Australian Army enlisted rank insignia
Encyclopedia
Like the British Army, the Australian Army does not use the term 'enlisted' to describe its non-commissioned ranks. Instead, personnel who are not Commissioned Officers are referred to as Other Ranks. These are soldiers, Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Warrant Officers (WOs). Warrant Officers are appointed by a warrant which is signed by the Chief of the Army. The insignia for non-commissioned ranks are identical to the British Army up to the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two. WO1s in the Australian Army wear the Australian Coat of Arms
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The ranks are, from highest to lowest:
In addition to these appointments there are unit level appointments.
Collectively Junior Non-Commissioned Officers and Private soldiers (or equivalent) are referred to as Other Ranks (Abbreviated: ORs).
Private (and equivalent) soldiers in the Australian Army are still commonly referred to as 'diggers'
.
Coat of arms of Australia
The coat of arms of Australia is the official symbol of Australia. The initial coat of arms was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version was granted by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on...
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The ranks are, from highest to lowest:
Warrant Officer Appointments
These appointments are held by the senior Warrant Officers in the Australian Army. These are appointments, not ranks.- Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Abbreviated: RSM-A) (The RSM-A holds the rank of Warrant Officer (WO)).
- Academy Sergeant Major (Abbreviated: ASM) (One WO1 is appointed every 3 to 4 years to serve at the Australian Defence Force Academy as the ASM, the position is rotational with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force).
In addition to these appointments there are unit level appointments.
- Regimental Sergeant Major (Abbreviated: RSM) - the senior soldier in a Regiment/Battalion sized unit. Known as the RSM, even in units designated as battalions. RSMs hold the rank of WO1.
- Company/Squadron Sergeant Major (abbreviated CSM/SSM) - the senior soldier in a company/squadron sized sub-unit. Holds the rank WO2.
- Artificer Sergeant Major - (abbreviated ASM) the senior soldier in a RAEME unit. Can be a WO1 or WO2.
Warrant Officer Ranks
- Warrant Officer (Abbreviated: WO) - E10 - the rank held by the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army
- Warrant Officer Class One (Abbreviated: WO1) - E9
- Warrant Officer Class Two (Abbreviated: WO2) - E8
Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Ranks
- Staff Sergeant (Abbreviated: SSGT) - E7
- Sergeant (Abbreviated: SGT) - E6
Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Ranks
- Corporal or Bombardier (Abbreviated: CPL or BDR) - E5
- Lance Corporal or Lance Bombardier (Abbreviated: LCPL or LBDR) - E4
Private Soldier Ranks
- Private Proficient (Abbreviated: PTE(P)). Also used within the Private equivalent ranks - E3
- Private (Abbreviated: PTE): This title is used by members of the following CorpsCorpsA corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
: RACTRoyal Australian Corps of TransportThe Royal Australian Corps of Transport is a corps within the Australian Army. It was formed in 1973 and is responsible for the operation of army surface transport assets.-Role:...
, RAAOCRoyal Australian Army Ordnance CorpsThe Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps is the Corps within the Australian Army concerned with supply and administration, as well as the demolition and disposal of explosives and salvage of battle-damaged equipment...
, RAAPC, RAINFRoyal Australian Infantry CorpsThe Royal Australian Infantry Corps is the parent corps for all infantry regiments of the Australian Army. It was established on 14 December 1948, with its Royal Corps status being conferred by His Majesty King George VI. At her coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II became Colonel-in-Chief of the...
, RAAMCRoyal Australian Army Medical CorpsThe Royal Australian Army Medical Corps is the branch of the Australian Army responsible for providing medical care to Army personnel. The AAMC was formed in 1902 and has participated in every Australian Army operation...
, RAADCRoyal Australian Army Dental CorpsThe Royal Australian Army Dental Corps is a corps within the Australian Army. It was formed on 23 April 1943 during World War II as the Australian Army Dental Corps, before being granted the 'Royal' prefix in 1948. Prior to its formation dentists were part of the Australian Army Medical Corps...
, AustIntAustralian Army Intelligence CorpsThe Australian Intelligence Corps is a corps within the Australian Army. It was formed on 6 December 1907 and provides intelligence personnel in every formation headquarters in the Army. The corps currently consists of 169 officers and 232 other ranks....
and AACCAustralian Army Catering CorpsThe Australian Army Catering Corps is the corps within the Australian Army that is responsible for preparing and serving of meals. The Corps includes two trades, Chef and Operator Catering . The motto of the corps is 'We sustain'...
- E2
- Alternate rank titles are used for other Corps. However, these members hold the same rank as a PTE (Private equivalent) - E2
- Musician (Abbreviated: MUSN): AABCAustralian Army Band CorpsThe Australian Army Band Corps is the Australian Army's musical branch. The Corps was formed on 2 August 1968 and provides the Army with musical support and seeks to improve the Army's public image.-See also:* Army Recruit Training Centre...
- SignalmanSignalman (rank)Signalman was a U.S. Navy rating for sailors that specialized in visual communication. See Signaller for more about the roles of Signalmen.-U.S. Navy:A signal lamp is a visual signaling device for optical communication...
(Abbreviated: SIG): RASigsRoyal Australian Corps of SignalsThe Royal Australian Corps of Signals is one of the 'arms' of the Australian Army. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems... - GunnerGunner (rank)Gunner is a rank equivalent to Private in the British Army Royal Artillery and the artillery corps of other Commonwealth armies. The next highest rank is usually Lance-Bombardier, although in the Royal Canadian Artillery it is Bombardier....
(Abbreviated: GNR): RAARoyal Regiment of Australian ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, normally referred to as the Royal Australian Artillery , is a corps of the Australian Army descended from the original colonial artillery units prior to Australia's federation... - TrooperTrooper (rank)Trooper from the French "troupier" is the equivalent rank to private in a regiment with a cavalry tradition in the British Army and many other Commonwealth armies, including those of Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. Today, most cavalry units operate in the armoured role, equipped...
(Abbreviated: TPR): RAAC, AAAvnAustralian Army AviationAustralian Army Aviation is a corps of the Australian Army, and was formed on 1 July 1968 with a strength of 106 officer pilots, although it has a history dating back to 1911, when the Minister of Defence at the time, Senator George Pearce, decided there should be a flying school in the Defence...
, SASRAustralian Special Air Service RegimentThe Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR but commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army... - SapperSapperA sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
(Abbreviated: SPR): RAERoyal Australian EngineersThe Royal Australian Engineers is a corps of the Australian Army . The RAE is ranked fourth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, behind the Staff Cadets, Armoured and Artillery Corps... - Craftsman (Abbreviated: CFN): RAEMERoyal Australian Electrical and Mechanical EngineersThe Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the Australian Army that has responsibility for the maintenance and recovery of all land electrical and mechanical equipment...
- Private (pre-completion of Initial Employment Training) - E1
- Recruit (Abbreviated: REC /PTE(R)): Members who are undergoing basic training - E0
- Musician (Abbreviated: MUSN): AABC
Collectively Junior Non-Commissioned Officers and Private soldiers (or equivalent) are referred to as Other Ranks (Abbreviated: ORs).
Private (and equivalent) soldiers in the Australian Army are still commonly referred to as 'diggers'
Digger (soldier)
Digger is an Australian and New Zealand military slang term for soldiers from Australia and New Zealand. It originated during World War I.- Origin :...
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Insignia
| Warrant Officer Ranks | ||
|---|---|---|
| Warrant Officer Warrant Officer A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first... (WO) appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A) |
Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) | Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) |
| Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Ranks | |
|---|---|
| Staff Sergeant Staff Sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:... (SSGT) |
Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... (SGT) |
| Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Ranks | |
|---|---|
| Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... (CPL) / Bombardier Bombardier (rank) Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal.... (BDR) |
Lance Corporal Lance Corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed... (LCPL) / Lance Bombardier Bombardier (rank) Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal.... (LBDR) |
| Private Soldier Ranks |
|---|
| Sapper Sapper A sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield... (SPR) / Private Private (rank) A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career... (PTE) / Trooper Trooper (rank) Trooper from the French "troupier" is the equivalent rank to private in a regiment with a cavalry tradition in the British Army and many other Commonwealth armies, including those of Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. Today, most cavalry units operate in the armoured role, equipped... (TPR) / Gunner Gunner (rank) Gunner is a rank equivalent to Private in the British Army Royal Artillery and the artillery corps of other Commonwealth armies. The next highest rank is usually Lance-Bombardier, although in the Royal Canadian Artillery it is Bombardier.... (GNR) / Signalman Signalman (rank) Signalman was a U.S. Navy rating for sailors that specialized in visual communication. See Signaller for more about the roles of Signalmen.-U.S. Navy:A signal lamp is a visual signaling device for optical communication... (SIG) / Craftsman Private (rank) A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career... (CFN) / Musician Private (rank) A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career... (MUSN) |
| No rank insignia |
See also
- Australian Army officer rank insigniaAustralian Army officer rank insigniaAustralian Army officers receive a commission that is personally signed by the Governor-General of Australia, acting for the Monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II, of Australia...
- Australian Defence Force ranks and insigniaAustralian Defence Force ranks and insigniaThis article lists the ranks of officers and enlisted personnel in the Australian Defence Force 's three service branches. The ADF comprises the:*Royal Australian Navy *Australian Army*Royal Australian Air Force...
- Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) rank insigniaRanks of the RAAFThe Royal Australian Air Force inherited its rank structure from the Royal Air Force. The RAF based its officer ranks on the Royal Navy, and its airmen ranks on the British Army....