Rank Structures

Most of the combat agencies are uniformed and wear a badge of rank. Rank insignia are standardised to some extent so that insignia are worn by officers of an organisation of similar or equivalent rank regardless of the title. By way of illustration, shown below in figure 7.2, are the rank insignia for the Ambulance and Police Services.
AMBULANCE

General Manager Operations

Ambulance Director (Rural) (Metropolitan )

Area Manager Sector Manager (Ops Centre) Clinical (Education) Education Manager

District Officer Clinical Educator

Station Officer II Technical Educator

Station Officer I

POLICE

Commissioner

Deputy Commissioner

Superintendent Assistant Chief Commissioner Superintendent Local Area Commander Region Commander

Chief Inspector

Inspector Duty Officer

Figure 7.2 - Equivalent Rank Insignia and Titles Ambulance and Police

The recognition of ranks and the equivalent in other services has been a problem for a long time in the Defence Forces. Insignia differ considerably. The titles do not reflect the levels where for example an Army Captain is three ranks below that of a Navy Captain. The method used in joint exercises has been to use the Army rank with an (E) following it. Thus a Navy Captain would be designated as COL(E). Not surprisingly this is still confusing so a new system is in use which involves a Tri-Service Rank. The Army equivalents are shown below.
Army Rank Second Lieutenant Lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Brigadier Major General Abbreviation 2LT LT CAPT MAJ LTCOL COL BRIG MAJGEN Tri-Service Rank O-1 (pronounced Oh-one) O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6 O-7

Table 7.3 - Tri-Service Rank Equivalents for the Army

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