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.

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)
• Lieutenant-colonel (1912– ) (called "commandant" 1950–94)

Company / junior officers

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

Warrant officers

Warrant officer class 1 rank badge 1921–2002

Warrant officer class 1 rank badge 1921–57

In June 2008 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

• 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

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

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

The Army 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

Rank insignia of the South African Defence Force
Officer ranks	General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	Colonel	Commandant	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Candidate officer
South African Defence Force: pre 1994

Other ranks

Rank insignia of the South African Defence Force
Warrant officers and other ranks	Senior chief warrant officer	Chief warrant officer	Master warrant officer	Senior warrant officer	Warrant officer class 1	Warrant officer class 2	Staff sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Lance corporal	Private
South African Defence Force: pre 1994	Not used	Not used	Not used	Not used							No insignia

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

A WO1 wearing RSM insignia

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 the arms of their respective arm of service.

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.

Officers

Rank insignia of the South African National Defence Force
Officer ranks	General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Candidate officer
South African Army

Warrant officers

Rank insignia of the South African National Defence Force
Warrant officers	Master chief warrant officer	Senior chief warrant officer	Chief warrant officer	Master warrant officer	Senior warrant officer	Warrant officer class 1	Warrant officer class 2
South African Army

Other ranks

Rank insignia of the South African National Defence Force
Other ranks	Staff sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Lance corporal	Private
South African Army					No insignia

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". 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

Rank insignia of the South African National Defence Force
Officer ranks	General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Candidate officer
South African Air Force	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px

Warrant officers and other ranks

Note: The Rank of Master Chief Warrant Officer is only used when the Sergeant Major of the Air Force is also the Sergeant Major of the Defence Force.

Rank insignia of the South African National Defence Force
Warrant officers and other ranks	Master chief warrant officer	Senior chief warrant officer	Chief warrant officer	Master warrant officer	Senior warrant officer	Warrant officer class 1	Warrant officer class 2	Flight sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Lance corporal	Airman
South African Air Force	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	No insignia

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).

Officers

Rank insignia of the South African National Defence Force
Officer ranks	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Rear admiral JG	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant	Sub lieutenant	Ensign	Midshipman
South African Navy

Warrant Officers and other ranks

Rank insignia of the South African National Defence Force
Warrant officers and other ranks	Senior chief warrant officer	Chief warrant officer	Master warrant officer	Senior warrant officer	Warrant officer class 1	Warrant officer class 2	Chief petty officer	Petty officer	Leading seaman	Able seaman	Seaman
South African Navy

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 Officer of the SANDF

The highest ranking South African non-commissioned officer is the Warrant Officer of the South African National Defence Force. He holds the rank of master chief warrant officer. As of October 2012 the incumbent MCWO is Mothusi Kgaladi

See also

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