Rangos militares sudafricanos

El sistema de rango de la Fuerza de Defensa Nacional de Sudáfrica se basa en gran medida en el sistema británico, con la Fuerza Aérea (y más tarde el Servicio de Salud Militar ) compartiendo los títulos de rango del Ejército. Los títulos de rango cambiaron con el tiempo al igual que las insignias.

En 2005, la Fuerza Aérea Sudafricana rediseñó completamente su insignia, manteniendo los títulos del Ejército.

Evolución de los títulos de rango

Rangos del Ejército y la Fuerza Aérea

Oficiales generales

• Mariscal de campo (1923 - c 1950)
• General (1914–) (llamado " comandante general " 1956–68)
• Teniente general (1914–)
• General de división (1914–) (llamado "general de combate" 1960–68)
• General de brigada (1912–40, 1998–)

Oficiales de campo

• Brigadier (1937-1998) (llamado "coronel-commandant" 1937-1940)
• Coronel (1912–)
• Comandante en jefe (utilizado en los comandos 1968-1970) ^[1]
• Teniente coronel (1912–) (llamado "comandante" 1950-1994)

Compañías / oficiales subalternos

• Mayor (1912–)
• Capitán (1912–)
• Teniente (1912–) (llamado " corneta de campo " 1960-1968)
• Segundo teniente (1918–) (llamado "corneta asistente de campo" 1960–68)

Suboficiales

Insignia de rango de suboficial de clase 1, 1921-2002

Insignia de rango de suboficial de clase 1, 1921–57

En junio de 2008 ^[2] se introdujo una nueva serie de rangos de suboficiales.

• Suboficial de primera clase (1921–)
• Suboficial de segunda clase (1921–)
• Suboficial (1912-1921)

Suboficiales

• Sargento de Estado Mayor (1912–) (equivalente a "sargento de vuelo" de la Fuerza Aérea)
• Sargento (1912–) (equivalente de la Fuerza Aérea llamado "sargento aéreo" hasta 1970)
• Cabo (1912–) (equivalente de la Fuerza Aérea llamado "cabo de aire" hasta 1970)
• Lance-cabo (1912–) (equivalente de la Fuerza Aérea llamado "mecánico de aire líder" hasta 1970)

Tropa

• Privado (1912–) (equivalente de la Fuerza Aérea llamado "mecánico de aire" 1920–70, "privado" 1970–82 y "aviador" 1982–)

Rangos navales

Oficiales de bandera

• Almirante (1972–)
• Vicealmirante (1965–)
• Contraalmirante (1940–)
• Grado junior de contraalmirante (1998–)

Oficiales superiores

• Comodoro (1946-1998)
• Capitán (1941–)
• Comandante (1913–)
• Teniente-comandante (1913–)

Oficiales subalternos

• Teniente (1913–)
• Subteniente (1913–)
• Ensign (1913–) (llamado "subteniente interino" hasta 1965)
• Suboficial de primera clase (1955–)
• Suboficial de segunda clase (1955–)
• Suboficial (1913-1955)

Suboficiales

• Suboficial jefe (1913–)
• Suboficial (1913–)
• Marinero destacado (1913–)
• Marinero capaz (1913–)

Calificaciones

• Marinero (1913–)

1961-1994 estructura de rango

Durante la era del apartheid, la estructura de rango del ejército sudafricano se compartía entre el ejército, la fuerza aérea y el SAMS con algunas pequeñas diferencias. En la Fuerza Aérea, un sargento de personal era un sargento de vuelo, por ejemplo. Las filas de la Fuerza Aérea tenían un fondo azul y las franjas de suboficiales eran azules. Para SAMS, las filas tenían un trasfondo granate.

Oficiales

Código OTAN equivalente	DE-10		DE-9		DE-8		DE-7		DE-6		DE-5		DE-4		DE 3		DE-2		DE-1						OF (D) y oficial estudiantil
Ejército Sudafricano v t mi	Sin equivalente
			General Generaal		Teniente general Luitenant generaal		Mayor general Generaal-majoor		Brigadier Brigadier		Coronel Kolonel		Comandante Kommandant		Major Majoor		Captain Kaptein		Lieutenant Luitenant			2nd lieutenant Tweede luitenant			Candidate officer Kandidaat offisier
South African Air Force v t e	No equivalent																								Unknown
			General Generaal		Lieutenant general Luitenant generaal		Major general Generaal-majoor		Brigadier Brigadier		Colonel Kolonel		Commandant Kommandant		Major Majoor		Captain Kaptein		Lieutenant Luitenant			2nd lieutenant Tweede luitenant
South African Navy v t e	No equivalent																								Unknown
			Admiral Admiral		Vice admiral Vise admiral		Rear admiral Skout admiral		Commodore Kommodoor		Captain Kaptein		Commander Kommandeur		Lieutenant commander Luitenant-Kommandeur		Lieutenant Luitenant		Sub Lieutenant Onderluitenant			Ensign Vaandrig
South African Medical Service v t e	No equivalent																								Unknown
			General Generaal		Lieutenant general Luitenant generaal		Major general Generaal-majoor		Brigadier Brigadier		Colonel Kolonel		Commandant Kommandant		Major Majoor		Captain Kaptein		Lieutenant Luitenant			2nd lieutenant Tweede luitenant
Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer

Other ranks

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
South African Army v t e																													No insignia
	Sergeant Major of the Army Sersant-Majoor van die Leer			Warrant officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klass I			Warrant officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klass II		Staff sergeant Staf-Sersant		Sergeant Sersant												Corporal Korporaal				Lance corporal Onderkorporaal		Private Soldaat
South African Air Force v t e																													No equivalent						No insignia
	Sergeant Major of the SA Air Force Sersant-Majoor van die SA Lugmag			Warrant officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klass I			Warrant officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klass II		Flight sergeant Vlug-Sersant		Sergeant Sersant												Corporal Korporaal				Lance corporal Onderkorporaal								Aircraftman Vliegtuigman
South African Navy v t e																											No equivalent								No equivalent
	Master at Arms ofthe South African Navy Sersant-Majoor van die SA Vloot			Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klass I			Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klass II		Chief petty officer Eerste Bootsman		Petty officer Bootsman												Leading seaman Baasseeman						Able seaman Bevare Seeman

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.^[3][4]

Officers

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) & Student officer
South African Army v t e	No equivalent
			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

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
South African Army v t e																													No insignia
	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private (or equivalent)
	Aandredingsbeampte Klas 1						Aandredingsbeampte Klas 2		Stafsersant		Sersant												Korporaal				Onderkorporaal

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".^[5] 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

Equivalent NATO Code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
South African Air Force 1994-2002 v t e	No equivalent																								Unknown
			General Generaal		Lieutenant general Luitenant generaal		Major general Generaal-majoor		Brigadier Brigadier		Colonel Kolonel		Commandant Kommandant		Major Majoor		Captain Kaptein		Lieutenant Luitenant			2nd lieutenant Tweede luitenant
South African Air Force v t e	No equivalent
			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

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
South African Air Force 1994-2002 v t e																													No equivalent						No insignia
	Warrant officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klass I						Warrant officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klass II		Flight sergeant Vlug-Sersant		Sergeant Sersant												Corporal Korporaal				Lance corporal Onderkorporaal								Aircraftman Vliegtuigman
South African Air Force v t e																													No equivalent						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.^[6]

The ranks of Flag Officers changed in 1997 when the rank previously called Commodore became known as Rear Admiral (Junior Grade).^[7]

Officers

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
South African Navy 1994-2002 v t e	No equivalent
			Admiral Admiral		Vice admiral Vise admiral		Rear admiral Skout admiral		Commodore Kommodoor		Captain Kaptein		Commander Kommandeur		Lieutenant commander Luitenant-Kommandeur		Lieutenant Luitenant		Sub Lieutenant Onderluitenant			Ensign Vaandrig			Midshipman
South African Navy v t e	No equivalent
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral(junior grade)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenantcommander		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
	Senior warrant officer		Master warrant officer		Chief warrant officer		Senior chief warrant officer		Master chief warrant officer

Enlisted

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
South African Navy 1994-2002 v t e																											No equivalent								No equivalent
	Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klass I						Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klass II		Chief petty officer Eerste Bootsman		Petty officer Bootsman												Leading seaman Baasseeman						Able seaman Bevare Seeman
South African Navy v t e																											No equivalent
	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

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) & Student officer
South African Military Health Service v t e	No equivalent
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			2nd lieutenant			Candidate officer

Enlisted

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
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).^[8] As of October 2012 the incumbent MCWO is Mothusi Kgaladi^[9]

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.^[8]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military rank insignia of South Africa.

• Comparative military ranks
• Comparative military ranks of apartheid states in southern Africa
• List of Badges of the South African Army
• Military rank

References

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.
3. "Airforce Rank Structure". Unofficial SA Airforce website.
4. "Uniform: rank insignia". army.mil.za. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
5. SAAF Rank Insignia
6. "Rank insignia of the South African Navy". navy.mil.za. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
7. 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.
8. "Fact file: Comparative military and civil service grades". DefenceWeb.
9. "Mothusi Victor Kgaladi new WO SANDF". DefenceWeb.