User:Milhistry/Chief commandant

---Chief Commandant (rank)---

Chief Commandant [Hoofkommandant in Afrikaans] existed as a rank in the South African Army from 1969 to 1971. . The rank was considered superior to the rank of Commandnant and junior to the rank of Colonel.It's usage was confined to army officers of the Commando Forces [the part-time, territorial reserve, roughly equivalent to a National Guard, Militia or Home Guard]. Chief commandant was only used for officers commanding a Commando Group. These were military formations consisting of two or more Commando units in a defined geographical area. Regular formations of this nature (e.g.battalion groups or brigades) would normally be commanded by a Colonel. Due to the part-time nature and local protection role of the Commando units, few commando officers had the required qualifications for promotion to full Colonel rank.

The approved rank insignia for Chief Commandnant consisted of a pentagonal castle device, over a five pointed star, over a spray of laurel leaves. Due to delays in the manufacture and supply of the laurel leaf sprays, a solid metal bar was initially substituted while supplies of laurel leaves were not availible. In practice the laurel leaves were never worn as the rank of Chief Commandant was disestablished in May 1971 before the new insignia were issued. From May 1971, officers commanding Commando Groups were granted Colonel rank regardless of whether or not they had passed the senior command and staff course, normally required for promotion to colonel.