IDF Ranks

The **IDF Ranks** express an individual's rank in the army.

The ranks of the IDF are divided into three groups: the ranks of enlisted Soldiers, Turai (Private) to Samal Rishon (Staff Sergeant); NCOs ranks, Rav Samal (Sergeant First Class) to Rav Nagad (Chief Warrant Officer); and Officers' ranks, Segen Mishen (Second Lieutenant) to Rav Aluf (Lieutenant general). The rank Insignias of the Enlsited Soldiers are worn on the arm, between the elbow and the shoulder, While the rank Insignias of the NCOs and officers are worn on the Epaulets of the shirt.

Many ranks in the IDF are casually called by their initials. Three-letter initials are commonly pronounced as a word punctuated with two handfuls, one in each of the first two letters of the initials. Thus, for example, a Rav-Samal is written רס"ל(Resh-Shin-Lamed) and pronounced as "Rasal".

## **Recieving of a Rank and Rank Promotion**

For each rank of the IDF there are different requirements and conditions for its acceptance and only by meeting them can it be entitled to and worn.

Soldiers will progress step by step according to two main indicators: the time that has elapsed since they received their previous rank, or courses and training they have undergone. Promotion according to elapsed time is known in the IDF as "Pazam", an acronym for "minimum period of time". The minimum period of time varies according to the role of the soldier and the formation in which they serve: in general, the minimum period of time required for promotion is shorter for combat soldiers, while being longer for combat support soldiers and even longer for rear soldiers.

The most basic rank, the rank of Turai (Private), is given to every soldier upon enlistment. Rear soldiers will receive the rank of Rav Turai (Corporal) ten months after enlistment, soldiers designated as combat supporters will be promoted to this rank eight months after enlistment, while combatants will receive this rank not according to the Minimum period of time, but upon completion of their training course. Similarly, the rank of Samal (Sergeant) will be awarded to rear soldiers after one year and 9 months from the time of their enlistment, Supporting soldiers will be promoted to this rank 18 months after enlistment, and combat soldiers will receive it 14 months after enlistment. However, soldiers who complete various courses, such as a naval course, a tank commanders course, etc., will be promoted upon completion of the course.

The basic Officer rank of Segen Mishne (Second Lieutenant) is given to soldiers who have completed an officers' course. Soldiers who have completed a seamanship course and a pilot course will be awarded the rank of Segen (First Lieutenant) upon completion of the course. Officers will also advance in the early stages according to Minimum Period of Time: a Segen Mishne (Second Lieutenant) will advance to the rank of Segen (First Lieutenant) after one year, and promotion to the rank of Seren (Captain) will be after three years in the rank of Segen (First Lieutenant). However, some of the promotion will depend on passing various courses.

### Different Pazam Routes

The Soldiers of the Permanent Service have dedicated promotion tracks, which allow for a Minimum Period of Time to be shortened between ranks or extended depending on the track.

NCOs can, during their service, take an officers' course and move to the officers' promotion track. NCOs of the rank of Rav Samal (Sergeant First Class) (with one year of seniority, at least) and above will receive the rank of Segen (First Lieutenant) upon completion of the officers' course instead of the rank of Segen Mishne (Second Lieutenant), And later in their service as officers they can enter service tracks where the minimum period of time they have to go through to advance in rank is shortened, allowing a promotion to Rav Seren (Major) within five years of receiving a rank.

The numerator of the duration of the Minimum Period of Time is frozen if a soldier is absent from regular service without permission, is serving a prison sentence (a period known as a "non-counting period" or a "negative plan") or is in service deferral (a period defined as a "positive plan"). In Addition, a soldier who is sentenced to a period of imprisonment in a military prison will not be promoted by a rank for one year from the date of the trial. A soldier who is in captivity, or is defined as missing, is promoted in ranks as if they were not absent from service, according to their route. Ron Arad, who has been absent since October 1986, has been promoted from Seren (Captain) to Sgan Aluf (Lieutenant Colonel) over the years.

In addition to the Minimum Period of Time Measurings and course completion, there are additional considerations:

* Promotion to the rank of Sgan Aluf (Lieutenant Colonel) and above depends on the approval of senior officers: promotion to the rank of Sgan Aluf (Lieutenant Colonel) is with the approval of an Aluf (Major General) and with the approval of the Manpower Directorate or the chief of staff; Promotion to the ranks of Aluf Mishne (Colonel), Tat Aluf (Brigadier General) and Aluf (Major General) depend on the approval of the chief of staff and the defense minister; and appointment to the rank of Rav Aluf (Lieutenant General) depends on the approval of the Israeli government. Promotion to the rank of Rav Nagad (Chief Warrant Officer) also depends on personal inspection and not on the Minimum Period of Time.
* Sometimes the rating of a service depends on the position whose standard enables it to be awarded. For example, the appointment of an officer to the Company leader allows them to be promoted to the rank of Rav Seren (Major).
* Sometimes a soldier is given a personal rank, thanks to their special personal achievements, even though they do not meet the usual rules for receiving a rank.

## **Conscripts' Ranks**

A conscript is a soldier who carries the rank of Turai (Private) to Samal Rishon (Staff Sergeant). The ranks, from the rank of Rav Turai (Corporal) to the rank of Samal Rishon (Staff Sergeant), are sewn to the sleeves of the shirt between the elbow and the shoulder.

The background color of the Insignia of soldiers serving in the Air Force is blue. The Insignia color of soldiers serving in the Navy is golden. The color of the other soldiers' Insignia is olive green. The Samal Rishon (Staff Sergeant)'s leaf (Nicknamed "falafel") is gold in color in the navy, silver in the air force and bronze in the Ground forces. In the past, the leaf was made of metal.

As of 2018, special arm ranks have come into use for spearhead fighters, where the background is green or black (infantry or navy and air, respectively) and colored seam lines, black for infantry, gold for navy and white for air force.

## **Non-Commissioned Officers' Ranks**

A Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) is a soldier in Permanent service who has not taken an officers' course, in the ranks of Samal Rishon to Rav Nagad. The Insignias of NCOs are worn on the shoulder of the shirt (in the same way as the ranks of the officer).

## **Officers' Ranks**

An officer is a soldier who has graduated from an officers' course, or who has been certified as an officer in another setting (such as during a pilot course or a seamanship course); Another option is to receive the appointment of an officer without a course (such as academic reservists, or to receive a degree of representation), from the rank of Segen Mishne to Rav Aluf.

*Note: As of Writing, No Rav-Aluf (Chief of the General Staff) has Served from the Navy.*

### **Professional Officers in the IDF**

Translation
Badge
Badge
Akademai
Officer 2nd
Class
Akademai
Bakhir
Officer 1st
Class