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Video clips showing IDF soldiers with their ranks' insignias, from the archive of the Israeli News Company of Israel's Channel 2
The military ranks of Israel are the military insignia used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Because the IDF is an integrated force, ranks are the same in all services (there is no differentiation between army, navy, air force, etc.) The ranks are derived from those in the paramilitary Haganah, which operated during the Mandate period in order to protect the Yishuv.[citation needed]
Officers (ktzinim): Volunteers who have completed the officer's course. Officers serve for at least 36 months (3 years) for women in non-combat positions and 44 months (3 years, 8 months) for men. Positions in specialized units require their officers to serve for more than this (for example, seven years for pilots). Promotions are based on ability and time served. It takes about a year to be promoted from 2nd lieutenant to lieutenant and three years to be promoted from lieutenant to captain. Army officers have bronze-metal insignia (replaced with subdued black-metal insignia in 2002), air force officers have silver metal insignia, and navy officers have gold-metal insignia or gold braid bars. Officers without a university education can be promoted to a maximum of Rav Seren (Major), although the IDF often sponsors the studies for their majors.
Academic officers (ktzinim akademaim): Special rank given to soldiers who have not completed officers' training after completing a professional education (usually in engineering, medicine, or law) and returning to service. A kama is equivalent to a lieutenant, and a ka'ab is equivalent to a captain. Officers of these ranks are considered professional manpower and rarely take posts of command. Upon finally completing officers' training, an academic officer is immediately awarded the corresponding "real" rank due to their experience in grade. Their insignia bars are embossed with scrolls (megilot) rather than laurel branches (aronot).
Non-commissioned officers (nagadim): The professional non-commissioned and warrant ranks, drawn from volunteers who signed on for military service after completing conscription. They usually are assigned to head-up the headquarters staff of a unit. Samal is a Hebrew abbreviation for segen mi-khutz la-minyan, which translates as "supernumerary lieutenant"; it is a Field NCO rank equivalent to a British or Commonwealth "Sergeant". Rav samal translates as "chief sergeant"; it is a career NCO rank equivalent to a British or Commonwealth "Staff Sergeant" or "Sergeant Major" / "Warrant Officer". Nagad is a variant of the biblical word nagid, which means "ruler" or "leader". Rav nagad is a senior staff NCO rank equivalent to the American ranks of "Chief Warrant Officer" and "Master Warrant Officer".
Enlisted (hogrim): The conscript and field NCO ranks. All Jewish, Druze and Circassian conscripts must start their compulsory service at 18 (unless they receive a deferment); Christians, Muslims, and Circassians may volunteer at 17 or older. Enlisted male conscripts serve for 32 months (2 years and 8 months) and female conscripts serve for 24 months (2 years). In the IDF enlisted ranks are earned by means of time in service (pazam), rather than by a particular post or assignment. After 4 to 12 months the conscript is promoted to rav turai, after 18 to 20 months promoted to samal, and after 24 to 32 months is promoted to samal rishon. (This means that female conscripts reach no higher than samal during their compulsory service, unless they serve in combat positions or volunteer for longer terms.)
Field NCOs (samal and samal rishon) who command sub-units (fire team or squad, respectively) are called mashak. This is an abbreviation that translates into English literally as "non-commissioned officer". It is a term of respect like the French Army's chef ("chief").
Recruits (tironim): Upon enlistment to military service in Israel, all soldiers begin a basic training course and undergo several weeks or months of 'integration' from citizens to soldiers. This course is called tironut ("recruit training") and the soldier being trained on this course is called a tiron (or "recruit"). This is often erroneously interpreted as a rank, similar to the US Army's private (E-1); tironim are ranked as turai (private), the same rank and paygrade as newly trained conscripts.[3]
Both officers and enlisted personnel have an obligation to serve in the Reserves after completing their active military service. Male personnel serve until 41–51 years old while female personnel serve until 24 years old.
(ממלא מקום קצין (ממ"ק Memale makom katzín (initials: Mamak)
(Acting officer or aspirant; A brevet officer ranking below a junior lieutenant) (Memale makom translates as "substitute", and katzin means "officer") (Memale makom literally translates as "filling in the place of another") [Existed from the 1960s until 1994]
(רב-נגד משנה (רנ״ם Rav nagad mishne (initials: Ranam)
(Warrant officer, senior specialist professional) (it translates as "junior chief warrant officer" or "junior chief NCO") In practice the rank is not used
Army
Air Force
Navy
(סמל בכיר (סמ"ב Samal bakhír (initials: Samab)
(First Sergeant, it translates as "Senior Sergeant") [Existed from 1948 to 1952 and no longer in use. (See comments in notes in the bottom)]
(רב טוראי ראשון (רט"ר Rav turái rishón (initials: Ratár)
(First corporal, it translates as "chief private first class") [Existed from 1972 to 1982 and no longer in use. (See comments in notes in the bottom)]
(טוראי ראשון (טר"ש Turai rishon (initials: Tarash)
The rank of memale makom katzín, initials: Mamak (ממלא מקום קצין) or "substitute officer", was created in the 1960s. The rank was considered below a 2nd lieutenant (initials: sagam). It indicated a cadet in the Israeli army who had finished the basic preparation for an officer rank (קורס קצינים בסיסי), but for some reason abandoned their studies, failed to complete the professional officer preparation (השלמה חיילית), or completed it with a minimal passing grade but was still found worthy of command. They occupied the lowest officer posts until a normal officer rank was found for the position. Those who finished the officer preparation with a minimal passing grade and were substituting in a command position were eligible for promotion to normal officer rank after a set period. It was discontinued in 1994.
The rank of Samal Bakhír, initials: Samab ("Senior Sergeant") was used from 1948 to 1952. It was the equivalent of a US Army First Sergeant. It was replaced by the rank of Rav Samal Yekhidati ("Unit Senior Sergeant"), similar to a British or Commonwealth Army Warrant Officer II (Company Sergeant Major).
The rank of rav turái rishón, initials: Ratash, or "chief private first class", was used from 1972 to 1982. There was an expansion of staff NCO ranks during this period and the higher rank was offered to conscripts who planned to enlist after completing their national service.
The rank of turai rishon, initials: Tarash, or "private first class", was disestablished in the Regular IDF in 1990. It still continued to be used in the Reserves until it was finally discontinued in 1999. Privates now retain their rank until promoted to corporal, usually after 10 months of peacetime service or 6 months for support roles or 4 months for combatants during hostilities. Corporals in combat units traditionally do not wear their rank insignia, remaining without insignia until they are promoted to the rank of sergeant.
Insignia
Aiguillettes, Srochim in Hebrew are worn on the left shoulder of the uniform to indicate a soldier's specific role in a unit:[4]
Azure/Orange: Search and Rescue
Black/Green: Commanders in the Section/ Squad Commanders’ Course
Black/Yellow: Instructor in Chemical Warfare
Black: Instructors in Bahad 1 (Officer School)/Instructors in the Flight Academy/Instructors in the Naval Academy/Instructors in Paramedic course
Blue/Red: Military Police
Blue/White: Chief NCO of a Base
Brown: Analyst
Dark Blue: Navy Instructors
Gold or Blue/white: Discipline Attaché
Green: Section/Squad Commander
Grey: Educators/Teachers (in the Education and Youth Corp)
Pink: Multimedia Producer or Officer in an Educational Course
Purple: Service Rights Attaché
Purple/Blue: Reservist Attaché
Red: IDF Orchestra (right shoulder), Navy Instructor (left shoulder)
White: Security Guards
Yellow/ White: Field Intelligence Instructors
(Only in Shocarim Cadet Schools in the IAF)
Light Blue: Commander of a class
Dark Blue: Senior Commander of a class/Commander of a grade
Grey: Private Teachers
(Only in Shocarim Navy Cadet Schools in the IN)
Red: Commander of a class
Green: Household officer
Red/Yellow: Base Chief
Red/Black: Base Chief's right hand
Red/Green: Adjutant
Dark Blue: Class Instructor
Red/White: head of the Cadet's council
Dark Green/Black: Chief of security
History
When the IDF was created in 1948, there were 7 enlisted and NCO ranks, and 8 officer ranks. The ranks were as follows:[5]
Enlisted
Insignia
Officer
Insignia
Rav samal (ras) [1948–1951] ("Chief sergeant", master sergeant) Rav samal rishon (rasar) [1951–1955] ("chief sergeant first class", master sergeant)
An oak leaf within a laurel wreath on a red cloth circle (sleeve) [1948] An oak leaf over a sword within a laurel wreath (cuff) [1951] A vertical entwined sword and olive branch in a Star of David within a laurel wreath (cuff) [1968] 2 chevrons (epaulet) [1990–1998]
Rav aluf ("chief general", lieutenant general)
An oak leaf within a laurel wreath [1948] An oak leaf over an oak leaf within a laurel wreath [1950] 2 oak leaves over a crossed sword and olive branch [1950]
Rav samal (ras) [1951–1967] ("chief sergeant", master sergeant) Rav Samal (ras) [1968–Present] ("chief sergeant", master sergeant)
An oak leaf within a laurel wreath (cuff) [1951] An oak leaf in a Star of David within a laurel wreath (cuff) [1968] 1 chevron (epaulet) [1990–1998]
IDF Ranks and their insignia were initially influenced by the British / Commonwealth model. This was due to the average Israeli servicemen's experience in the Commonwealth forces during World War Two.[dubious–discuss] This was later reformed when the IDF started to adopt a rank system similar to the United States armed forces in 1973 and the 1990s.
Rank insignia were originally cut from cloth or embroidered onto cloth patches. Bronze-metal officer's rank insignia worn on a red cloth backing were introduced for the army in 1949. Enlisted stripes for all arms were originally individual white half-chevrons with space between them. In an economy move, senior NCOs were distinguished by using the same bronze insignia (an oak-leaf or oak-leaf-in-a-wreath) as senior officers pinned to their sleeve insignia. In 1951 the Navy adopted golden-yellow half-chevrons and the Air Force adopted blue half chevrons.
A samal rishon was equal to a British Army staff sergeant / colour sergeant or a US Army technical sergeant (sergeant first class) / platoon sergeant. For the other services, the bronze-metal oak-leaf on the army's samal rishon rank insignia was replaced with a yellow anchor in a white hexagon for the Navy and a blue Star of David on a white circle for the Air Force. This was later replaced in 1951 with a gold-metal oak leaf for the Navy and a silver-metal oak leaf for the Air Force.
A Samal Bakhír (1948–1951) was equivalent to a US Army First Sergeant. The rank insignia was a small bronze oak leaf in a wreath on 3 white half-chevrons for the Army; a yellow anchor in a yellow-bordered (1948) or solid-yellow (1950) hexagon on 3 white half-chevrons for the Navy; and a blue Star of David in a blue-bordered circle on 3 white half-chevrons for the Air Force. It was replaced by the reorganized Rav Samal rank in 1951 and the new Rav Samal Yehidati rank by 1955.
A Rav Samal (1951–1967) was equivalent to a British Army Warrant Officer II (Company Sergeant Major). The rank insignia was an Oak Leaf in a Laurel Wreath. It came in bronze-metal on a red enamel backing for the Army, gold-metal for the Navy, and silver-metal for the Air Force. It was worn on the lower right sleeve of the shirt or jacket or on a leather wrist strap when wearing short-sleeve order. It was divided into Rav-Samal Miktzoi ("Specialist Chief Sergeant"; a technical NCO) and Rav Samal Yekhidati ("Unit Chief Sergeant"; a command NCO) from 1955 to 1958.
A Rav Samal (1948–1951) was equivalent to a US Army Master Sergeant or Sergeant Major. The rank insignia was originally an oak leaf in a laurel wreath for the Army, a large yellow anchor in a yellow-bordered (1948) or solid-yellow (1950) hexagon for the Navy, and a large blue Star of David in a bordered circle for the Air Force. The rank was renamed Rav Samal Rishon (1951–Present) and was equivalent to a British Army Warrant Officer I (Regimental Sergeant Major). The new rank also received new insignia made of metal: an Oak Leaf over a vertical Sword in a Laurel Wreath. It came in bronze-metal on a red enamel backing for the Army, gold-metal for the Navy, and silver-metal for the Air Force. It was worn on the lower right sleeve of the shirt or jacket or on a leather wrist strap when wearing short-sleeve order. It was divided into Rav Samal Rishon Miktzoi ("Specialist Chief Sergeant First Class"; a technical NCO) and Rav Samal Rishon Yekhidati ("Unit Chief Sergeant First Class"; a command NCO) from 1955 to 1958.
Early ranks of the IDF (1948–1951)
From 1948 to 1951, IDF Ranks for each branch of service (the Ground, Sea, and Air Forces) had unique titles and distinct insignia.
US Army Rank
IDF Army (Kheylot ha-Yabasha)
IDF Navy (Kheyl ha-Yam)
IDF Air Force (Kheyl ha-Avir)
Private
Turai
Malakh ("Crewman") [1948–1951]
Avirai ("Airman") [1948–1951]
Private First Class
Turai Rishon
Malakh Rishon ("Crewman First Class") [1948–1951]
Avirai Rishon ("Airman First Class") [1948–1951]
Corporal
Rav Turai
Rav Malakh ("Chief Crewman") [1948–1951]
Avirai Musmakh ("Senior Airman") [1948–1951]
Sergeant
Samal
Samal ("Petty Officer")
Samal Avir ("Sergeant") [1948–1951]
Staff Sergeant
Samal Rishon
Samal Rishon ("Petty Officer First Class")
Samal Tayas ("Flight Sergeant") [1948–1951]
Sergeant First Class
Rav-Samal
Rav-Samal ("Chief Petty Officer")
Samal Teufa ("Technical Sergeant") [1948–1951]
Master Sergeant
Rav-Samal Rishon
Rav-Samal Rishon ("Chief Petty Officer First Class")
Sergeant (Sgt) is a rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, serjeant, is used in The Rifles and other units that draw their heritage from the British light infantry. Its origin is the Latin serviens, 'one who serves', through the Old French term serjant.
Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corresponds to commanding a section or squad of soldiers.
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services.
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries.
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world.
The chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Air Force.
The chart below shows the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army, with seniority, and pay grade, increasing from right to left. The enlisted ranks of corporal (E-4) and higher are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The rank of specialist is also in pay grade E-4, but does not hold non-commissioned officer status; it is common that a soldier may never hold the rank of corporal, and instead be promoted from specialist to sergeant, attaining junior NCO status at that time.
A Petty officer third class is a non-commissioned officer in some navies and coast guards.
Petty officer first class (PO1) is a rank found in some navies and maritime organizations.
Chief Warrant officer is a senior warrant officer rank, used in many countries.
Rank insignia in the French Army are worn on the sleeve or on shoulder marks of uniforms, and range up to the highest rank of Marshal of France, a state honour denoted with a seven-star insignia that was last conferred posthumously on Marie Pierre Koenig in 1984.
The Military ranks of Finland are the military insignia used by the Finnish Defence Forces. The ranks incorporates features from Swedish, German, and Russian armed forces. In addition, the system has some typically Finnish characteristics that are mostly due to the personnel structure of the Finnish Defence Forces. The ranks have official names in Finnish and Swedish languages and official English translations. The Swedish forms are used in all Swedish-languages communications in Finland, e.g. in Swedish-speaking units of Finnish Defence Force. The system of ranks in the Swedish Armed Forces is slightly different.
Before Unification as the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, the Canadian military had three distinct services: the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Canadian Army. All three services had a Regular (full-time) component and a reserve (part-time) component. The rank structure for these services were based on the services of the British military, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, and the British Army. The change to a "Canadian" rank structure meant that many of the traditional (British) rank titles and insignia were removed or changed.
Specialist is a military rank in some countries' armed forces. Two branches of the United States Armed Forces use the rank. It is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the United States Army, above private (PVT), private (PV2), and private first class and is equivalent in pay grade to corporal; in the United States Space Force, four grades of specialist comprise the four junior enlisted ranks below the rank of sergeant.
This page details the uniforms and insignia of the Israel Defense Forces, excluding rank insignia. For ranks, see Israel Defense Forces ranks and insignia.
The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) uses a simplified ranking system for the three branches of Indonesian Army, Indonesian Navy and Indonesian Air Force. Most of the ranks are similar with differences for the rank titles of the high-ranking officers. Exception exists, however, in the ranks of the service members of the Indonesian Marine Corps. While Indonesian Marine Corps is a branch of the Navy, the rank titles of the Marine Corps are the same as those of the Army, but it still uses the Navy's style insignia.
United States Army commissioned officers rank insignia in use today.
The Military ranks of Nicaragua are the military insignia used by the Nicaraguan Armed Forces.
The system of Vietnamese military ranks was originally introduced on 22 March 1946 by President Ho Chi Minh, originally based on the military ranks system of Japanese military. Reference designs to the military ranks system of the French military. In 1958, the Vietnam People's Army military ranks system was changed, and has no Marshal or General of the Army or Brigadier General. In contrast, the Colonel General, Senior Colonel or Senior Lieutenant in Vietnam at present do not exist in many countries.
The Israeli Ground Forces are the ground forces of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The commander is the General Officer Commanding with the rank of Major General, the Mazi, subordinate to the Chief of General Staff.
↑ Wallach, Jeuda; Lorekh, Netanel; Yitzhaki, Aryeh (1978). "Battles of the Jordan Valley". In Evyatar Nur (ed.). Carta's Atlas of Israel (in Hebrew). Volume 2: The First Years 1948–1961. Jerusalem, Israel: Carta. p.91.
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