Israel Defense Forces ranks

File:Channel 2 - IDF Ranks.webm

Video clips showing IDF soldiers with their ranks' insignias, from the archive of the Israeli News Company of Israel's Channel 2

The ranks in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reflect an individual's level in the military.

IDF ranks are divided into three groups: enlisted ranks, from Private to First Sergeant; non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks, from Staff Sergeant to Chief Warrant Officer; and officer ranks, from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant General. The rank insignia for enlisted personnel are worn on the arm, between the elbow and the shoulder, while the ranks of NCOs and officers are worn on the shoulder epaulettes of the shirt.

Because the IDF is an integrated force, ranks are the same in all branches (there is no differentiation between army, navy, air force, etc.) The ranks are derived from those in the paramilitary , which operated during the Mandate period in order to protect the .

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers are listed below, in descending order.

Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank

Native name

Literal translation

Master champion

Champion

Sub-champion

Second champion

Deputy champion

Master lord

Lord

Deputy

Second deputy

Official translation

Lieutenant general

Major general

Brigadier general

Colonel

Lieutenant colonel

Major

Captain

Lieutenant

Second lieutenant

Army (service)

File:IDF rav aluf.svg

File:IDF aluf.svg

File:IDF tat aluf.svg

File:IDF aluf mishne.svg

File:IDF sgan aluf.svg

File:IDF rav seren.svg

File:IDF seren.svg

File:IDF segen.svg

File:IDF segen mishne.svg

Navy (service)

File:IDF Navy Rav Aluf Prediction.png

File:IDF Navy aluf.png

File:IDF Navy tat aluf.png

File:IDF Navy aluf mishne.png

File:IDF Navy sgan aluf.png

File:IDF rav seren gold-2.svg

File:IDF Navy seren.png

File:IDF Navy segen.png

File:IDF Navy segen mishne.svg

Navy (sleeve)

File:Israel-Navy-OF-8.svg

File:Israel-Navy-OF-7.svg

File:Israel-Navy-OF-5.svg

File:Israel-Navy-OF-4.svg

File:Israel-Navy-OF-3.svg

File:Israel-Navy-OF-2.svg

File:Israel-Navy-OF-1b.svg

File:Israel-Navy-OF-1a.svg

Air force (service)

Rav aluf

Aluf

Tat aluf

Aluf mishne

Sgan aluf

Rav seren

Seren

Segen

Segen mishne

Native name

Officers (): 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. Officers without a university education can be promoted to a maximum of (Major), although the IDF often sponsors the studies for their majors.

Officer insignia varies by service: army officers have bronze-metal insignia (replaced with subdued black-metal insignia in 2002), navy officers have gold-metal insignia or gold braid bars, and air force officers have silver metal insignia.

Student officer ranks

Academic officers (): 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 is equivalent to a lieutenant, and a 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 () rather than laurel branches ().

Rank group		Officer cadet
Native name
Literal translation	Officer academic special	Officer academic senior	Officer professional academic
Official translation	Special academic officer	Senior academic officer	Professional academic officer
Army (service)	File:IDF seren.svg	File:IDF ka'ab.svg	File:IDF kama.svg
Navy (service)	File:IDF Navy seren.png	File:IDF KAAB Yam.png	File:IDF KAMA Yam.png
Air force (service)	File:IAF seren.svg	File:IDF KAAB Avir.png	File:IDF KAMA Avir.png
Native name

Enlisted ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, in descending order.

Rank group	Non-commissioned officer					Enlisted
Native name
Literal translation	Master non-commissioned officer	Senior master sergeant	Advanced master sergeant	First master sergeant	Master sergeant	First sergeant	Supernumerary lieutenant (acronym)	Master of the line	Of the line
Official translation	Chief warrant officer	Warrant officer	Sergeant major	Master sergeant	Sergeant first class	Staff sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private
Army	File:IDF-NCO-GF-6.png	File:IDF-NCO-GF-4.png	File:IDF-NCO-GF-3.png	File:IDF-NCO-GF-2.png	File:IDF-NCO-GF-1.png	File:IDF Ranks Samar.svg	File:IDF Ranks Samal.svg	File:IDF Ranks Rav turai.svg	No insignia
Navy	File:IDF-NCO-IN-6.png	File:IDF-NCO-IN-4.png	File:IDF-NCO-IN-3.png	File:IDF-NCO-IN-2.png	File:IDF-NCO-IN-1.png	File:IDF-Enlisted-Navy-4.png	File:IDF-Enlisted-Navy-3.png	File:IDF-Enlisted-Navy-2.png	No insignia
Air force	File:IDF-NCO-IAF-6.png	File:IDF-NCO-IAF-4.png	File:IDF-NCO-IAF-3.png	File:IDF-NCO-IAF-2.png	File:IDF-NCO-IAF-1.png	File:IDF-Enlisted-IAF-4.png	File:IDF-Enlisted-IAF-3.png	File:IDF-Enlisted-IAF-2.png	No insignia
Rank group	Non-commissioned officer					Enlisted

Non-commissioned officers (): 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. is a Hebrew abbreviation for , which translates as "supernumerary lieutenant"; it is a Field NCO rank equivalent to a British or Commonwealth "Lance Corporal." translates as "chief sergeant"; it is a career NCO rank equivalent to a British or Commonwealth "Corporal" with successive ranks moving up to "Warrant Officer." is a variant of the biblical word , which means "ruler" or "leader". is a senior staff NCO rank equivalent to the American E-9 ranks of "Sergeant Major" or "Chief Master Sergeant" or "Master Chief Petty Officer."

Enlisted (): 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 (), rather than by a particular post or assignment. After 4 to 12 months the conscript is promoted to , after 18 to 20 months promoted to , and after 24 to 32 months is promoted to . (This means that female conscripts reach no higher than during their compulsory service, unless they serve in combat positions or volunteer for longer terms.)

Field NCOs ( and ) who command sub-units (fire team or squad, respectively) are called . This is an abbreviation that translates into English literally as "non-commissioned officer". It is a term of respect like the French Army's ("chief").

Recruits (): 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 ("recruit training") and the soldier being trained on this course is called a (or "recruit"). This is often erroneously interpreted as a rank, similar to the US Army's private (E-1); are ranked as (private), the same rank and paygrade as newly trained conscripts.

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.

Obsolete ranks

Rank name, rank equivalent	Insignia
(initials: ) (Acting officer or aspirant; A brevet officer ranking below a junior lieutenant)Template:Pb( translates as "substitute", and means "officer") ( literally translates as "filling in the place") [Existed from the 1960s until 1994]	File:IDF Ranks Acting officer.png
(initials: )Template:Pb(Warrant officer, senior specialist professional) (it translates as "junior chief warrant officer" or "junior chief NCO") In practice the rank is not used	File:IDF-NCO-GF-5.png Army	File:IDF-NCO-IAF-5.png Air Force	File:IDF-NCO-IN-5.png Navy
(initials: )Template:Pb(First Sergeant, it translates as "Senior Sergeant") [Existed 1948–1952; no longer in use. (See comments in notes in the bottom)]	File:IDF-Master-Sergeant-1948.png
(initials: )Template:Pb(First corporal, it translates as "chief private first class") [Existed 1972–1982; no longer in use. (See comments in notes in the bottom)]	File:IDF Ranks Rav turai rishon.png
(initials: )Template:Pb(Private E-3 or private first class) [Existed until 1999; no longer in use. (See comments in notes in the bottom)]	File:IDF Ranks Private First Class.png

The rank of , initials: () or "substitute officer", was created in the 1960s. The rank was considered below a 2nd lieutenant (initials: ). It indicated a cadet in the Israeli army who had finished the basic preparation for an officer rank (), but for some reason abandoned their studies, failed to complete the professional officer preparation (), 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 , initials: ("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 ("Unit Senior Sergeant"), similar to a British or Commonwealth Army Warrant Officer II (Company Sergeant Major).

The rank of , initials: , 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 , initials: , 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, in Hebrew are worn on the left shoulder of the uniform to indicate a soldier's specific role in a unit:

• Azure: Ceremony Unit, Combat Hummer Operators, Military School student instructors in the Air Force
• Azure/Green: Combat Hummer Operator instructors
• Azure/Purple: Reserves Coordinators
• Black: Instructors in Bahad 1 (Officer School)/Instructors in the Flight Academy/Instructors in the Naval Academy/Instructors in Paramedic course
• Black/Creme: Military Rabbinate attacheś
• Black/Green: Commanders in the Squad Commanders’ Course in the Artillery Corps, Template:Ill, Combat Engineering Corps, Armored Aid, Infantry Corps, Reserves Instructors at Template:Ill, Commanders and Instructors in Template:Ill, Tank Commander course instructors, Instructors in Template:Ill, Platoon Sergeants in Template:Ill, Senior Instructors in Template:Ill
• Black/Orange: Combat Engineering course graduates
• Black/White: "Scientific Teaching" Officers
• Black/Yellow: Chemical Warfare officers, instructors and NCOs
• Blue/Red: Military Police
• Blue/White: Chief NCOs of a Base
• Burgundy: Courseware Developers
• Burgundy/Grey: Special-needs inclusion tutors in the Template:Ill program
• Brown: Behavioral sciences diagnostics, "Return to regular service" diagnostics (Military Police), Weekly trainee squad commanders (Air Force), Quartermaster NCOs in the Combat Engineering Corps and Template:Ill Bases
• Dark Blue: Air Force Intelligence Instructors, Psychotechnical diagnostics, Navy Instructors, Platoon Sergeants at Template:Ill.
• Green: Section/Squad Commanders
• Green/Blue: Soldiers responsible for the recruitement process
• Green/Purple: Service Rights Attaché instructors
• Green/Red: Emergency population instructors
• Green/White: Instructors in the Military Intelligence Directorate
• Grey: Educators/Teachers (in the Education and Youth Corps)
• Orange/Azure: Search and Rescue officers, instructors and NCOs
• Purple: Service Rights Attaché
• Red: IDF Orchestra (right shoulder), Navy Instructor (left shoulder), Apprentice-Responsible (left shoulder, only during training)
• Red/White: Template:Ill NCOs
• White: Security Guards, Discipline Attaché (Navy)
• 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:

Enlisted	Insignia	Officer	Insignia
[1948–1951] ("Chief sergeant", master sergeant) () [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]	("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]
() [1951–1967] ("chief sergeant", master sergeant) () [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]	("general", major general) [1950–present]	1 oak leaf over a crossed sword and olive branch [1950]
[1948–1951] ("senior sergeant", first sergeant)	A small oak leaf within a laurel wreath on 3 half chevrons	[1948–1950] ("junior general", colonel) [1951–present]	3 oak leaves
("sergeant first class", staff sergeant)	A small oak leaf on 3 half chevrons	("deputy general", lieutenant colonel)	2 oak leaves
(sergeant)	3 half chevrons	("chief captain", major)	1 oak leaf
("chief private", corporal)	2 half chevrons	(captain)	3 bars
(private first class) [1948–1999]	1 half chevron	(Lieutenant 1st class) [1948–1951] (lieutenant) [1951–present]	2 bars
(private)	No insignia	(lieutenant) [1948–1951] (junior lieutenant) [1951–present]	1 bar

File:IDF Ranks 1949.jpg

IDF Ranks in 1949

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. 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 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 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 (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 rank in 1951 and the new rank by 1955.

A (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 ("Specialist Chief Sergeant"; a technical NCO) and ("Unit Chief Sergeant"; a command NCO) from 1955 to 1958.

A (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 (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 ("Specialist Chief Sergeant First Class"; a technical NCO) and ("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 ()	IDF Navy ()	IDF Air Force ()
Private		("Crewman") [1948–1951]	("Airman") [1948–1951]
Private First Class		("Crewman First Class") [1948–1951]	("Airman First Class") [1948–1951]
Corporal		("Chief Crewman") [1948–1951]	("Senior Airman") [1948–1951]
Sergeant		("Petty Officer")	("Sergeant") [1948–1951]
Staff Sergeant		("Petty Officer First Class")	("Flight Sergeant") [1948–1951]
Sergeant First Class		("Chief Petty Officer")	("Technical Sergeant") [1948–1951]
Master Sergeant		("Chief Petty Officer First Class")	("Acting Aviation Officer") [1948–1951]
Officer Candidate	-	("Junior Officer" - Midshipman) [1948–1951]	-
Second Lieutenant		("Deputy Officer" - 'Ensign') [1948–1951]	("Junior Pilot Officer") [1948–1951]
First Lieutenant		("Officer" – Lieutenant) [1948–1951]	("Pilot Officer") [1948–1951]
Captain		("Officer First Class" - Senior Lieutenant) [1948–1951]	("Flying Officer") [1948–1951]
Major		("Chief Officer" - Lieutenant Commander) [1948–1951]	("Squadron Leader") [1948–1951]
Lieutenant-Colonel		("Deputy Captain" - Commander) [1948–1951]	("Wing Commander") [1948–1951]
Colonel	[1948–1950] / [1950–1951]	("Captain") [1948–1951]	("Air Command Leader" – Group captain) [1948–1951]
(Brigadier) General	[1950–1951]	("Naval General" - Commodore) [1950–1951]	("Aviation General" - Air Commodore) [1950–1951]
Chief of Staff	("Chief General" - Major General)	-	-

See also

• Israel Defense Forces insignia
• List of comparative military ranks