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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.
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Student officer ranks
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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.
Officers
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Other ranks
thumb|right|120px|Warrant officer class 1 rank badge 19512002
thumb|right|120px|Warrant officer class 2 rank badge 19512002
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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
thumb|upright|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.
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". 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
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Other ranks
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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.
The ranks of flag officers changed in 1997 when the rank previously called Commodore became known as Rear Admiral (Junior Grade).
Officers
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Enlisted
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Health Service
Officers
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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