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.

Evolution of rank titles[edit]

Army and Air Force ranks[edit]

General officers[edit]

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[edit]

Brigadier (1937–98) (called "colonel-commandant" 1937–40)
Colonel (1912– )
Chief commandant (Used in the Commandos 1968–70)^[1]
Lieutenant-colonel (1912– ) (called "commandant" 1950–1988)

Company / junior officers[edit]

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

Warrant officers[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Naval ranks[edit]

Flag officers[edit]

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

Senior officers[edit]

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

Junior officers[edit]

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[edit]

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

Ratings[edit]

Seaman (1913– )

1928–1953 rank structure[edit]

Officers[edit]

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Union of South Africa Army (1928–1953) v t e
Union of South Africa Army (1928–1953) v t e	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

Other ranks[edit]

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Union of South Africa Army (1928–1953) v t e																													No insignia
Union of South Africa Army (1928–1953) v t e	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

1961–1994 rank structure[edit]

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[edit]

Rank group	General / flag officers					Senior officers				Junior officers			Officer cadet
South African Army (1961–1994)^[3] v t e
South African Army (1961–1994)^[3] v t e		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) v t e
South African Air Force (1961–1994) v t e		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) v t e
South African Navy (1961–1994) v t e		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) v t e
South African Medical Service (1961–1994) v t e		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

Other ranks[edit]

Rank group	Senior NCOs					Junior NCOs		Enlisted
South African Army (1961–1994)^[3] v t e								No insignia
South African Army (1961–1994)^[3] v t e	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) v t e									No insignia
South African Air Force (1961–1994) v t e	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) v t e
South African Navy (1961–1994) v t e	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.

Substantive warrant officer posts[edit]

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.

Army[edit]

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]

Officers[edit]

Rank group					Senior officers			Junior officers			Officer cadet
South African Army (1994-2002)^[6] v t e
South African Army (1994-2002)^[6] v t e	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] v t e
South African Army^[7] v t e	General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	2nd lieutenant	Candidate officer

Warrant officers[edit]

Equivalent NATO rank	WO-5		WO-4		WO-3		WO-2		WO-1
South African Army v t e
South African Army v t e	Master chief warrant officer		Senior chief warrant officer		Chief warrant officer		Master warrant officer		Senior warrant officer

Other ranks[edit]

Rank group	Senior NCOs				Junior NCOs		Enlisted
South African Army (1994-2002)^[6] v t e							No insignia
South African Army (1994-2002)^[6] v t e	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] v t e							No insignia
South African Army^[7] v t e	Warrant officer class 1	Warrant officer class 2	Staff sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Lance corporal	Private (or equivalent)

Air Force[edit]

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.

Officers[edit]

Rank group					Senior officers			Junior officers			Officer cadet
South African Air Force (1994-2002)^[6] v t e
South African Air Force (1994-2002)^[6] v t e	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] v t e
South African Air Force^[9] v t e	General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer candidate

Warrant officers[edit]

Equivalent NATO rank	WO-5	WO-4	WO-3	WO-2	WO-1
South African Air Force v t e
South African Air Force v t e	Master chief warrant officer	Senior chief warrant officer	Chief warrant officer	Master warrant officer	Senior warrant officer

Other ranks[edit]

Rank group	Senior NCOs				Junior NCOs
South African Air Force (1994-2002)^[6] v t e							No insignia
South African Air Force (1994-2002)^[6] v t e	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] v t e							No insignia
South African Air Force^[9] v t e	Warrant officer class 1	Warrant officer class 2	Flight sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Lance corporal	Aircraftman

Navy[edit]

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]

Officers[edit]

Rank group					Senior officers			Junior officers			Officer cadet
South African Navy (1994-2002)^[6] v t e
South African Navy (1994-2002)^[6] v t e	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] v t e
South African Navy^[12] v t e	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Rear admiral (junior grade)	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant	Sub lieutenant	Ensign	Midshipman

Warrant Officers[edit]

Equivalent NATO rank	WO-5		WO-4		WO-3		WO-2		WO-1
South African Navy v t e
South African Navy v t e	Master chief warrant officer		Senior chief warrant officer		Chief warrant officer		Master warrant officer		Senior warrant officer

Enlisted[edit]

Rank group	Senior NCOs				Junior NCOs	Enlisted
South African Navy (1994-2002)^[6] v t e
South African Navy (1994-2002)^[6] v t e	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] v t e
South African Navy^[12] v t e	Warrant officer class 1	Warrant officer class 2	Chief petty officer	Petty officer	Leading seaman	Able seaman	Seaman

Military Health Service[edit]

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.

Officers[edit]

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
South African Military Health Service v t e
South African Military Health Service v t e			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			2nd lieutenant			Candidate officer

Enlisted[edit]

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
South African Military Health Service v t e																													No insignia
South African Military Health Service v t e	Warrant Officer Class 1						Warrant Officer Class 2		Staff Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)

Master Chief and Senior Chief Warrant Officers[edit]

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]

Notes[edit]

^ Called Commandant general (Kommandant-generaal) from 1956 to 1968
^ Called Combat general (Bestry generaal) from 1960 to 1968
^ Only in the Commandos from 1968 to 1970
^ Called Field cornet (Veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968
^ Called Assistant field cornet (Assistent veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968
^ Called Air Sergeant (Lugsersant) from 1960 to 1968
^ Called Air Corporal (Lugkorporaal) from 1960 to 1968
^ Called Leading air mechanic (Leiend Lugwerktuigkundige) until 1970
^ Called Air mechanic (Lugwerktuigkundige) from 1920 to 1970
Called Private (Soldaat) from 1970 to 1982

References[edit]

^ Radburn, Arthur (1990). "South African Army Ranks and Insignia". South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (2): 2.
^ 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.
^ ^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.
^ "Airforce Rank Structure". Unofficial SA Airforce website.
^ "Uniform: rank insignia". army.mil.za. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
^ ^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.
^ ^a ^b "Uniform: Rank insignia". army.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
^ SAAF Rank Insignia
^ ^a ^b "Rank Insignia". af.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
^ "Rank insignia of the South African Navy". navy.mil.za. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b "Rank Insignia". navy.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Fact file: Comparative military and civil service grades". DefenceWeb.
^ "Mothusi Victor Kgaladi new WO SANDF". DefenceWeb.

[4] Called Commandant general (Kommandant-generaal) from 1956 to 1968

[5] Called Combat general (Bestry generaal) from 1960 to 1968

[6] Only in the Commandos from 1968 to 1970

[7] Called Field cornet (Veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968

[8] Called Assistant field cornet (Assistent veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968

[9] Called Air Sergeant (Lugsersant) from 1960 to 1968

[10] Called Air Corporal (Lugkorporaal) from 1960 to 1968

[11] Called Leading air mechanic (Leiend Lugwerktuigkundige) until 1970

[12] Called Air mechanic (Lugwerktuigkundige) from 1920 to 1970
Called Private (Soldaat) from 1970 to 1982

[1] Radburn, Arthur (1990). "South African Army Ranks and Insignia". South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (2): 2.

[2] 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.

[SouthWestAfrica&SouthAfrica-3] 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.

[13] "Airforce Rank Structure". Unofficial SA Airforce website.

[14] "Uniform: rank insignia". army.mil.za. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.

[South_Africa1994-15] ^ ^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.

[SouthAfrica_Army-16] "Uniform: Rank insignia". army.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.

[17] SAAF Rank Insignia

[SouthAfrica_AirForce-18] "Rank Insignia". af.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.

[19] "Rank insignia of the South African Navy". navy.mil.za. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.

[20] 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.

[SouthAfrica_Navy-21] "Rank Insignia". navy.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.

[Comparative-22] "Fact file: Comparative military and civil service grades". DefenceWeb.

[23] "Mothusi Victor Kgaladi new WO SANDF". DefenceWeb.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[note 1]

[note 2]

[note 3]

[note 4]

[note 5]

[note 6]

[note 7]

[note 8]

[note 9]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

v t e South African National Defence Force
Department of Defence, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Combat arms	South African Army South African Navy South African Air Force South African Military Health Service Special Forces Brigade
Staff Divisions	Defence Intelligence Joint Operations Division Corporate Staff Human Resources Logistics Finance
Other	Military Academy Ranks History Military Chiefs Military decorations Battle Honours Bases 2012 Defence Review Department of Military Veterans

Evolution of rank titles[edit]

Army and Air Force ranks[edit]

General officers[edit]

Field officers[edit]

Company / junior officers[edit]

Warrant officers[edit]

Non-commissioned officers[edit]

Rank and file[edit]

Naval ranks[edit]

Flag officers[edit]

Senior officers[edit]

Junior officers[edit]

Petty officers[edit]

Ratings[edit]

1928–1953 rank structure[edit]

Officers[edit]

Other ranks[edit]

1961–1994 rank structure[edit]

Officers[edit]

Other ranks[edit]

Substantive warrant officer posts[edit]

Army[edit]

Officers[edit]

Warrant officers[edit]

Other ranks[edit]

Air Force[edit]

Officers[edit]

Warrant officers[edit]

Other ranks[edit]

Navy[edit]

Officers[edit]

Warrant Officers[edit]

Enlisted[edit]

Military Health Service[edit]

Officers[edit]

Enlisted[edit]

Master Chief and Senior Chief Warrant Officers[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]