Skip to Content

Australian Army ranks

There are so many ranks in the Australian Army. For some people, what each rank means and the order in which they progress can be confusing. In this video, we’ll look at a simple guide to the Australian Army ranks in order.

Table of Contents hide
Enlisted Ranks
Private:
Lance Corporal:
Corporal:
Sergeant:
Staff Sergeant:
Warrant Officer Ranks
Warrant Officer Class Two:
Warrant Officer Class One:
Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army:
Officer Ranks
Officer Cadet:
Second Lieutenant:
Lieutenant:
Captain:
Major:
Lieutenant Colonel:
Colonel:
General Officer Ranks
Brigadier:
Major General:
Lieutenant General:
General:
Conclusion

Enlisted Ranks

Private:

  • Within the Australian Army, once basic training is completed, new soldiers will begin their careers as a private. Their titles may differ, however, such as craftsman, gunner, musician, patrolman, sapper, or signalman. This will depend on their assigned core or regiment.

Lance Corporal:

  • Promotion to this rank will usually follow initial employment training, or roughly three years as a private. A Lance Corporal will usually supervise a team of up to four soldiers. They will also have the opportunity to complete specialist military training.

Corporal:

  • The rank of corporal is generally attained after six to eight years within the Australian Army. This will depend on the soldier’s leadership abilities. A corporal will typically be in charge of a section, a crew, a team, or detachment. Corporals can often perform roles training junior soldiers.

Sergeant:

  • This rank holds a senior role of responsibility. Depending on the soldier’s ability, promotion to sergeant will take around 12 years of service. Generally, a sergeant will be second in charge of around 40 soldiers and usually advise junior officers.

Staff Sergeant:

  • Following a number of years of service at the rank of sergeant, staff sergeant may follow. This senior role will require the soldier to use management skills in administrative or logistical roles. This rank may be phased out of the army in the near future.

Warrant Officer Ranks

Warrant Officer Class Two:

  • At this rank, a W02 will perform a management role looking at the discipline, training, and welfare of a battery, company, or squadron of up to 200 soldiers. They will generally be in senior logistic and technical roles, but can also perform instructor roles in army schools.

Warrant Officer Class One:

  • This rank will take many years of experience to attain. Generally, after around 18 years of outstanding service, a soldier can attain the rank of W01. They will be the senior advisors of their unit’s commanding officer and have the responsibility to look after the welfare of up to 650 soldiers. A sergeant major of a unit is a W01 and holds a special position within the unit. They can also hold very important supervisory roles within varying units across the Australian Army.

Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army:

  • This position is responsible to the chief of the army and responsive to all ranks. There’s only one soldier who can hold this rank at any one time. The regimental sergeant major of the army is a member of the personal staff of the chief of the army. Their main role is to ensure the views of the chief of the army are passed down to the soldiers, as well as the soldier’s views and concerns back to the chief.

RankResponsibilities
Warrant Officer Class TwoManagement role looking at the discipline, training, and welfare of a battery, company, or squadron of up to 200 soldiers.
Warrant Officer Class OneSenior advisors of their unit’s commanding officer and responsible for the welfare of up to 650 soldiers.
Regimental Sergeant MajorResponsible to the chief of the army and responsive to all ranks.

Officer Ranks

Officer Cadet:

  • The rank of Officer Cadet is provided to those who study at the Australian Defense Force Academy. That rank has then changed to Staff Cadet once they enter the Royal Military College at Duntroon.

Second Lieutenant:

  • This rank is provided to new officers in special appointments such as university regiments, training institutions, or under probation during training. Their responsibilities will be similar to that of a Lieutenant.

Lieutenant:

  • This rank will usually be held for a period of three years. They will be in command of a platoon or troop of around 30 soldiers. With further experience, they may also take command of more specialized platoons over time.

Captain:

  • In the Australian Army, a captain will be second in command of a subunit of up to 120 soldiers. They hold important roles with the need to be involved in the decision making and planning processes of tactical units. They have responsibilities over operations on the ground as well as equipment maintenance.

Major:

  • The rank of major can be attained after between eight to 10 years of service. They are seen as field rank officers and take command of up to 120 soldiers. They will take on the responsibility of those soldiers’ training and equipment as well as their general welfare.

Lieutenant Colonel:

  • At this rank, a Lieutenant Colonel will take command of around 650 soldiers, containing between three and five subunits. They will be in charge of the operational effectiveness of their unit. They can also hold staff officer appointments at the Brigade level or higher.

Colonel:

  • A Colonel will not usually be in command of a unit, but can hold positions within schools or training centers. They can hold positions such as senior staff officers on headquarters, such as chief of staff. They may also be given specialized roles within a capability, such as oversight of a project or development.
RankResponsibilities
Officer CadetStudy at the Australian Defense Force Academy. Changed to Staff Cadet once they enter the Royal Military College.
Second LieutenantNew officers in special appointments such as university regiments or under probation during training.
LieutenantIn command of a platoon or troop of around 30 soldiers.
CaptainSecond in command of a subunit of up to 120 soldiers.
MajorTake command of up to 120 soldiers.
Lieutenant ColonelTake command of around 650 soldiers.
ColonelPositions within schools or training centers.

General Officer Ranks

Brigadier:

  • This is a one-star general rank. A Brigadier will command at the Brigade level and are also directors-general within army headquarters and non-Army groups. They have responsibility for branches such as career management, operations, and personnel.

Major General:

  • This is a two-star general rank. A Major General will take command of a formation of division size and hold high-level appointments within the Department of Defense.

Lieutenant General:

  • This is a three-star general rank. A Lieutenant General is the second highest active rank in the Australian Army. This rank is held by the chief of the army. It is also held when the officer is the Vice Chief of the Defense Force, the Chief of Joint Operations, or the Chief of Capability Development.

General:

  • This is a four-star general rank. General is the highest active rank in the Australian Army. The rank is only held when an officer is appointed as the chief of the defense force.
RankResponsibilities
BrigadierCommand at the Brigade level and directors-general within army headquarters and non-Army groups.
Major GeneralTake command of a formation of division size and hold high-level appointments within the Department of Defense.
Lieutenant GeneralSecond highest active rank in the Australian Army.
GeneralHighest active rank in the Australian Army.

Conclusion

Perhaps you or a family member has served or is serving in the Australian Army. Which rank do you think is the backbone of the Australian Army? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below. As always, guys, thanks for watching. Be sure to hit that subscribe button if you want to expand your knowledge and join the growing Premier history community.

George N.
Latest posts by George N. (see all)