🇿🇦
South African Military Ranks
The South African Army has 18 ranks — 11 officer and 7 enlisted — from Private up to General. Below: all 54 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
54
Active personnel
65K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 18 of 18 matched
| 🇿🇦 South Africa · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Lieutenant general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Major general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Brigadier general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Colonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Lieutenant colonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Captain
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Second lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Officer candidate
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer candidate |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Staff sergeant
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergeant first class
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Specialist
Corporal
|
Lance corporal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Private first class
|
| Private | OR-2 Private |
Private
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 18 of 18 matched
| 🇿🇦 South Africa · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Admiral
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
Vice admiral
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice admiral
|
Rear admiral
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Rear admiral (junior grade)
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Rear admiral (lower half)
|
Captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Lieutenant commander
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Sub lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Ensign
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Midshipman
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Midshipman / officer candidate
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Command senior chief petty officer
Senior chief petty officer
|
Chief petty officer
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Petty officer
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer first class
|
Leading seaman
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Petty officer third class
|
Able seaman
|
OR-2 Private |
Seaman apprentice
|
| Seaman | OR-1 Private | Seaman recruit |
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 18 of 18 matched
| 🇿🇦 South Africa · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Lieutenant general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Major general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Brigadier general
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Colonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Lieutenant colonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Captain
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Second lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Officer candidate
|
OF-D Student Officer | Cadet / Officer trainee |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Senior master sergeant
|
Flight sergeant
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Technical sergeant
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Senior airman
|
Lance corporal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Airman first class
|
| Airman | OR-2 Private |
Airman
|
Overview
- South African Army (Suid-Afrikaanse Leër): Conducts land operations including infantry, armor, artillery, and engineer functions. Headquarters is in Pretoria. It administers motorized, mechanized, airborne, and reserve units deployed for border safeguarding under Operation Corona and regional peacekeeping missions.
- South African Air Force (Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag): Provides air defense, transport, reconnaissance, and combat support capabilities. Headquarters is in Pretoria, operating out of air force bases including Waterkloof, Swartkop, and Makhado. It maintains fighter, helicopter, transport, and training squadrons.
- South African Navy (Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot): Conducts maritime patrol, defense, and search-and-rescue operations in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Headquarters is in Pretoria, with naval bases in Simon's Town and Durban. It operates frigates, submarines, and patrol vessels to monitor coastal waters and counter piracy.
- South African Military Health Service (Suid-Afrikaanse Militêre Gesondheidsdiens): Provides medical support, healthcare services, and humanitarian aid to active personnel and their dependents. Headquarters is in Pretoria. It operates military hospitals and specialized medical units, and coordinates disaster relief operations.
South Africa Military
Related Pages
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: General (Army), Lieutenant general (Army), Major general (Army), Brigadier general (Army), Colonel (Army), Lieutenant colonel (Army), Major (Army), Captain (Army), Lieutenant (Army), Second lieutenant (Army), Officer candidate, Warrant officer class 1, Warrant officer class 2, Staff sergeant, Sergeant (Army), Corporal (Army), Lance corporal (Army), Admiral, Vice admiral, Rear admiral, Rear admiral (junior grade), Captain (Navy), Commander, Lieutenant commander, Lieutenant (Navy), Sub lieutenant, Ensign, Chief petty officer, Petty officer, Able seaman, General (Air Force), Lieutenant general (Air Force), Major general (Air Force), Brigadier general (Air Force), Colonel (Air Force), Lieutenant colonel (Air Force), Major (Air Force), Captain (Air Force), Lieutenant (Air Force), Second lieutenant (Air Force), Flight sergeant, Sergeant (Air Force), Corporal (Air Force), Lance corporal (Air Force)
- Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Officer candidate
- MrInfo2012 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Midshipman
- Sodacan — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Leading seaman