Military ranks of Rhodesia

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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Since 1980, they have been replaced by the military ranks of Zimbabwe.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 Field/senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Rhodesian Army
Rhon-Army-OF-9.svg Rhon-Army-OF-8.svg Rhon-Army-OF-7.svg Rhon-Army-OF-6.svg Rhon-Army-OF-5.svg Rhon-Army-OF-4.svg Rhon-Army-OF-3.svg Rhon-Army-OF-2.svg Rhon-Army-OF-1b.svg Rhon-Army-OF-1a.svg
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant


Rhodesian Air Force[2]
NZ-Air-OF8.svg NZ-Air-OF7.svg NZ-Air-OF6.svg NZ-Air-OF5.svg NZ-Air-OF4.svg NZ-Air-OF3.svg NZ-Air-OF2.svg NZ-Air-OF1A.svg NZ-Air-OF1B.svg
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
[3][4]
Rhodesia INTAF Provincial commissioner.svg Rhodesia INTAF District commissioner.svg Rhodesia INTAF Assistant district commissioner.svg Rhodesia INTAF Senior district officer.svg Rhodesia INTAF District officer.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Provincial commissioner District commissioner Assistant district commissioner Senior district officer District officer Cadet I Cadet II
Rhodesian Internal Affairs
National Service

Rhodesia INTAF Senior vedette officer.svg Rhodesia INTAF Vedette officer.svg Rhodesia INTAF Ensign.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Senior vedette officer Vedette officer Ensign National Service
Cadet I
National Service
Cadet II
National Service
Cadet III
National Service
Cadet IV


Rhodesian Guard Force[5]
Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Commander Deputy Commander Senior Commandant Commandant Assistant Commandant Junior Commandant II Junior Commandant I


British South Africa Police[6]
BSAP Commissioner insignia.svg BSAP Deputy Commissioner insignia.svg BSAP Senior Assistant Commissioner insignia.svg BSAP Assistant Commissioner insignia.svg BSAP Chief Superintendent insignia.svg BSAP Superintendent insignia.svg BSAP Chief Inspector insignia.svg BSAP Inspector insignia.svg
Commissioner Deputy commissioner Senior assistant commissioner Assistant commissioner Chief superintendent Superintendent Chief inspector Inspector


Rank group General/flag officers Field/senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet

Other ranks[]

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

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Rhodesian Army
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]
RhAF OR-9b.svg RhAF OR-9a.svg
RhAF OR-8c.svg RHAF-MT.JPG RHAF-Master Sgt.JPG
Warrant officer class 2 Master Technician Master Sergeant
RhAF OR-7.svg British RAF OR-6.svg British RAF OR-4.svg British RAF OR-3.svg British RAF OR-2b.svg No insignia
Station warrant officer Warrant officer class 1 Flight sergeant Sergeant Corporal Senior aircraftman Leading aircraftman Aircraftman


Rhodesian Internal Affairs
Regular Service
[3][4]
Rhodesia INTAF Warrant officer.svg Rhodesia INTAF Senior district assistant.svg Rhodesia INTAF District assistant grade I.svg Rhodesia INTAF District assistant grade II.svg No insignia
Warrant officer Senior district assistant District assistant grade I District assistant grade II Private
Rhodesian Internal Affairs
National Service

Rhodesia INTAF Vedette senior warrant officer.svg Blank.svg Rhodesia INTAF Staff Vedette.svg Rhodesia INTAF Vedette detachment leader.svg Rhodesia INTAF Vedette section leader.svg Rhodesia INTAF Senior Vedette.svg No insignia
Vedette senior warrant officer Vedette junior warrant officer Staff vedette Vedette detachment leader Vedette section leader Senior vedette Vedette


Rhodesian Guard Force[7]
Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Rhodesian Guard Force OR-6.svg Rhodesian Guard Force OR-4.svg Rhodesian Guard Force OR-3.svg No insignia
Keep commander Deputy keep commander Keep warrant officer Keep senior sergeant Keep sergeant Keep corporal Junior corporal Guard


British South Africa Police[8]
BSAP Section Officer insignia.svg BSAP Senior Patrol Officer insignia.svg BSAP Patrol Officer insignia.svg BSAP Senior Sergeant insignia.svg BSAP First Sergeant insignia.svg BSAP Sergeant insignia.svg BSAP Constable.svg
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. p. 592. LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b Brent, W. A. (1988). Rhodesian Air Force – A Brief History 1947–1980. Freeworld Publications. p. 35.
  3. ^ a b "Intaf Rank Insignia".
  4. ^ a b "INTAF Rank Structure and Badges of Rank".
  5. ^ "Guard Force Rank Structure".
  6. ^ "The Rank Structure and Badges of Rank".
  7. ^ "Guard Force Rank Structure".
  8. ^ "The Rank Structure and Badges of Rank".

External links[]

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