The following table outlines cadet establishments for AAFC squadrons:[2]. In order to attend a CUO course, a cadet must be a SNCO and have completed their JNCO course not later than 16 months before the commencement of the CUO course. The most senior active rank of the RAAF, (Air Marshal - a 3-star rank), is held by the Chief of Air Force. Built on the proud history and traditions of the Australian Flying Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force, we will fight and win by generating integrated kinetic and non-kinetic air and space effects across the sea, land, air, space and cyber operating domains. A LCDT rank slide features a single inverted chevron. Cadets promoted to the rank of CWOFF are addressed as Sir, Ma'am or Warrant Officer. A Cadet Warrant Officer (CWOFF) is the most senior of the NCO ranks but most squadrons consider this to be a "Senior Cadet" due to the privileges and responsibilities it has. Since the ranks WOFF(AAFC), SQNLDR(AAFC), WGCDR(AAFC) and GPCAPT(AAFC) are not substantive ranks in the AAFC, senior airmen and senior/air officers may only be given the highest substantive rank of FSGT(AAFC) or FLTLT(AAFC) unless the member also holds a senior airmen/officer appointment. It directly continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC), formed on 22 October 1912. Squadrons may use vacancies in CFSGT and CSGT positions to cascade down to lower ranks to permit COs the option to fill vacancies in SNCO ranks with JNCOs. Many COs require their prospective CFSGTs to demonstrate the ability to lead a team of SNCOs. The AAFC has specific rank establishments depending on the strength of a squadron. [1] On the occasions that the Chief of the Defence Force is a RAAF officer, that officer holds the rank of Air Chief Marshal. Adult members of the AAFC wear rank slides with an embroidered white bar that contains the letters AAFC in place of the light blue bar. The RAF based its officer ranks on the Royal Navy, and its airmen ranks on the British Army. This may include reversion in rank (e.g. Both officers and airmen wear rank insignia on the chest when wearing General Purpose Uniform or Disruptive Pattern Combat Uniform. The insignia used to identify these ranks are also generally similar to those used in the British Armed Forces. Squadrons may not exceed the establishment for CUO and CWOFF positions. The minimum time in rank requirements between promotions is three years, with the exception of promotion from AC/ACW(AAFC) to LAC/LACW(AAFC), LAC/LACW(AAFC) to CPL(AAFC) or from PLTOFF(AAFC) to FLGOFF(AAFC) in addition to other staff training requirements. The CWOFF course generally lasts for 15 days as well and are conducted at a RAAF base. They go through much the same process, though more rigorous, as do prospective JNCOs. At the end of a promotion course, the course commander grades the LCDT as either recommended or not recommended for promotion to the rank of CCPL. The Junior Non-Commissioned Officer (JNCO) courses generally last for 11 days and are held at a RAAF base, depending on availability. The Royal Australian Air Force inherited its rank structure from the Royal Air Force. Junior ranks comprise the ranks of Cadet (CDT) and Leading Cadet (LCDT) as well as the informal title of Recruit (RCT). If recommended for promotion, a CO should promote the LCDT to the rank of CCPL as soon as practicable. The rank of Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force has never been held as an active rank and it is currently held as an honorary rank by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. This is to ensure a balance between leadership roles and subordinates members (especially to prevent a top-heavy squadron developing). Volume 2, Part 1, Chapter 1 of the AAFC Manual of Management, AAFC Standing Orders Issue 2/2010 (10 Apr), Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Philippines), People of the American Civil War by state, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Australian Air Force Cadets Manual of Management, Australian Air Force Cadets Interim Policy Manual, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Ranks_of_the_Australian_Air_Force_Cadets?oldid=2364282. CUO courses are the longest, running for 17 days, also at a RAAF base. See Australian Air Force Cadets for a description of each training stage. The promotion to a commissioned officer rank is not automatic - the member is terminated as an instructor, and their application for an officer appointment is assessed. Rank insignia is very similar to that of the RAF, with the exception of LAC/W (which is one chevron (two bladed propellor in RAF)). As such, a system of differentiation was required to distinguish members of the AAFC from those of the RAAF. Unlike the RAF, RAAF rank abbreviations are always written in uppercase without spaces (e.g. "Warrant Officer Bloggs", whilst subordinate ranks will address the CWOFF as Sir or Ma'am depending on their gender and, are too also allowed to address the CWOFF as "Warrant Officer Bloggs". All adult AAFC members are responsible for the protection of Cadets with whom they interact, and are mandated to adhere to the standards of behaviour prescribed in the Defence Youth Safety Framework and … may only be permitted to eat/sleep in ONE of the Airmens' Mess, Sergeants' Mess or Officers' Mess). Current ADF members may also be appointed at different ranks, as no member is permitted to have dual mess status (i.e. Along with the Australian Army Cadets (AAC) and the Australian Navy Cadets (ANC) it is part of the Australian Defence Force Cadets. The rank of Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force has never been held as an active rank. Propeller refers to a round gold pins with a propeller-blade symbol printed in service blue, worn centrally of the right breast pocket flap above the button. Leading Aircraftman: LAC: A single-bar chevron: Non-Commissioned Officers: Corporal: CPL: A two-bar chevron: Sergeant: SGT: A three-bar chevron. Rank insignia is worn on the shoulder in all other orders of dress with the exception of the Service Dress tunic where it is worn on the lower sleeve for officers and Warrant Officers and the upper sleeve for airmen and the working uniform of Physical Training Instructors where it is worn on the sleeve. Ranks and special insignia of the Royal Australian Air Force CWOFF courses conducted by the AAFC primarily cover leadership and supervision particularly focusing on the maintenance of morale, cadet welfare and discipline. Flight Sergeant: FSGT Pilot Officer is written as PLTOFF, not Plt Off). Any new staff member who was previously a cadet and held the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer or Cadet Under Officer is eligible for and is usually given the rank of LAC/LACW(AAFC). After six months as a CSGT, a cadet may be promoted to the rank of CFSGT by their CO. Other joint 3* positions available to RAAF officers are, Note that although all three ranks are equivalent, and all three ranks are "1 star" positions, an Air Commodore is considered an "Air Officer", a Commodore is considered an "Admiral", but a Brigadier is, "Private Proficient" (PTE(P)) is not a separate formal ADF rank; it is a salary proficiency point which is "automatically" granted after 12 months service as a Private - refer, Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Philippines), People of the American Civil War by state, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Australian Defence Force ranks and insignia, http://www.defence.gov.au/DPE/PAC/V2_Ch1_Pt4.htm, http://www.defence.gov.au/DPE/PAC/V2_Ch3_Pt2_Div3.htm, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) - Official site, List of Royal Australian Air Force air marshals, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Ranks_of_the_Royal_Australian_Air_Force?oldid=4717482, Airforce - Defence Instruction (Airforce) Personnel 5-4, Para 5.4. [a] On the occasions that the Chief of the Defence Force is an officer of the RAAF, the rank of Air Chief Marshal is awarded. As an exaggerated example, it would not be beneficial for a squadron of 40 cadets to have 39 CUOs and 1 CDT, nor would it be beneficial for it to have 20 CWOFFs, 10 CFSGTs and 10 CSGTs. A new cadet is initially enrolled with the rank of Cadet and after completing prescribed training and length of service, they are eligible for reclassification to the rank of Leading Cadet. Upon appointment as an IOC, the staff member is normally given the rank of AC/ACW(AAFC). Royal Australian Air Force: Other Ranks – Starting from Junior most: Rank: Abbreviation: Rank Insignia: Airmen: Aircraftman: AC: No rank insignia. Basic Stage, on average, takes 6 months to fully complete. Any CCPL can apply for the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Course but must have held that rank for a minimum of five months before being able to attend the promotion course. This means that cadet ranks wear rank slides which are AFB (Air Force Blue) with an embroidered light blue ribbon, 1 cm wide at the base of the rank slide with 'AAFC' in AFB embroidery. Also, the RAAF does not have the ranks of Senior Aircraftman, Junior Technician, Chief Technician or Master Aircrew.