The Salvation Army operates with a distinctive organisational structure that consists of officers and employees working together to achive its mission. Officers are ministers of religion – they operate under a covenant of sacred calling rather than a Contract of Employment and are appointed to their roles by the Officers Appointments Board. They do not apply for roles specifically but are placed in roles that best suit their skillset and spiritual gifts. Officers can be appointed to roles all over the world. Employees are recruited on the basis of greatest suitability for a role and are governed by a Contract of Employment Terms and Conditions. Employees are not required to wear a Salvation Army uniform, nor are they expected to be a Salvationist, both employees and officers join together in their work to create a truly familial working environment.
There are five departments at IHQ, each of which have an experienced officer as Head of Department, all of whom report to the Chief of the Staff, who in turn reports to the General. The five departments are:
The General’s Office, which is made up of the Office of the General, the Office of the Chief of the Staff, the Office of the World President of Women’s Ministries and the Office of the World Secretary for Spiritual Life Development.
Administration, which is made up of Legal, Communications, Human Resources, International Personnel, the International College for Officers, Human Sexuality, the International Social Justice Commission and the Administration team.
Business Administration, which is made up of IT, Finance, Facilities, Property, Audit, Travel and the Business Administration team.
Programme Resources, which is made up of Emergency Services, Health Services, International Development Services, Literary/Editorial, Schools, Youth and Children and the Programme Resources team.
Zonal office, which has five teams who work directly with the Africa, Americas and Caribbean, Europe, South Asia and South Pacific and East Asia zones.
RANKS
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS RANK Officers have ranks much like a military unit, such as lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant-colonel, colonel, commissioner and General. These are denoted by the style of the epaulettes on their uniforms.
The General The worldwide leader of The Salvation Army, elected by the most senior Salvation Army officers in the world. Insignia: Crest with laurel leaves above gold bars on burgundy epaulet.
The Chief of the Staff The second-in-command to the general appointed by the general. Insignia: Crest with laurel leaves above silver bars on burgundy epaulet
Commissioner The Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army, or leader of a territory, or international secretaries are usually given the rank by general. Insignia: Crest with laurel leaves above bar with another bar above the "S", upon burgundy epaulet
Colonel Reserved for territorial and international leaders. Colonels are appointed by the general. Insignia: Crest above bar with another bar above the "S" upon a red epaulet.
Lieutenant-Colonel Appointed to Salvation Army officers on merit by the General. Typically reserved for divisional leaders and THQ staff. Insignia: Crest above bar upon red epaulets.
Major After 15 years of exemplary service, the officer is eligible to be promoted to the rank of major. Typically reserved for divisional staff, corps officers, low-level headquarters staff, or regional/area commanders. Insignia: Crest on red epaulets.
Captain After five years of exemplary service, the officer is eligible to be promoted to the rank of captain. Typically reserved for Corps officers, low-level headquarters staff. Insignia: Two stars on red epaulets.
Auxiliary-Captain Serve as officers but are beyond the minimum age for training. Auxiliary Captains never hold the ranks of Lieutenant and Cadet, and they may be promoted to Captain after five years. Typically reserved for corps officers. Insignia: Plain red epaulets.
Lieutenant Following successful term at college for officer training, the cadet is commissioned with the rank of lieutenant. Typically reserved for corps officers and low-level headquarters staff. Insignia: One star on red epaulets.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS RANK
II Year Cadet A Salvation Army soldier who is undertaking second-year training to become an officer at a Salvation Army college for officer training. Insignia: Two red bars on the epaulets.
I Year Cadet A Salvation Army soldier who is undertaking the first-year training to become an officer at a Salvation Army college for officer training. Insignia: One red bar on the epaulets.
Envoy A non-commissioned officer who works for the Salvation Army in a ministry position. Insignia: Red coloured "ENVOY" above the tied two white laurel leaved on a horizontal black oval plate with thin yellow border, upon navy blue epaulet
Candidate A person undergoing assessment for Salvation Army officership. Insignia: Plain navy-blue epaulet and Candidate's lapel pin worn on the left side of the tunic above the heart.
CORPS LEVEL RANKS Corps have ranks much like a in non-commissioned military unit which is supervised by commissioned officers, such as soldier, company guards, corps cadet guardian, sergeant, sergeant-major and envoy. These are denoted by the style of the epaulettes on their uniforms.
Corps Sergeant-Major The Chief local officer for public work who assists the corps officer with meetings (worship services) and usually takes command and responsibility in the corps officer's absence. Insignia: Three white upward chevrons followed by a star, above C.S.M. letters on blue epaulets.
Corps Secretary A Soldier who is responsible for the corps works, activities, maintenance of records, properties and assist the Corps officer in his/her duties. Insignia: C.Sec letters on blue epaulets.
Corps Treasurer A Soldier who is responsible for the finance and accounts of the corps. Insignia: C.Tre letters on blue epaulets.
Home League Secretary A home league member who is responsible for the works among women, activities, maintenance of home league records, properties and assist the Corps officer in her duties. Insignia: H.L.Sec letters on blue epaulets.
Home League Treasurer A home league member who is responsible for the finance and accounts of the Home League. Insignia: H.L.Tre letters on blue epaulets.
League of Mercy Secretary A league of mercy member who performs the social community care services and duties to maintain all records. Insignia: L.O.M.Sec letters on blue epaulets.
League of Mercy Treasurer A league of mercy member who performs the social community care services and duties to maintain all records. Insignia: L.O.M.Tre letters on blue epaulets.
Sergeant Sergeant are the soldiers who had been given some specific duties in the corps. Such as flag sergeant and visiting sergeant. Insignia: Three white upward chevrons.
Young People's Sergeant-Major A soldier who holds the responsibilities and InCharge for all the works among the Young People. Young People Sergeant-Major rank is equivalent to the rank of Corps Sergeant-Major. Insignia: Three white upward chevrons followed by a star, above Y.P.S.M letters on blue epaulets.
Young People's Secretary A Soldier who is responsible for the works of young people, maintenance of young people's records, properties and assist the superiors. Insignia: Y.P.Sec letters on blue epaulets.
Young People's Treasurer A Soldier who is responsible for the finance and accounts of Young People. Insignia: Y.P.Tre letters on blue epaulets.
Corps Cadet Guardian A Soldier who takes mission to teach and guide the youth for God and war. Insignia: C.C.G. letters below three red upward chevrons on blue epaulets.
Company Guards Soldiers who volunteered themself to take mission to teach and guide the children into God. Company Guards are the Sunday school teachers. Every Company Guards will guide their own company. Insignia: C.G letters below three yellow upward chevrons on blue epaulets.
Soldier Members who came into the army as salvationists by signing Soldier's covenant. Insignia: Plain blue epaulets.
SONGSTER AND THE BAND RANKS Songster and the band have ranks much like a band unit in the military, such as timbrel brigade, brigade leader, songster, songster leader, the Band and band master. These are denoted by the style of the epaulettes and wrist rings on their uniforms.
BAND MASTER A Soldier who leads the band unit. Insignia: two white bars below band crest on blue epaulets and two white rings on black band of the wrist of tunic red coat.
THE BAND Soldiers who become members of the band unit. Insignia: one white bar below band crest on blue epaulets and one white ring on black band of the wrist of tunic red coat.
SONGSTER LEADER A Soldier who leads the songsters. Insignia: two yellow bars below band crest on blue epaulets and two yellow rings on the wrist of tunic black coat.
SONGSTER Soldiers who become member of the songster unit (The Choir). Insignia: One yellow bar below band crest on blue epaulets and one yellow ring on the wrist of tunic black coat.
TIMBREL BRIGADE LEADER A Soldier who leads the Timbrel Brigade. Insignia: two red bars below band crest on blue epaulets and two red rings on the wrist of tunic black coat.
TIMBREL BRIGADE Soldiers who become member of the Timbrel Brigade. Insignia: One red bar below band crest on blue epaulets and one red ring on the wrist of tunic black coat.