New Zealand military ranks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Zealand military ranks are largely based on those of the United Kingdom. The three forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) have their own rank structure, with a rank equivalency that allows seamless interoperability between the services.
Contents |
[edit] Commissioned officers
 Navy |
 Army |
 Air Force |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Admiral of the Fleet) | (Field Marshal) | (Marshal of the Air Force) | Not currently used except for ceremonial appointments, such as for members of the royal family. |
| (Admiral) | (General) | (Air Chief Marshal) | |
| Vice Admiral (VADM) | Lieutenant General (LTGEN) | Air Marshal (AIRMSHL) | Rank held by the currently serving Chief of Defence Force; therefore only one of the services will have this grade filled at any one time. |
| Rear Admiral (RADM) | Major General (MAJGEN) | Air Vice Marshal (AVM) | Held by the Vice Chief of Defence Force, Commander Joint Forces NZ, and the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force. Others holding this rank would be in specialised (United Nations or other Coalition) postings. |
| Commodore (CDRE) | Brigadier (BRIG) | Air Commodore (AIRCDRE) | |
| Captain (CAPT) | Colonel (COL) | Group Captain (GPCAPT) | |
| Commander (CDR) | Lieutenant Colonel (LTCOL) | Wing Commander (WGCDR) | |
| Lieutenant Commander (LT CDR) | Major (MAJ) | Squadron Leader (SQNLDR) | |
| Lieutenant (LT) | Captain (CAPT) | Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) | |
| Sub Lieutenant (SLT) | Lieutenant (LT) | Flying Officer (FGOFF) | |
| Ensign (ENS) | Second Lieutenant (2LT) | Pilot Officer (PLTOFF) | |
| Midshipman (MID) | Officer Cadet (OCDT) | Officer Cadet (OCDT) |
[edit] Current senior officers
| Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae |
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| Vice Chief of Defence Force Rear Admiral Jack Steer |
Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major General Rhys Jones |
Chief of Navy Rear Admiral David Ledson |
Chief of Army Major General Lou Gardiner |
Chief of Air Force Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott |
 Commander of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization Major General Clive Lilley |
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| Maritime Component Commander Commodore Tony Parr |
Land Component Commander Brigadier Arthur Gawn |
Air Component Commander Air Commodore Gavin Howse |
Deputy Chief of Navy Commodore Bruce Pepperell |
Deputy Chief of Army Brigadier Barry Vryenhoek |
Deputy Chief of Air Force Air Commodore Dick Newlands |
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[edit] Non-Commissioned Personnel
Navy |
Army |
Air Force |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrant Officer (WO) | Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) | Warrant Officer (W/O) | Air Force personnel who were aircrew used the rank Master Aircrewman (MACR) in place of Warrant Officer until June 2007 when the Master Aircrew rank reverted to Warrant Officer. Soldiers holding the rank of WO2 are generally known as 'Sergeant Major'. |
| Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) | |||
| Chief Petty Officer (CPO) | Staff Sergeant (SSGT) | Flight Sergeant (F/S) | |
| Petty Officer (PO) | Sergeant (SGT) | Sergeant (SGT) | |
| Leading Rating (L---) | Corporal (CPL) | Corporal (CPL) | Army personnel in artillery units use the rank Bombardier (BDR) in place of Corporal |
| Able Rating (A---) | Lance Corporal (LCPL) | Leading Aircraftsman (LAC) | Army personnel in artillery units use the rank Lance Bombardier (LBDR) in place of Lance Corporal |
| Ordinary Rating (O---) | Private (PTE) | Aircraftsman (AC) | Trade-related terms are interchanged with the rank of Private for Army Soldiers. These are: Gunner (GUN), Trooper (TPR), Sapper (SPR), Signalman (SIG), Driver (DVR). |
Note: Naval Enlisted personnel are referred to by both rank and trade. Thus a sailor employed as a medic would hold the rank of Ordinary Medic (OMED); A Warrant Officer in the trade of Weapons Technician would hold the rank of Warrant Officer Weapons Technician (WOWT).
[edit] Definitions
[edit] Non-commissioned officers
A non-commissioned officer is defined as:
- "(a) In relation to the Navy, a rating of warrant officer, chief petty officer, petty officer, or leading rank; and includes—
- (b) In relation to the Army, a soldier above the rank of private but below the rank of officer cadet; and includes a warrant officer; and also includes—
- (i) A non-commissioned officer of the Navy or the Air Force attached to the Army; and
- (ii) A person duly attached or lent as a non-commissioned officer to or seconded for service or appointed for duty as a non-commissioned officer with the Army:
- (c) In relation to the Air Force, an airman above the rank of leading aircraftman but below the rank of officer cadet; and includes a warrant officer; and also includes—
- (i) A non-commissioned officer of the Navy or the Army attached to the Air Force; and
- (ii) A person duly attached or lent as a non-commissioned officer to or seconded for service or appointed for duty as a non-commissioned officer with the Air Force:" — Defence Act 1990, Sect 2 (Interpretation)[1]
[edit] Commissioned Officers
Officers of the New Zealand Defence Force are commissioned by the Governor General on behalf of the New Zealand Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II. See also Officer (armed forces). Salutes rendered to officers by junior officers and enlisted personnel are indirect salutes to the Sovereign, based on the officer holding the Monarch's authority.
[edit] Higher Flag Ranks and Ceremonial Ranks
The most senior ranks (those above the Rank of the Chief of Defence Force - LTGEN or equivalent) are unfilled except for ceremonial appointments, usually within the British Royal Family by virtue of New Zealand's membership of the British Commonwealth.
- Further information: Monarchy in New Zealand
