In 2008 the warrant officer ranks were expanded to make each substantive rank a formal rank. The sergeant major of each arm of service wore insignia topped by the arms of their respective arm of service. To distinguish the posting different colour backgrounds were used for example, red for regimental sergeant major and black for command sergeant major. However they would retain the rank of WO1, while wearing unique rank insignia. Substantive warrant officer posts A WO1 wearing RSM insigniaĪny warrant officer class 1 could be posted to substantive posts, including 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. Note: in the artillery and anti-aircraft corps, the corporal and lance-corporal are called 'bombardier' ( bombardeer) and 'lance-bombardier' ( onderbombardeer). Ensign (1913– ) (called 'acting sub-lieutenant' until 1965)ġ928–1953 rank structure Officers Rank group.Lance-corporal (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent called 'leading air mechanic' until 1970).Corporal (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent called 'air corporal' until 1970).Sergeant (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent called 'air sergeant' until 1970).

Staff sergeant (1912– ) (Air Force equivalent 'flight sergeant').In June 2008 a new series of warrant officer ranks were introduced. Warrant officers Warrant officer class 1 rank badge 1951–2002 Warrant officer class 1 rank badge 1951–2002 Second lieutenant (1918– ) (called 'assistant field cornet' 1960–68).Chief commandant (Used in the Commandos 1968–70).Rank titles changed over time as did the insignia.Įvolution of rank titles Army and Air Force ranks General officers Currently, the Space Force is largely made up of Air Force personnel utilizing the Air Force rank structure.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. This list includes the military ranks in order for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. So whether you don’t know any of the military ranks, or you’re just confused about how to put them in order, here’s a breakdown of the rank structure in each branch, starting at the most junior enlisted pay grade, and ascending up to the senior most commissioned officer. A captain in the Marine Corps’s pay grade is O-3, whereas a captain in the Navy is an O-6, as one shining example. And as those of us that have spent time in uniform can attest, having a good understanding of military ranks in the order of authority for our own branch doesn’t necessarily mean you know how the rank structure looks in the sister branches.Ĭonfusion about the order of military ranks can be made even worse from branch to branch by the common use of some easily-recognizable rank names (like sergeant or captain) for entirely different pay grades. Everybody recognizes the ones that commonly show up in movies like sergeant, captain, or admiral, but where they fall on the pecking order of different branches isn’t all that clear. Before you get to basic training, most people don’t have a very thorough understanding of military ranks, let alone the ability to put them in order.

Enlisted army ranks