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Like the British Army, the Australian Army does not use the term 'enlisted' to describe its non-commissioned ranks. Instead, personnel who are not Commissioned Officers are referred to as Soldiers, Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Warrant Officers (WOs). Warrant Officers are appointed by a warrant which is signed by the Chief of the Army. The insignia for non-commissioned ranks are identical to the British Army up to the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two. WO1s in the Australian Army wear the Australian Coat of Arms.
The ranks are, from highest to lowest:
These appointments are held by the senior Warrant Officers in the Australian Army. These are appointments, not ranks.
- Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Abbreviated: RSM-A)1 (The RSM-A holds the rank of Warrant Officer (WO))
- Academy Sergeant Major (Abbreviated: ASM) (One WO1 is appointed every 3 to 4 years to serve at the Australian Defence Force Academy as the ASM, the position is rotational with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force)
- Warrant Officer (Abbreviated: WO) - E10 - the rank held by the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army
- Warrant Officer Class One (Abbreviated: WO1) - E9
- Warrant Officer Class Two (Abbreviated: WO2) - E8
- Staff Sergeant (Abbreviated: SSGT)2 - E7
- Sergeant (Abbreviated: SGT) - E6
- Corporal or Bombardier (Abbreviated: CPL or BDR) - E5
- Lance Corporal or Lance Bombardier (Abbreviated: LCPL or LBDR) - E4
- Private Proficient (Abbreviated: PTE(P)). Also used within the Private equivalent ranks3 - E3
- Private (Abbreviated: PTE): This title is used by members of the following Corps: RACT, RAAOC, RAAPC, RAINF, RAAMC, RAADC, AustInt, Psych and AACC - E2
Alternate rank titles are used for other Corps. However, these members hold the same rank as a PTE (Private equivalent) - E2
- Musician (Abbreviated: MUSN): AABC
- Signalman (Abbreviated: SIG): RASigs4,5
- Gunner (Abbreviated: GNR): RAA
- Trooper (Abbreviated: TPR): RAAC, AAAvn, SASR
- Sapper (Abbreviated: SPR): RAE
- Craftsman (Abbreviated: CFN): RAEME4
- Private (pre-completion of Initial Employment Training) - E16
- Recruit (Abbreviated: REC /PTE(R)): Members who are undergoing basic training - E0
Collectively Junior Non-Commissioned Officers and Private soldiers (or equivalent) are referred to as Other Ranks (Abbreviated: ORs).
Private (and equivalent) soldiers in the Australian Army are still commonly referred to as 'diggers'.
- Note 1: The senior Warrant Officer in the Australian Army holds the rank of 'Warrant Officer' (WO) and the appointment of Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A)
- Note 2: The rank of Staff Sergeant is being phased out of the Australian Army.
- Note 3: Private Proficient is a 'certification' rather than a rank. Private Proficient simply means a Private who has completed basic training, Initial Employment Training and is proficient in his/her trade - generally spending twelve months "on the job" first. A PTE(P) soldier does not 'outrank' a PTE soldier for discipline purposes. However, a PTE(P) soldier (also known as a senior soldier/senior digger) may be in charge of tasking and training a junior soldier(s) within their section. For pay purposes, a PTE(P) soldier is equivalent to an Able Seaman in the Royal Australian Navy and a Leading Aircraftsman/Leading Aircraftswoman in the Royal Australian Air Force.
- Note 4: A female soldier's title is Signalman/Craftsman, not Signalwoman/Craftswoman.
- Note 5: Referred to as a Sig, ie: Sig Smith.
- Note 6: A Private prior to completion of Initial Employment Training (IET) (but post-recruit training) is no different in rank to a Private post-IET, however they are on a lower pay grade and are deemed to be an E1 rather than an E2 when equating rank with other nations' armed forces.
| Warrant Officer Ranks |
| Warrant Officer (WO) appointed as Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A) |
Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) |
Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) |
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