South African military ranks - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/South_African_military_ranks

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. Rank titles changed over time as did the insignia.

In 2002 the South African Air Force redesigned its insignia completely, while keeping the Army titles.

Contents
Evolution of rank titles
Army and Air Force ranks
Naval ranks
1961–1994 rank structure
Officers
Other ranks
Substantive warrant officer posts
Army
Officers
Warrant officers
Other ranks
Air Force
Officers
Warrant officers
Other ranks
Navy
Officers
Warrant Officers
Enlisted
Military Health Service
Master Chief and Senior Chief Warrant Officers
See also
References

Evolution of rank titles

Army and Air Force ranks

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– )

Field officers

Brigadier (1937–98) (called "colonel-commandant" 1937–40)

Colonel (1912– )
Chief commandant (Used in the Commandos 1968–70)[1]
Lieutenant-colonel (1912– ) (called "commandant" 1950–94)

Company / junior officers

Major (1912– )
Captain (1912– )
Lieutenant (1912– ) (called "field cornet" 1960–68)

1 of 6 2020/07/08, 12:26
South African military ranks - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_military_ranks

Second lieutenant (1918– ) (called "assistant field cornet" 1960–68)

Warrant officers

In June 2008[2] 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 Warrant officer

class 1 rank badge
Staff sergeant (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent "flight sergeant") 1921–2002

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

Private (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent called "air mechanic" 1920–70, "private" 1970–82 and "airman"
1982–) Warrant officer
class 1 rank badge
1921–57
Naval ranks

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)
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– )

1961–1994 rank structure

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.

Officers
Equivalent OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D)

2 of 6 2020/07/08, 12:26
South African military ranks - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_military_ranks

and
NATO
student
code
officer

South
No
Africa
equivalent
(edit)
Lieutenant Major 2nd Candidate
General general general Brigadier Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant lieutenant officer
Generaal Luitenant Generaal- Brigadier Kolonel Kommandant Majoor Kaptein Luitenant Tweede Kandidaat
generaal majoor luitenant offisier

Other ranks

Rank insignia of the South African Defence Force

Senior
Chief Master Senior Warrant Warrant
Warrant officers chief Staff Lance
warrant warrant warrant officer officer Sergeant Corporal Private
and other ranks warrant sergeant corporal
officer officer officer class 1 class 2
officer

South African Not Not Not Not No

Defence Force: used used used used insignia
pre 1994

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.

Substantive warrant officer posts

Any warrant officer class 1 could be posted to substantive posts, including

Regimental sergeant major

Command sergeant major
Brigade sergeant major
Sergeant Major of the Army
Sergeant Major of the Air Force

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
A WO1 wearing RSM
the arms of their respective arm of service.
insignia
In 2008 the warrant officer ranks were expanded to make each substantive rank a formal rank.

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. The ranks of General Officers changed in September 2003 when the rank previously called Brigadier
became known as Brigadier General.[3]

Officers
Equivalent OF(D) &
NATO OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 Student
Code officer

South
No
Africa
equivalent
(Edit)

Lieutenant Major Brigadier Lieutenant 2nd Candidate

General Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant
general general general colonel lieutenant officer

3 of 6 2020/07/08, 12:26
South African military ranks - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_military_ranks

Warrant officers
Equivalent NATO
WO-1 WO-2 WO-3 WO-4 WO-5
rank

South Africa
(Edit)
Senior warrant Master warrant Chief warrant Senior chief warrant Master chief warrant
officer officer officer officer officer

Other ranks
Equivalent
OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
NATO code

No insignia
South
No
Africa
equivalent
(Edit)
Private
Warrant Officer Warrant Officer Staff Lance
Sergeant Corporal (or
Class 1 Class 2 Sergeant Corporal
equivalent)

Air Force
The SA Air Force was formed in 1920. Unlike many other Commonwealth air forces, it had 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".[4] 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.

Officers
Equivalent OF(D) and
NATO OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 student
Code officer

South
No
Africa
equivalent
(Edit)
Lieutenant Major Brigadier Lieutenant Second Officer
General Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant
general general general colonel lieutenant candidate

Warrant officers
Equivalent NATO
WO-5 WO-4 WO-3 WO-2 WO-1
rank

South Africa
(Edit)
Master chief warrant Senior chief warrant Chief warrant Master warrant Senior warrant
officer officer officer officer officer

Other ranks
Equivalent
OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
NATO Code

4 of 6 2020/07/08, 12:26
South African military ranks - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_military_ranks

No
South
No No insignia
Africa
equivalent equivalent
(Edit)
Warrant officer Warrant officer Flight Lance
Sergeant Corporal Aircraftman
class 1 class 2 sergeant corporal

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 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.

The ranks of Flag Officers changed in 1997 when the rank previously called Commodore became known as Rear Admiral (Junior
Grade).[5]

Officers
Equivalent OF(D) and
NATO OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 student
code officer

South
No
Africa
equivalent
(Edit) Rear
Vice Rear admiral Lieutenant Sub
Admiral Captain Commander Lieutenant Ensign Midshipman
admiral admiral (junior commander lieutenant
grade)

Warrant Officers
Equivalent NATO
WO-1 WO-2 WO-3 WO-3 WO-5
code

South Africa
(Edit)
Senior warrant Master warrant Chief warrant Senior chief warrant Master chief warrant
officer officer officer officer officer

Enlisted
Equivalent
OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
NATO code

South
No No No
Africa
equivalent equivalent equivalent
(Edit)

Warrant officer Warrant officer Chief petty Petty Leading Able

class 1 class 2 officer officer seaman seaman

Military Health Service

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.

Master Chief and Senior Chief Warrant Officers

5 of 6 2020/07/08, 12:26
South African military ranks - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_military_ranks

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).[6] As of October 2012 the incumbent
MCWO is Mothusi Kgaladi[7]

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.[6]

See also
Comparative military ranks
Military rank
List of Badges of the South African Army

References
1. Radburn, Arthur (1990). "South African Army Ranks and Insignia" (http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/364).
South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (2): 2.
2. Pale, Frans (Lt Col). "DOD News Sep 2008" (http://www.dod.mil.za/news/news2008/sep2008/Sep2008-3.pdf) (pdf). SA
Department of Defence.
3. "Airforce Rank Structure" (http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/structure/rank-insignia). Unofficial SA Airforce website.
4. SAAF Rank Insignia (https://web.archive.org/web/20190101003057/http://www.af.mil.za/uniform/rank_ins.html)
5. 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.
6. "Fact file: Comparative military and civil service grades" (http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=art
icle&id=7118:fact-file-comparative-military-and-civil-service-grades-&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159). DefenceWeb.
7. "Mothusi Victor Kgaladi new WO SANDF" (http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1899
4:mothusi-victor-kgaladi-new-wo-sandf&catid=55:SANDF&Itemid=108). DefenceWeb.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_African_military_ranks&oldid=945158849"

This page was last edited on 12 March 2020, at 04:41 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use
and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

6 of 6 2020/07/08, 12:26