South African military ranks

Army

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.

Officers

General officers

• Field Marshal (1923–c1950)
• General (1914– ) (called "commandant-general" 1956–68)
• Lieutenant-General (1914– )
• Major-General (1914– ) (called "combat general" 1960–68)
• Brigadier-General (1912–40, 1998– )

Senior officers

• Brigadier (1937–98) (called "colonel-commandant" 1937–40)
• Colonel (1912– )
• Chief Commandant (1968–70)
• Lieutenant-Colonel (1912– ) (called "commandant" 1950–94)
• Major (1912– )

Junior officers

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

Other ranks

Warrant officers

In June 2008 a new series of Warrant Officer ranks were introduced. See section Warrant Officers below for more information

• Warrant Officer 1st Class (1921– )
• Warrant Officer 2nd Class (1921– )
• Warrant Officer (1912–21)

Non-commissioned officers

• Staff sergeant (1912– )
• Sergeant (1912– )
• Corporal (1912– )
• Lance-Corporal (1912– )

Rank and file

• Private (1912– )

Note: in the artillery and anti-aircraft corps, the corporal and lance-corporal are called "bombardier" and "lance-bombardier". 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.

Air Force

The SA Air Force was formed in 1920. It formed part of the army until 1951, when it became a service in its own right. Unlike many other Commonwealth air forces, it retained the army rank system. In 2002 the Air Force officer rank insignia 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".^[1] The army-style rank titles were retained.

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)	Student Officer
South Africa												‎
		General	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	No equivalent	Candidate Officer

Officers

General officers

• General (1945– ) (called "commandant-general" 1956–68)
• Lieutenant-General (1940– )
• Major-General (1937– ) (called "combat general" 1960–68)
• Brigadier-General (1933–40, 1998– )

Senior officers

• Brigadier (1937–98) (called "colonel-commandant" 1937–40)
• Colonel (1920– )
• Chief Commandant (1968–70)
• Lieutenant-Colonel (1920– ) (called "commandant" 1950–94)
• Major (1920– )

Junior officers

• Captain (1920– )
• Lieutenant (1920– )
• Second Lieutenant (1920– )

Other ranks

Warrant officers In June 2008 a new series of Warrant Officer ranks were introduced. See section Warrant Officers below for more information

• Warrant Officer 1st Class (1921– )
• Warrant Officer 2nd Class (1921– )
• Warrant Officer (1920–21)

Non-commissioned officers

• Flight sergeant (1920– )
• Sergeant (1920– ) (called "air sergeant" until 1970)
• Corporal (1920– ) (called "air corporal" until 1970)
• Lance-Corporal (1926– ) (called "leading air mechanic" until 1970)

Rank and file

• Airman (1920– ) (called "air mechanic" 1920–70 and "private" 1970–82)

Navy

The SA Navy was originally two separate organisations, namely the South African Division of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (formed in 1913) and the SA 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.

Officers

Flag officers

• Admiral (1972– )
• Vice-Admiral (1965– )
• Rear-Admiral (1940– )
• Rear-Admiral Junior Grade (1998– )

Senior officers

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

Junior officers

• Lieutenant (1913– )
• Sub-Lieutenant (1913– )
• Ensign (1913– ) (called "acting sub-lieutenant" until 1965)

Other ranks

Warrant officers

In June 2008 a new series of Warrant Officer ranks were introduced. See section Warrant Officers below for more information

• Warrant Officer 1st Class (1955– )
• Warrant Officer 2nd Class (1955– )
• Warrant Officer (1913–55)

Petty officers

• Chief Petty Officer (1913– )
• Petty Officer (1913– )
• Leading Seaman (1913– )
• Able Seaman (1913– )

Ratings* Seaman (1913– )

Military Health Service

The SA 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 a brown background.

Warrant Officers

From June 2008 new classes of Warrant officer were introduced. Warrant Officer's in posts such as Regimental Sergeant Major, etc now had a substantive rank to go with the post. And when they moved from that post they stayed in their rank. ^[2]

Name	Image	Abbreviation	Comments
Master Chief Warrant Officer (2008–)		MCWO	Only used by Sergeant Major of the SANDF
Senior Chief Warrant Officer		SCWO	Service/Division Warrant Officer/ Warrant Officer in Charge of the Warrant Officer Academy
Chief Warrant Officer		CWO
Master Warrant Officer		MWO
Senior Warrant Officer		SWO	Coxswain of a ship/ Regimental Sergeant Major
Warrant Officer Class 1		WO1
Warrant Officer Class 2		WO2

References

1. ^ http://www.af.mil.za/uniform/rank_ins.html
2. ^ http://www.dcc.mil.za/bulletins/files/2008/38bulletin2008.htm

See also

• Comparative military ranks
• Military rank