The navies of Kenya and Brunei are unusual in that they have army ranks even though they have naval uniforms, including naval rank insignia (except that Brunei's navy has army NCO rank insignia). For example, insignia of these services identify lieutenant-colonels as commanders.

For its non-officer ranks the Royal Canadian Navy does it the other way around: they are naval ranks but are represented by army insignia and therefore as army ranks.

The Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force now have army officer ranks but still have air force officer rank insignia. For example, insignia of these services identify majors as squadron leaders and colonels as group captains. (This should be left to World War I re-enactment clubs.)

Rank insignia are for representing ranks. If a service – whatever it may be – has army ranks (be they officer or other ranks), army rank insignia should therefore be used. Whether a service is a navy, army, air force or something else is indicated by other elements of the uniform. (Having army rank insignia need not have a huge effect on the overall character of the uniform.)

Colonel, not Captain or Group Captain	Captain, not Colonel or Group Captain	Group Captain, not Colonel or Captain

Other than navies of countries whose languages do not distinguish between naval and army ranks, it is unusual and very unorthodox for navies to have army ranks. So it should be the case that navies have naval ranks, and therefore naval rank insignia as well.

Many air forces have a series of officer ranks that are distinctive to air forces, but many others have army officer ranks. Army officer ranks (with army rank insignia) are an orthodox and acceptable alternative to RAF-style officer ranks (with RAF-style rank insignia).

Air forces with air force officer ranks include those of India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Ghana, Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and Trinidad and Tobago. Air forces with army officer ranks include those of Malaysia, Canada, South Africa and Kenya.

Air Chief Marshal

General

Correct designs for shoulder slides of the 10th officer rank of air forces with air force
ranks (left) and an air force with army ranks (in this case the South African Air Force).

For countries whose languages don't distinguish between army, naval and air force ranks, the choice of insignia must depend on what the preferred translations of a service's ranks happen to be. For example, the Arabic rank of Fariq can be Lieutenant-General, Vice-Admiral or Air Marshal (or any other equivalent). A fariq who wears army rank insignia can be called a lieutenant-general; a fariq who wears naval rank insignia can be called a vice-admiral.

Officers of some Arab navies have both army shoulder devices and naval stripes, which is daft. It's a pointless redundancy, it gives uniforms an extravagant and somewhat comical appearance, and it creates unnecessary ambiguity in regard to translation.

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