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Since 1980, they have been replaced by the military ranks of Zimbabwe.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][5]
Provincial commissioner District commissioner Assistant district commissioner Senior district officer District officer
Rhodesian Internal Affairs
National Service
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][5]
 No insignia
Warrant officer Senior district assistant District assistant grade I District assistant grade II Private
Rhodesian Internal Affairs
National Service
 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.