Ranks: a position, especially a high position that somebody has in a particular organization, society, company, etc. In the military, therefore, rank is the position that somebody has in the army, navy, or air force.
Difference between Ranks and Appointment Post
This is something peculiar to the armed forces. It determines the authority and work category of an officer, and what level of responsibility can be given to him, while an appointment to a post occurs in all services including the armed forces.
The post indicates the exact work and responsibility of an officer is currently posted. Post is a position a member of defence forces holds E.g. Commanding Officer is a post (in an appointment post in the Army) but the rank could be Lieutenant Colonel. Once service members leave appointments (or posts) they are no longer post holders (e.g. Commanding Officer) but they retain their rank.
The KDF System
The KDF rank system is a hierarchical relationship that provides a system of leadership that indicates a soldier’s level of expertise, responsibility, and authority. Each level of leadership has a significant role in the total KDF mission.
KDF has adopted a distinct two-tier system of Officers and Service Members. Officers are at the top of the hierarchy and are granted a commission by the Commander-in-Chief, thus referred to as commissioned officers.
Read about KDF Ranks
Commissioned Officers
The lowest rank among officers is that of a Second Lieutenant (2Lt) attained upon commissioning from the Kenya Military Academy while the highest rank is that of a General, (four-star). At any one given time, KDF has only one four-star General who is Chief of the Defence Forces.
Kenya Army
Kenya Airforce
Kenya Navy
The Commissioned officers’ Ranks are as follows:
Junior Officers
- Second Lieutenant (2Lt)
- Lieutenant (Lt)
- Captain (Capt)
Senior Officers
- Major (Maj)
- Lt Colonel (Lt Col)
- Colonel (Col)
General Officers
- Brigadier General (Brig)
- Major General (Maj Gen)
- Lieutenant General (Lt Gen)
- General (Gen)
The officers’ ranks are displayed on the shoulder. The KDF has a meritocracy system where one has to pass promotional examinations, be disciplined, and have the integrity to be considered for the next rank. Below is the insignia of the Commissioned Officers
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Non-commissioned Officers Ranks
The lowest rank among non-commissioned officers is that of a private soldier attained upon passing out from the Recruit Training School while the highest rank is that of a warrant officer Class 1.
Kenya Army
Kenya Airforce
Kenya Navy
The non-commissioned Officers’ Ranks are:
- Private (Army)
- Senior Private (Army)
- Lance Corporal (Army)
- Corporal
- Sergeant
- Senior Sergeant
- Warrant Officer Class 2
- Warrant Officer Class1
Appointment Post
The appointment posts are as follows
- Section Commander
- Platoon Commander
- Adjutant
- Company 2IC (second in command)
- Company Commander (Officer Commanding)
- Battalion 2IC (Second in Command)
- Battalion Commander
There will be subsequent blogs of other appointment posts like; Brigade Commander, Service Commander, and General Officer Commanding (GOC).
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Best knowledge and information.
Have learnt a lot. Thanks and congrats