Army Rank Structure
In common with other modern armies there are two basic rank structures within the Defence Forces.
Commissioned Ranks
Officers of commissioned rank normally enter as Officer Cadets and on completion of training receive a Commission from the President as a Second Lieutenant in the Army.
Commissioned Rank Titles
(from lowest to highest)
- Second Lieutenant [2/Lt]
- Lieutenant [Lt]
- Captain [Capt]
- Commandant [Comdt]
- Lieutenant Colonel [Lt Col]
- Colonel [Col]
- Brigadier General [Brig Gen]
- Major General [Maj Gen]
- Lieutenant General [Lt Gen]
Other Ranks
Other ranks enlist as recruits or apprentices and on completion of training become Private Soldiers in the Army. As they qualify they may be promoted to higher non-commissioned ranks. Persons of Corporal rank and higher are known as Non-commissioned Officers. Selected non-commissioned personnel are commissioned as lieutenants from time to time.
While the non-commissioned rank structure is the same throughout the Army some corps may have different titles for their personnel, for example a private in the Artillery Corps is a Gunner and a female private in the CIS Corps is a Signalwoman.
Non-Commissioned Rank Titles
(from lowest to highest)
- Private 2 Star [Pte]
- Private 3 Star [Pte]
- Corporal [Cpl]
- Sergeant [Sgt]
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant [CQMS]
- Company Sergeant [CS]
- Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant [BQMS]
- Battalion Sergeant Major [BSM]