Military ranks of Rhodesia

The Military ranks of Rhodesia were the military insignia used by the Rhodesian Security Forces. Since Rhodesia was a landlocked country, the Security Force did not have a navy. Being a former British colony, Rhodesia shared a rank structure similar to that of the United Kingdom.[1]

Since 1980, they have been replaced by the military ranks of Zimbabwe.

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Rhodesian Army[2]
Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Rhodesian Air Force[2][3]
Air marshal Air vice-marshal Air commodore Group captain Wing commander Squadron leader Flight lieutenant Air lieutenant Air sub-lieutenant
Rhodesian Internal Affairs
Regular Service
[4]
Provincial commissioner District commissioner Assistant district commissioner Senior district officer District officer
Rhodesian Internal Affairs
National Service
[5]
Senior vedette officer Vedette officer Ensign
Rhodesian Guard Force[6]
Commander Deputy Commander Senior Commandant Commandant Assistant Commandant Junior Commandant II Junior Commandant I
British South Africa Police[2][7]
Commissioner Deputy commissioner Senior assistant commissioner Assistant commissioner Chief superintendent Superintendent Chief inspector Inspector
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers

Student officer ranks

Rank group Student officer
Rhodesian Internal Affairs
Regular Service
Cadet I Cadet II
Rhodesian Internal Affairs
National Service
National service
cadet I
National service
cadet II
National service
cadet III
National service
cadet IV

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Rhodesian Army[2]
Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Warrant Officer Class 2 Staff Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
(or equivalent)
Rhodesian Air Force[2][3]
Warrant officer class 2 Master Technician Master Sergeant
No insignia
Station warrant officer Warrant officer class 1 Flight sergeant Sergeant Corporal Senior aircraftman Leading aircraftman Aircraftman
Rhodesian Internal Affairs
Regular Service
[4]
No insignia
Warrant officer Senior district assistant District assistant grade I District assistant grade II Private
Rhodesian Internal Affairs
National Service
[5]
No insignia
Vedette senior warrant officer Vedette junior warrant officer Staff vedette Vedette detachment leader Vedette section leader Senior vedette Vedette
Rhodesian Guard Force[8]
No insignia
Keep commander Deputy keep commander Keep warrant officer Keep senior sergeant Keep sergeant Keep corporal Junior corporal Guard
British South Africa Police[2][7]
Section officer Senior patrol officer Patrol officer Senior sergeant First sergeant Sergeant Constable
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

References

  1. ^ Mathews, L. L. (1979). "Rhodesia". In Keegan, John (ed.). World armies. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. p. 592. LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Bridger, Peter, ed. (1973). Encyclopaedia Rhodesia. Salisbury. pp. 441–444. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b Brent, W. A. (1988). Rhodesian Air Force – A Brief History 1947–1980. Freeworld Publications. p. 35.
  4. ^ a b "Intaf Rank Insignia". Archived from the original on 16 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b "INTAF Rank Structure and Badges of Rank". Archived from the original on 26 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Guard Force Rank Structure". Archived from the original on 5 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b "BSAP Rank Structure and Badges of Rank". rhodesianforces.org. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Guard Force Rank Structure". Archived from the original on 5 May 2021.