Australian Army other ranks rank insignia

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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. [1] 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. [2] The insignia for non-commissioned ranks are identical to the British Army up to the rank of warrant officer class two. Since 1976, WO1s and the WO in the Australian Army wear insignia using the Australian Coat of Arms. [3]

Contents

Insignia

Rank insignia of the other ranks of the Australian Army [4]
Rank groupWarrant officersSenior NCOsJunior NCOsSoldiers
ADF codeE-10E-09E-08E-06E-05E-04E-03E-02
Insignia Australian Army OR-9b (2025).svg Australian Army OR-9a (2025).svg Australian Army OR-8 (2025).svg Australian Army OR-6 (2025).svg Australian Army OR-5 (2025).svg Australian Army OR-4 (2025).svg No insignia
Typical appointment Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army Regimental sergeant major Squadron/battery/company sergeant major
Rank Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private Proficient [a] Private (or equivalent)
AbbreviationWO1WO2SgtCplLCplPte(P)Pte

Ranks

Warrant officer ranks

Senior non-commissioned officer ranks

Junior non-commissioned officer ranks

Bombardier and lance bombardier are used by members of Royal Australian Artillery. [5] All other corps use corporal and lance corporal.

Private soldier ranks

Different rank titles are used by other corps. [6] [7] These soldiers hold the same rank as a PTE E-2 or PTE(P) E-3

Private (and equivalent) soldiers in the Australian Army are still commonly referred to as 'diggers'. [8]

Warrant officer appointments and special insignia

There are a number of appointments held by the senior warrant officers in the Australian Army. These are appointments, not ranks. In general, the rank of the incumbents of these positions is WO1, and they wear the WO1 rank insignia. [1] Due to it having its own special insignia which is worn instead of the WO1 rank insignia, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A) [f] is unusual as it holds the unique Army rank of Warrant Officer (WO), which is senior to WO1 and equivalents. [2]

Other appointments include:

Unit level appointments:

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Private Proficient is not an ADF rank, it is a proficiency point for which a higher rate of salary is provided. Private proficient simply means a private who has completed basic training, initial employment training and is proficient in his/her trade – generally spending twelve months "on the job" first. A PTE(P) soldier does not 'outrank' a PTE soldier for discipline purposes. However, a PTE(P) soldier (also known as a senior soldier/senior digger) may be made responsible for tasking and training of junior soldier(s) within their section. A PTE(P) soldier is equivalent to an able seaman in the Royal Australian Navy and a leading aircraftsman/leading aircraftswoman in the Royal Australian Air Force.
  2. ↑ The rank of staff sergeant is being phased out of the Australian Army, as at 2022 there are 10 Staff Sergeants in the Army, all in the Australian Army Reserve according to latest remuneration tribunal figures.
  3. 1 2 Private Proficient is not an ADF rank, it is a proficiency point for which a higher rate of salary is provided. Private proficient simply means a private who has completed basic training, initial employment training and is proficient in his/her trade – generally spending twelve months "on the job" first. A PTE(P) soldier does not 'outrank' a PTE soldier for discipline purposes. However, a PTE(P) soldier (also known as a senior soldier/senior digger) may be made responsible for tasking and training of junior soldier(s) within their section. A PTE(P) soldier is equivalent to an able seaman in the Royal Australian Navy and a leading aircraftsman/leading aircraftswoman in the Royal Australian Air Force.
  4. ↑ Referred to as a "Sig", e.g.: "Sig Smith"
  5. ↑ A female soldier's title is craftsman, not craftswoman.
  6. ↑ The senior warrant officer in the Australian Army holds the rank of warrant officer (WO) and the appointment of Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A)

References

  1. 1 2 Jobson, Christopher (2009). Looking Forward, Looking Back: Customs and Traditions of the Australian Army. Wavell Heights, Queensland: Big Sky Publishing. p. 11. ISBN   978-0-9803251-6-4.
  2. 1 2 3 Jobson 2009, p. 19.
  3. ↑ Jobson 2009, p. 13.
  4. ↑ "Ranks". The Australian Army. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  5. ↑ Jobson 2009, p. 12.
  6. ↑ Jobson 2009, p. 15.
  7. ↑ "Ranks". Australian Army. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  8. ↑ Jobson 2009, p. 82.
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