Thanks
Thanks to Orpaz for help with ranks and insignia.
Military History |
Arab-Israeli Wars
Israeli Ranks
Updated 17 Apr 2004
I needed a table so I could understand the Israeli system of ranks.
| Rank | Usual Abbreviation | Rough Meaning or Equivalent Rank | Comment | Modern Insignia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiron | Recruit | |||
| Turai | Private | |||
| Turai-Rishon | TARASH. | Lance Corporal / Private 1st Class | In use until 1999 | |
| Rav-Turai | RABAT . | Corporal | Insignia not worn in combat. |
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| Rav-Turai Rishon | RaTAR | Corporal 1st Class | In use 1972-82 | |
| Segen mihuts la'minyan | Samal | Sergeant |
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| Samal-Rishon | Sam'ar. | Staff Sergeant |
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| Samal-Bakhír | Samab | Senior Sergeant | In use until 1952 | |
| Rav-Samal | RaS | Company Sergeant Major (CSM) | Zahal translates this rank as Sergeant 1st Class |
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| Rav-Samal-Rishon | RaSAR | Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) / Master Sergeant | Zahal translates this rank as 1st Sergeant |
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| Rav-Samal-Mitqadem | Rasam |
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| Rav-Samal-Bakhír | Rasab | Warrant Officer |
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| Rav-Nagad | Ranag | Chief Warrant Officer |
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| Segen-Mishne | SEGUM. | Subaltern / 2nd Lieutenant | In use from 1952. Platoon commander |
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| Segen | Lieutenant | Until 1951 was a Platoon Commander; Post-1951 is the Company Executive Officer |
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| Segen-Rishon | Lieutenant 1st Class | In use until 1951. Company Executive Officer. | ||
| Seren | Captain | Company Commander |
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| Rav-Seren | Major | Battalion Executive Officer |
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| Segun-Aluf | Saal | Lieutenant-Colonel | Battalion Commander |
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| Aluf-Mishne | Alam | Colonel | Brigade or Regiment Commander |
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| Tat-Aluf | Taal | Brigadier-General | introduced after the Six-Day war, 1967. |
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| Aluf | Major-General | Command a Branch of Service |
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| Rav-Aluf | Lieutenant-General |
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| Rosh Mattay Ha'Klali | RAMATKAL. | Chief of the General Staff | The highest ranking officer in the IDF. A role held by the Rav-Aluf |
Note:
- Rav means "Above"
- Rishon means "First"
- Bakhír means "Senior"
- Mishne means "Vice" as in Vice-president so for practical purposes it means "Second" or "Below".
There are also three roles that personnel of different ranks can take.
| Hebrew | English | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Mim'aly Mar'kom | Warrant Officer | This rank is usually a temporary rank given to a RaS or RaSAR who is acting as an officer due to the duties that he is performing. |
| Mifaked Machlekah | Platoon Commander | IDF Terminology Mem-Mem |
| Mifaked Plugah | Company Commander | IDF Terminology Mem-Pe'ay |
Finally, the IDF Artillery units are the only IDF units to have and use a Regimental Structure.
Insignia from IDF Ranks