Israeli Soldiers - Organization - Ranks, Uniforms and Insignia - Ranks

Ranks

Unlike most world armies, the IDF uses the same rank names in all corps, including the air force, and navy. All enlisted ranks, as well as some of the officer and NCO ranks, may be given as a result of time spent in service, and not for accomplishment or merit.

For ground forces' officers, rank insignia were brass on a red background; for the air force, silver on a blue background; and for the navy, the standard gold worn on the sleeve. Officer insignia were worn on epaulets on top of both shoulders. Insignia distinctive to each service were worn on the cap (see fig. 15).

Enlisted grades wore rank insignia on the sleeve, halfway between the shoulder and the elbow. For the army and air force, the insignia were white with blue interwoven threads backed with the appropriate corps color. Navy personnel wore gold-colored rank insignia sewn on navy blue material.

From the formation of the IDF until the late 1980s, sergeant major was a particularly important warrant officer rank, in line with usage in other armies. However, in the 1980s and 1990s the proliferating ranks of sergeant major became devalued, and now all professional NCO ranks are a variation on sergeant major (rav samal) with the exception of rav nagad. All translations here are the official translations of the IDF's website.

Conscripts (Hogrim) (Conscript ranks may be gained purely on time served)

  • Private (Turai)
  • Corporal (Rav Turai)
  • Sergeant (Samal)
  • First Sergeant (Samal Rishon)

Warrant Officers (Nagadim) (All volunteers)

  • Sergeant First Class (Rav Samal)
  • Master Sergeant (Rav Samal Rishon)
  • Sergeant Major (Rav Samal Mitkadem)
  • Warrant Officer (Rav Samal Bakhir)
  • Master Warrant Officer (Rav Nagad Mishneh)
  • Chief Warrant Officer (Rav Nagad)

Academic officers (Ktzinim Akadema'im)

  • Professional Academic Officer (Katzin Miktzo'i Akadema'i)
  • Senior Academic Officer (Katzin Akadema'i Bakhir)

Officer (Ktzinim)

  • Second Lieutenant (Segen Mishneh)
  • Lieutenant (Segen)
  • Captain (Seren)
  • Major (Rav Seren)
  • Lieutenant Colonel (Sgan Aluf)
  • Colonel (Aluf Mishneh)
  • Brigadier General (Tat Aluf)
  • Major General (Aluf)
  • Lieutenant General (Rav Aluf)

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