Sa (Japanese: ; Korean; Hanja; RRjwa) is the rank held by field-grade officers in the militaries of Japan, Vietnam and North Korea.

Japan edit

The only difference between rank names are the use of morphemes, which are riku (Japanese: , lit.'land'), kai (Japanese: , lit.'sea') or (Japanese: , lit.'air').[1]

Rank groupSenior officers
1等佐
(Ittō sa)
2等佐
(Nitō sa)
3等佐
(Santō sa)
Literal translationAide first classAide second classAide third class
 Japanese Ground Forces[2]
U.S. equivalent[3]ColonelLieutenant colonelMajor
 Japanese Navy[2][4]
U.S. equivalent[3]CaptainCommanderLieutenant commander
 Japanese Air Force[2][5]
U.S. equivalent[3]ColonelLieutenant colonelMajor
1等佐
(Ittō sa)
2等佐
(Nitō sa)
3等佐
(Santō sa)
Rank groupSenior officers

North Korea edit

Jwa
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJwa
McCune–ReischauerJwa
Rank groupSenior officers
Hangul대좌상좌중좌소좌
Hanja大佐上佐中佐少佐
RomanizationDaechwaSangjwaChungjwaSojwa
Literal translationGreat assistantUpper assistantMiddle assistantSmall assistant
 Korean People's Army Ground Force[6]
U.S. equivalent[6]NoneColonelLieutenant colonelMajor
 Korean People's Navy[6]
U.S. equivalent[6]NoneCaptainCommanderLieutenant commander
 Korean People's Army Air Force[6]
U.S. equivalent[6]NoneColonelLieutenant colonelMajor
대좌
Daechwa
상좌
Sangjwa
중좌
Chungjwa
소좌
Sojwa
Rank groupSenior officers

Vietnam edit

Rank groupSenior officers
VietnameseĐại táThượng táTrung táThiếu tá
Chữ Hán大佐上佐中佐少佐
Literal translationGreat assistantUpper assistantMiddle assistantLower assistant
 Vietnam People's Ground Force[7]
Translation[8]Senior colonelColonelLieutenant colonelMajor
 Vietnam People's Navy[7]
Translation[8]Upper captainCaptainCommanderLieutenant commander
 Vietnam People's Air Force[7]
Translation[8]Senior colonelColonelLieutenant colonelMajor
VietnameseĐại táThượng táTrung táThiếu tá
Rank groupSenior officers

South Vietnamese variant edit

Rank groupSenior officers
VietnameseĐại táTrung táThiếu tá
Chữ Hán大佐中佐少佐
Literal translationGreat assistantMiddle assistantLower assistant
 Army of the Republic of Vietnam
(1967-1975)[9]
Translation[9]ColonelLieutenant colonelMajor
 Republic of Vietnam Navy
(1967-1975)[9]
Translation[9]CaptainCommanderLieutenant commander
 Republic of Vietnam Marine Division
(1967-1975)
TranslationColonelLieutenant colonelMajor
 Republic of Vietnam Air Force
(1967-1975)[9]
Translation[9]ColonelLieutenant colonelMajor
VietnameseĐại táTrung táThiếu tá
Rank groupSenior officers

References edit

  1. ^ "自衛隊の階級" [Ranks of the JSDF]. 平成16年版 防衛白書 [Defense of Japan 2004] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japanese Defense Agency. 2004. p. 266. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-07-27. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  2. ^ a b c "自衛官の階級" [Self-Defense Forces rank]. mod.go.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Dolan, Roland E. (1992). "National Security". In Dolan, Roland E.; Worden, Robert L. (eds.). Japan: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 448-449. LCCN 91029874. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  4. ^ "階級章" [Rank chapter]. mod.go.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Rank of Insignias" (PDF). yokota.af.mil. Yokota Air Base. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Minnich, James M. (2008). "National Security". In Worden, Robert L. (ed.). North Korea: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 266, 268. LCCN 2008028547. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Quy định quân hiệu, cấp hiệu, phù hiệu và lễ phục của Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam". mod.gov.vn (in Vietnamese). Ministry of Defence (Vietnam). 26 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Pike, Douglas (1989). "National Security". In Cima, Ronald J. (ed.). Vietnam: a country study. Area Handbook (1st ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 256. LCCN 88600482. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Armed Forces Information and Education (1968). Uniforms of Seven Allies (DOD GEN-30). Department of Defense. pp. 26–28. Retrieved 2 July 2022.