RAF officer ranks

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This article is about the ranks of commissioned officers of the Royal Air Force. For other ranks, see RAF other ranks.

Contents

[edit] Ranks

NATO Code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) Student Officer
United Kingdom United Kingdom
(Edit)		 RAF-MRAF-OF-10.png
Marshal of the RAF shoulder Board.png		 RAF-ACM-OF-9.png RAF-AM-OF-8.png RAF-AVM-OF-7.png RAF-Air Cdre-OF-6.png RAF-Gp Capt-OF-5.png RAF-Wg Cdr-OF-4.png RAF-Sqn Ldr-OF-3.png RAF-Flt Lt-OF-2.png RAF-Fg Off-OF-1.png RAF-Plt Off-OF-1.png RAF-OC-SO.png
Marshal of the Royal Air Force1 Air Chief Marshal Air Marshal Air Vice-Marshal Air Commodore Group Captain Wing Commander Squadron Leader Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer Acting Pilot Officer Officer Cadet or Student Officer
Abbreviation MRAF Air Chf Mshl Air Mshl AVM Air Cdre Gp Capt Wg Cdr Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Fg Off Plt Off Off Cdt
1 Currently honorary/wartime rank only.

[edit] Origins

Lieutenant General David Henderson originally proposed that Royal Air Force officers use a combination of British Army and Royal Navy ranks. However, the War Office argued that the RAF should have its own ranks and the Admiralty opposed any use of their rank titles.

[edit] Badges of rank

On 1 April 1918, Air Force Memorandum 2 specified rank insignia for the newly established independent force. Rank was to be worn on the jacket cuff and was derived from the Royal Navy's rings, each equivalent rank having the same number of rings. However, Second Lieutenants (now Pilot Officers) displayed a crowned eagle only and the Navy's loop was not used for any rank. Depending on the uniform, either gold or pale blue on grey braid was worn.

In August 1918, Air Ministry Weekly Order 617 added a single band of 1/4 inch braid below the Second Lieutenant's eagle and all other officer ranks also received a crowned eagle above their braid.

RAF Mess Dress cuff insignia for a Flight Lieutenant

In 1919 the colour of the rank braid was changed to black with a central pale blue stripe. However, on RAF mess dress rank continued to be displayed in gold.

[edit] Sleeve Ranks

The ranks worn on the sleeve are common to all RAF uniform variants incorporating the Jacket. The centre of the rank (measured from the bottom of the lowest braid to the top of the highest) should be 9.5cm from the cuff and each row of braiding should have a space of 3mm from other rows. The thinnest braid, as found on the Pilot Officer's rank, is 6mm; the Flight Lieutenant's braid common to all the ranks except Air Commodore and Pilot Officer, is 14mm, and the thickest braid, as found on all Air Officer ranks, is 51mm.

[edit] Shoulder Boards

Air Officers Rank Shoulder Board
Shoulder Board of Marshal of the RAF

On certain ceremonial occasions, RAF Officers wear shoulder boards with their uniform. It's quite common for Air Officers to be seen in No 1A uniform with shoulder boards, sword and ceremonial belt. For other officers the belt is omitted and golden braid of the rank, as used normally, can be worn on the shoulders instead.

[edit] Rank titles

As mentioned above, it was originally proposed that the RAF ranks were to be derived from existing Royal Navy and Army ranks. Both services were consulted and both reacted unfavourably — the Navy unhappy about the use of its higher ranks and the Army complaining it provided the "junior ranks". This resulted in a compromise whereby the officer ranks were proposed to be Ensign, Lieutenant, Flight Leader, Squadron Leader, Reeve, Banneret, Fourth Ardian, Third Ardian, Second Ardian, Ardian and Air Marshal. A further proposal was Ensign, Lieutenant, Flight-Leader, Squadron-Leader, Wing-Leader, Leader, Flight Ardian, Squadron Ardian, Wing Ardian, Ardian, Air Marshal.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, these contrived ranks were rejected and on 1 August 1919, Air Ministry Weekly Order 973 introduced new rank titles for RAF officers. They were based on Royal Navy ranks and their titles were influenced by the usage in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) during World War I. For example, the RAF rank of Flight Lieutenant was based on the RNAS rank of the same name. The rank of Squadron Leader derived its name from the RNAS rank of Squadron Commander. Initially the highest rank was titled Marshal of the Air. However, only a few days after it was promulgated, this rank title was changed to Marshal of the Royal Air Force at the request of King George V.

[edit] Composite braid

Composite braid as worn by a squadron leader

RAF officers typically wear composite braid rank slides with their working and operational uniforms. Composite braid consists of a single piece of fabric, where the "background" between the rank rings is made from blue-grey material. Composite braid rank slides are often referred to as "bar-code" in RAF slang.

[edit] Command flags

UK-Air-OF10-Flag.svg
MRAF		 UK-Air-OF9-Flag.svg
Air Chf Mshl		 UK-Air-OF8-Flag.svg
Air Mshl		 UK-Air-OF7-Flag.svg
AVM		 UK-Air-OF6-Flag.svg
Air Cdre		 UK-Air-OF5-Flag.svg
Gp Capt		 UK-Air-OF4-Flag.svg
Wg Cdr		 UK-Air-OF3-Flag.svg
Sqn Ldr


[edit] Distinction between ranks and appointments

Many RAF ranks do not imply the appointment or duties of an officer. For example, a Pilot Officer may well not be trained to pilot an aircraft and a Squadron Leader does not necessarily command a squadron.

[edit] Air Training Corps

In the Air Training Corps, the rank system for officers is identical, but the highest rank is Wing Commander, with higher posts being held by regular RAF officers. Officers in the Air Training Corps are part of the RAFVR(T), and as such wear a small gold badge shaped as the letters VRT, with the T centrally below the VR. The same applies for the RAF section of the CCF.

[edit] Other air forces

Common anglophone military ranks
Navies Armies Air forces
Officers
Admiral of the fleet Marshal /
field marshal		 Marshal of
the Air Force
Admiral General Air marshal
Commodore Brigadier Air commodore
Captain Colonel Group captain
Commander Lieutenant colonel Wing commander
Lieutenant
commander		 Major /
commandant		 Squadron
leader
Lieutenant Captain Flight lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant Lieutenant Flying officer
Ensign 2nd lieutenant Pilot officer
Midshipman Officer cadet Officer cadet
Seamen, soldiers and airmen
Warrant officer Sergeant major Warrant officer
Petty officer Sergeant Sergeant
Leading seaman Corporal Corporal
Seaman Private Aircraftman

The following air forces use a similar or identical officer rank structure and rank insignia to the RAF:

The following air forces use a similar or identical officer rank structure to the RAF, but use army-style rank insignia:

The following air forces use rank insignia for their officers which are similar or identical to that of the RAF, but employ army rank titles:

The following air forces formerly used a similar or identical officer rank structure to the RAF:


The following air forces formerly used similar rank insignia to the RAF:

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=90
  2. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=92
  3. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1635
  4. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Air_Force#Ranks_and_insignia
  5. ^ http://www.nigerianairforce.net/AboutNAF/ColoursWings.aspx
  6. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=2093
  7. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=149
  8. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=328
  9. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=291
  10. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1380
  11. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=975
  12. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=223
  13. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=2502
  14. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=985
  15. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=167
  16. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=158
  17. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1319
  18. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1191
  19. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=710
  20. ^ http://www.mil.se/attachments/the_facts_2006_2007_eng.pdf
  21. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=443
  22. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=105
  23. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1842
  24. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=619
  25. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=855
  26. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1823
  27. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1561
  28. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1307
  29. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=540
  30. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=406
  31. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=357
  32. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=2158
  33. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=351
  34. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1774
  35. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1266
  36. ^ Although the USAF discontinued the RAF-pattern rank insignia introduced by General Merrill McPeak in 1994, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps officer cadets use identical insignia today.
  37. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=258
  38. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=932
  39. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=2201
  40. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=2830
  41. ^ [1]
  42. ^ http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=23

[edit] References

  • Hobart, Malcolm. Badges and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force. London/Barnsley, England: Leo Cooper/Pen & Sword Books Ltd., 2000. ISBN 0-85052-739-2.

[edit] External links
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NATO rank code Student Officer OF-1 OF-2 OF-3 OF-4 OF-5 OF-6
*		 OF-7
**		 OF-8
***		 OF-9
****		 OF-10
*****
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Army O Cdt 2Lt Lt Capt Maj Lt Col Col Brig Maj-Gen Lt-Gen Gen FM
Royal Air Force OC / SO APO / Plt Off Fg Off Flt Lt Sqn Ldr Wg Cdr Gp Capt Air Cdre AVM Air Mshl Air Chf Mshl MRAF
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