SAAF changes rank insignia ... again!
Date: 28 October 2003
Old and new for rank system
Erika Gibson
Pretoria - No army general likes being addressed as "colonel" and when it happens, especially on a regular basis, the entire ranking system needs to be addressed.
As a result, the air force - which introduced a whole new rank system at an enormous cost three months ago - has reverted to its old system for its generals.
This time, the change is permanent, said colonel John Rolt, a military spokesperson.
According to him it was the crossed swords emblem that was the problem. This emblem has been the sign of a general for decades.
The new emblems for generals and colonels were much the same and from a distance were indistinguishable.
The whole defence force introduced a new rank system in August. This was so that the emblems matched the new country emblem. The idea was to also finally oust the last remnants of the old government.
More than R7m was spent on the new insignia. The air force for example exchanged the old five point and nine point stars for a stripes system.
But while the rest of the defence force's soldiers sported their new insignias, the air force was still waiting for its stripes from manufacturers.
Now, the new system will have to incorporate the old faithful sword emblem.
News24
