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 Commissioned officer ranks The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
Student officer ranks Rank group Student officer Officer candidate Midshipman Officer candidate
Warrant officers 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
Senior warrant officer ranks In June 2008 a new series of warrant officer ranks were introduced.
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. As of October 2012 the incumbent MCWO is Mothusi Kgaladi
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.
Other ranks The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
Historical army ranks
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
Other ranks
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 the arms of their respective arm of service.
In 2008 the warrant officer ranks were expanded to make each substantive rank a formal rank.
Historical air force ranks
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".SAAF Rank Insignia 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
Other ranks
Historical navy ranks
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
Enlisted
Historical health service ranks
Officers
See also Comparative military ranks Comparative military ranks of apartheid states in southern Africa List of badges of the South African Army Military ranks of Zimbabwe Military ranks of Namibia Military ranks of Rhodesia South West Africa Territorial Force#Ranks
Notes
References