Sergeant Major of the Air Force

Sergeant Major of the South African Air Force
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Incumbent
Lefu Daniel Tshabalala
since 1 October 2008
Inaugural holder WO1 A C Symonds

The Sergeant Major of the South African Air Force is the most senior Warrant Officer in the South African Air Force. The post was created in 1979. It is a singular appointment – it is only held by one person at any time. The Sergeant Major of the Air Force reports to the Chief of the Air Force and is responsible for maintaining discipline in the Air Force.

Rank and Insignia

Rank

Before 2008 all Sergeant Majors of the Air Force were Warrant Officer Class 1, with appointment to the position of Sergeant Major of the Air Force. In 2008 the SANDF expanded the Warrant Officer ranks and the Sergeant Major of the Air Force now holds the rank of Senior Chief Warrant Officer.[1]

Insignia

Prior to 2002 the Sergeant Major of the Air Force had a unique rank insignia, consisting of a Warrant Officer class 1 insignia with the South African Air Force badge above it. Following the Warrant Officer rank redesign the Sergeant Major of the Air Force does not have a unique rank insignia

Previous Sergeant Majors of the SAAF

Name Start of term End of term
WO1 A C Symonds December 1979 September 1981[2]
WO1 Barry Kemp 1 October 1981 January 1988[2]
WO1 S G Oberholzer February 1988 October 1990[2]
WO1 S J Mountjoy November 1990 January 1994[2]
WO1 Cor Nortje February 1994 February 2000[3]
WO1 Paul Nel March 2000 30 October 2002[3]
SCWO S.J. Du Preez 1 November 2002 October 2008[3]
SCWO Lefu Daniel Tshabalala October 2008[4] current

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7118:fact-file-comparative-military-and-civil-service-grades-&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Kemp, Neville. Neville Kemp - unpublised manuscript.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "SA Soldier Transformation Edition". SA Soldier 21 (11): 30. December 2014.
  4. ↑ Ramaboea, Lebogang. "SAAF inaugurates new SMAF". South African Air Force. Retrieved January 12, 2015.