear Admiral Skoutadmiraal | Commodore Kommodoor | Captain Kaptein | Commander Kommandeur | Lieutenant Commander Luitenant-Kommandeur | Lieutenant Luitenant | Sub Lieutenant Onderluitenant | Ensign Vaandrig | Midshipman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Navy [12] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Rear admiral (junior grade) | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Sub lieutenant | Ensign | Midshipman |
Equivalent NATO rank | WO-5 | WO-4 | WO-3 | WO-2 | WO-1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Navy | ||||||||||
Master chief warrant officer | Senior chief warrant officer | Chief warrant officer | Master warrant officer | Senior warrant officer |
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Navy (1994-2002) [6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II | Chief petty officer Eerste Bootsman | Petty officer Bootsman | Leading seaman Baasseeman | Able seaman Bevare Seeman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Navy [12] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Chief petty officer | Petty officer | Leading seaman | Able seaman | Seaman |
The South African Military Health Service uses the Army rank system. There is a differentiation in that the rank insignia is displayed on a red background as opposed to the Army, which is displayed on an olive background.
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Military Health Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | 2nd lieutenant | Candidate officer |
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Military Health Service | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance Corporal | Private (or equivalent) |
The highest ranking South African non-commissioned officer is the Warrant Officer of the South African National Defence Force. They are the sole holder of the rank of Master Chief Warrant Officer (NATO equivalent WO-5). [13] As of October 2012 the incumbent MCWO is Mothusi Kgaladi [14]
The rank of Senior Chief Warrant Officer (NATO equivalent WO-4) is only held by the Master at Arms of the Navy, the Sergeant Major of the Army, the Sergeant Major of the Air Force, and the Sergeant Major of the Military Health Service. [13]
Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned officer ranks, the most senior of the non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks, or in a separate category of their own. Warrant officer ranks are especially prominent in the militaries of Commonwealth nations and the United States.
Military ranks are a system of hierarchical relationships, within armed forces, police, intelligence agencies or other institutions organized along military lines. The military rank system defines dominance, authority, and responsibility in a military hierarchy. It incorporates the principles of exercising power and authority into the military chain of command—the succession of commanders superior to subordinates through which command is exercised. The military chain of command constructs an important component for organized collective action.
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who does not hold a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. In contrast, commissioned officers usually enter directly from a military academy, officer training corps (OTC) or reserve officer training corps (ROTC), or officer candidate school (OCS) or officer training school (OTS), after receiving a post-secondary degree.
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces. The lowest officer rank, it is usually placed below lieutenant or first lieutenant.
Sergeant is a rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, serjeant, is used in The Rifles and other units that draw their heritage from the British light infantry. Its origin is the Latin serviens, 'one who serves', through the Old French term serjant.
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world.
A petty officer (PO) is a non-commissioned officer in many navies. In many nations, they are typically equal to a sergeant in comparison to other military branches. Often they may be superior to a seaman, and subordinate to more senior non-commissioned officers, such as a chief petty officers.
Chief Warrant officer is a senior warrant officer rank, used in many countries.
The Military ranks of Finland are the military insignia used by the Finnish Defence Forces. The ranks incorporates features from Swedish, German, and Russian armed forces. In addition, the system has some typically Finnish characteristics that are mostly due to the personnel structure of the Finnish Defence Forces. The ranks have official names in Finnish and Swedish languages and official English translations. The Swedish forms are used in all Swedish-languages communications in Finland, e.g. in Swedish-speaking units of Finnish Defence Force. The system of ranks in the Swedish Armed Forces is slightly different.
Before Unification as the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, the Canadian military had three distinct services: the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Canadian Army. All three services had a Regular (full-time) component and a reserve (part-time) component. The rank structure for these services were based on the services of the British military, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, and the British Army. The change to a "Canadian" rank structure meant that many of the traditional (British) rank titles and insignia were removed or changed.
The military ranks of Israel are the military insignia used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Because the IDF is an integrated force, ranks are the same in all services The ranks are derived from those in the paramilitary Haganah, which operated during the Mandate period in order to protect the Yishuv.
Master warrant officer (MWO) is a senior military rank in the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the Canadian Forces, Singapore Armed Forces, the South African National Defence Force and the Israel Defense Forces.
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has five rank schemes for active and reservist personnel, with a sixth for the auxiliaries of the SAF Volunteer Corps. The SAF has a unique rank structure as an integrated force, ranks are the same in the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS).
The Australian Defence Force's (ADF) ranks of officers and enlisted personnel in each of its three service branches of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) inherited their rank structures from their British counterparts. The insignia used to identify these ranks are also generally similar to those used in the British Armed Forces.
Commandant is a military rank used in many countries, where it is usually equivalent to the rank of major.
The system of Vietnamese military ranks was originally introduced on 22 March 1946 by President Ho Chi Minh, originally based on the military ranks system of Japanese military. Reference designs to the military ranks system of the French military. In 1958, the Vietnam People's Army military ranks system was changed, and has no Marshal or General of the Army or Brigadier General. In contrast, the Colonel General, Senior Colonel or Senior Lieutenant in Vietnam at present do not exist in many countries.
Major in France, is a senior superior military rank across various military and security institutions with history dating back well beyond the 18th century.
Rank comparison charts of armies/land forces of apartheid states and territories in Southern Africa.