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

Army and Air Force ranks

General officers

• 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

• 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

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

• 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– )

1928–1953 rank structure

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
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

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

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

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
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
			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
			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
			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

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

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.^[4][5]

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
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
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			2nd lieutenant			Candidate officer

Warrant officers

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

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

Air Force

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

Rank group	General/Flag/Air officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
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
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer candidate

Warrant officers

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

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

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.^[10]

The ranks of flag officers changed in 1997 when the rank previously called Commodore became known as Rear Admiral (Junior Grade).^[11]

Officers

Rank group	General/flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
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
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (junior grade)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Ensign			Midshipman

Warrant Officers

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

Enlisted

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
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
	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2		Chief petty officer		Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able 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.

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
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

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

Master Chief and Senior Chief Warrant Officers

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]