Wikipedia

South African military ranks

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.

Current ranks

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Commissioned officer ranks

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The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  South African Army[1]
                    
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
  South African Navy[2]
                        
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral
(junior grade) 		Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Ensign
  South African Air Force[3]
                    
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
  South African
Military Health Service[4]
            
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers

Student officer ranks

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Rank group Student officer
  South African Army[1]  
Officer candidate
  South African Navy[2]  
Midshipman
  South African Air Force[3]  
Officer candidate

Warrant officers

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Rank group Warrant officers
  South African National Defence Force          
Master chief warrant officer Senior chief warrant officer Chief warrant officer Master warrant officer Senior warrant officer

Master Chief and Senior Chief Warrant Officers

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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.[5] As of October 2012 the incumbent MCWO is Mothusi Kgaladi[6]

The rank of Senior Chief Warrant Officer 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.[5]

Other ranks

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The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  South African Army[1]
             No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
(or equivalent)
  South African Navy[2]
              
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Seaman
  South African Air Force[3]
             No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Flight sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Aircraftman
  South African
Military Health Service[4]
             No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
(or equivalent)
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

Evolution of rank titles

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Army and Air Force ranks

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General officers

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  • Field marshal (1923–c. 1950)
  • General (1914– ) (called "commandant-general" 1956–68)
  • Lieutenant-general (1914– )
  • Major-general (1914– ) (called "combat general" 1960–68)
  • Brigadier-general (1912–40, 1998– )

Field officers

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  • Brigadier (1937–98) (called "colonel-commandant" 1937–40)
  • Colonel (1912– )
  • Chief commandant (Used in the Commandos 1968–70)[7]
  • Lieutenant-colonel (1912– ) (called "commandant" 1950–1988)

Company / junior officers

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  • Major (1912– )
  • Captain (1912– )
  • Lieutenant (1912– ) (called "field cornet" 1960–68)
  • Second lieutenant (1918– ) (called "assistant field cornet" 1960–68)

Warrant officers

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Warrant officer class 1 rank badge 1951–2002
 
Warrant officer class 1 rank badge 1951–2002

In June 2008[8] a new series of warrant officer ranks were introduced.

  • Warrant officer 1st class (1921– )
  • Warrant officer 2nd class (1921– )
  • Warrant officer (1912–21)

Non-commissioned officers

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  • Staff sergeant (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent "flight sergeant")
  • Sergeant (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent called "air sergeant" until 1970)
  • Corporal (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent called "air corporal" until 1970)
  • Lance-corporal (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent called "leading air mechanic" until 1970)

Rank and file

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  • Private (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent called "air mechanic" 1920–70, "private" 1970–82 and "airman" 1982–)
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Flag officers

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  • Admiral (1972– )
  • Vice-admiral (1965– )
  • Rear-admiral (1940– )
  • Rear-admiral junior grade (1998– )

Senior officers

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  • Commodore (1946–98)
  • Captain (1941– )
  • Commander (1913– )
  • Lieutenant-commander (1913– )

Junior officers

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  • Lieutenant (1913– )
  • Sub-lieutenant (1913– )
  • Ensign (1913– ) (called "acting sub-lieutenant" until 1965)
  • Warrant officer 1st class (1955– )
  • Warrant officer 2nd class (1955– )
  • Warrant officer (1913–55)

Petty officers

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  • Chief petty officer (1913– )
  • Petty officer (1913– )
  • Leading seaman (1913– )
  • Able seaman (1913– )

Ratings

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  • Seaman (1913– )

Army

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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.[9][10]

Officers

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Union of South Africa Army
(1928–1953)
                      
Field marshal General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Veldmaarskalk Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadier Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kaptein Luitenant Tweede luitenant
  South African Army
(1961–1994)[11]
                      
General[a] Lieutenant general Major general[b] Brigadier Colonel Chief commandant[c] Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant[d] Second lieutenant[e]
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadier Kolonel Hoofkommandant Kommandant Majoor Kaptein Luitenant Tweede luitenant
  South African Army
(1994-2002)[12]
                    
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

Other ranks

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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


  South African Army
(1961–1994)[11]
               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 Army
(1994-2002)[12]
             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)

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.

Substantive warrant officer posts

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A WO1 wearing RSM insignia

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.

Air Force

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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".[13] 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.

Officers

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Rank group General/Flag/Air officers Senior officers Junior officers
  South African Air Force
(1961–1994)
                    
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadier Kolonel Kommandant Majoor Kaptein Luitenant Tweede luitenant
  South African Air Force
(1994-2002)[12]
                    
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Generaal Luitenant-generaal Generaal-majoor Brigadier Kolonel Kommandant Majoor Kaptein Luitenant Tweede luitenant

Other ranks

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  South African Air Force
(1961–1994)
               No insignia
Sergeant Major of the Air Force Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Flight sergeant Sergeant[f] Corporal[g] Lance corporal[h] Aircraftman[i]
Sersant-Majoor van die SA Lugmag Adjudant-offisier klas I Adjudant-offisier klas II Vlugsersant Sersant Korporaal Onderkorporaal Vliegtuigman
  South African Air Force
(1994-2002)[12]
             No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Flight sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Aircraftman
Adjudant-offisier klas I Adjudant-offisier klas II Vlugsersant Sersant Korporaal Onderkorporaal Vliegtuigman
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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.[14]

The ranks of flag officers changed in 1997 when the rank previously called Commodore became known as Rear Admiral (Junior Grade).[15]

Officers

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Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  South African Navy
(1961–1994)
                    
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Ensign
Admiraal Vise-admiraal Skoutadmiraal Kommodoor Kaptein Kommandeur Luitenant-kommandeur Luitenant Onderluitenant Vaandrig
  South African Navy
(1994-2002)[12]
                    
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Ensign
Admiraal Vise-admiraal Skoutadmiraal Kommodoor Kaptein Kommandeur Luitenant-kommandeur Luitenant Onderluitenant Vaandrig

Enlisted

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  South African Navy
(1961–1994)
              
Master at Arms of the Navy Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman
Sersant-majoor van die SA Vloot Adjudant-offisier klas I Adjudant-offisier klas II Eerste bootsman Bootsman Baasseeman Bevare seeman
  South African Navy
(1994-2002)[12]
            
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman
Adjudant-offisier klas I Adjudant-offisier klas II Eerste bootsman Bootsman Baasseeman Bevare seeman

Health Service

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Officers

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  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

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Called commandant general (kommandant-generaal) from 1956 to 1968.
  2. ^ Called combat general (bestry generaal) from 1960 to 1968.
  3. ^ Only in the commandos from 1968 to 1970.
  4. ^ Called field cornet (veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968.
  5. ^ Called assistant field cornet (assistent veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968.
  6. ^ Called air sergeant (lugsersant) from 1960 to 1968.
  7. ^ Called air sorporal (lugkorporaal) from 1960 to 1968.
  8. ^ Called leading air mechanic (leiend lugwerktuigkundige) until 1970.
  9. ^ Called air mechanic (lugwerktuigkundige) from 1920 to 1970. Called private (soldaat) from 1970 to 1982.

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military rank insignia of South Africa.
  1. ^ a b c "Uniform: Rank insignia". army.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Rank Insignia". navy.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Rank Insignia". af.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Rank insignia". South Africa Military Health Service. Department of Defence. 26 January 2007. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Fact file: Comparative military and civil service grades". DefenceWeb.
  6. ^ "Mothusi Victor Kgaladi new WO SANDF". DefenceWeb.
  7. ^ Radburn, Arthur (1990). "South African Army Ranks and Insignia". South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (2): 2.
  8. ^ Pale, Frans (Lt Col). "DOD News Sep 2008" (PDF). SA Department of Defence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  9. ^ "Airforce Rank Structure". Unofficial SA Airforce website.
  10. ^ "Uniform: rank insignia". army.mil.za. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  11. ^ a b Radburn, A. (22 February 2012). "SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY RANKS AND INSIGNIA". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (2): 1–4. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Smaldone, Joseph P. (1997). "National Security". In Byrnes, Rita M. (ed.). South Africa: a country study. Area Handbook (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 378–379. LCCN 96048983. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  13. ^ SAAF Rank Insignia
  14. ^ "Rank insignia of the South African Navy". navy.mil.za. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  15. ^ Bennett, C. H.; Söderlund, A. G. (2008). South Africa's navy : a navy of the people and for the people. p. 185. ISBN 978-0-620-41446-3.
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