Israel Defense Forces ranks

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have a unique rank structure. 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 of the paramilitary Haganah developed in the Mandate period to protect the Yishuv. This origin is reflected in the slightly-compacted rank structure; for instance, the Chief of Staff (Ramatkal) is seemingly only equivalent to a Lieutenant General in other militaries.

Current ranks

History

When the IDF were created in 1948, there were 7 enlisted and NCO ranks, and 8 officer ranks. The ranks were as follows:^[4]

Ranks and their insignia were influenced by the British / Commonwealth model. This was later reformed when the IDF started to adopt a rank system similar to the United States armed forces in the 1990s.

The Rav Samal Yehidati was equal to a Warrant Officer II (Company Sergeant Major) and Rav Samal Rishon was equivalent to a Warrant Officer I (Regimental Sergeant Major). They wore their insignia on the lower sleeve of their shirt or jacket or on a leather wrist strap when wearing short-sleeve order.

Notes

• In the IDF, the same ranks are used throughout the military, including the Israeli Air Force and Israeli Navy. This contrasts with many other armed forces that have a separate rank system for different branches. [1]
• As the ranks of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are traditionally translated one-to-one to Western ranks then the rank of Aluf (אלוף) is translated as Major General, and Rav Aluf (רב אלוף) is translated as Lieutenant General. However, a more proper translation (in terms of both language and organizational role) of Aluf would be to full General (OF-9 in NATO terms). Similarly, as the Hebrew prefix Rav is equivalent to the English prefix arch- (as in archangel), a more fitting translation for the rank of Rav-Aluf would be Arch-General, or, more conventionally, Field Marshal (NATO OF-10).
• Enlisted insignia are worn on the arm sleeves whereas NCO and officer insignia are worn on the shoulders.
• Officer insignia are silver with a dark blue background in the air force and gold with a black background in the navy. In the army, both lieutenant ranks usually have the blackish-gold ranks (shown above) with an olive-green background until promoted to the rank of captain. Enlisted ranks are green in the army, blue in the air force, and golden in the navy. Subaltern officers wear rank bars embossed with a laurel branch (aronot). Senior and General officers wear "pips" that look like an oak-leaf (alim).
• The rank of Memale makom katsín (ממלא מקום קצין) or "Acting Officer in the Reserves" was one of the Academic Officer ranks. 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 or failed to complete the professional officer preparation (השלמה חיילית). They occupied the lowest officer posts, which are not concerning with command, and were considered below a 2nd Lieutenant (Sagam) in rank. It was discontinued in 1994.
• The rank of Master Corporal was used from 1972 to 1982. There was a shortage of staff during this period and the higher rank was offered to convince soldiers to sign an army contract.
• The rank of Private First Class was discontinued in 1999. Privates now retain their rank until promoted to Corporal, usually after 10 months of peacetime service (6 months for support roles and 4 months for combatants). Combat units traditionally do not take the rank of corporal, remaining without insignia until they are promoted to the rank of sergeant.
• Non-commissioned officer ranks listed on this page correspond to the Hebrew Nagad ranks, a word that translates as 'non-commissioned officer'. Corporals and sergeants however who are commanders are called Mashak, an abbreviation that also translates into English as 'non-commissioned officer' (or, literally, 'a commander who is not an officer').
• Academic Officers: These are special ranks, given to soldiers who are of academic education, but for some reason have not completed officers' training (since the draft age is 18, only few soldiers complete academic education before being drafted, most commonly by postponing draft for this reason). "Kama" is equivalent to 1st Lieutenant, and "Ka'ab" is equivalent to Captain. Officers of these ranks are considered professional manpower (mostly engineering), and rarely take posts of command. Upon completing officers' training, an academic officer is awarded the corresponding "real" rank. Their insignia bars are embossed with a scroll (?) rather than a laurel branch (aronot).
• Upon enlistment to military service in Israel, all soldiers begin a basic training course, undergo several days or weeks of 'integration' from citizens to soldiers. This course is called recruit training or Tironut and the soldier being trained on this course is called a recruit (Private E-1 or Tiron), which is often erroneously interpreted as a rank, similar to the American Private E-1. There is no such rank and Tironim (recruits) are ranked Turai (Private).
• In the IDF enlisted ranks are earned by means of time in service (pazam), rather than by a particular post or assignment. Higher NCO and officer ranks require assignment to an awarding post. It usually takes between 24 to 32 months to achieve the rank of Staff Sergeant. Ranks of 1st lieutenant and captain also take only time, but much longer (a full year as 2nd lieutenant, and 3 years as first, respectively).

See also

• Israel Defense Forces insignia
• Israel Defense Forces
• List of comparative military ranks

References

External links

• IDF ranks in English
• IDF ranks in Hebrew