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Australian Defence Force ranks

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This article lists the ranks of officers and enlisted personnel in the Australian Defence Force (ADF)'s three service branches.

The ADF comprises the:

The three Australian services inherited their rank structures from their British counterparts. The insignia used to identify these ranks are also generally similar to those used in the British Armed Forces.

The following tables show the "Equivalent rank and classifications" for the three services, as defined in PACMAN, ADF Pay and Conditions Manual, Vol.2, Chap.1, Part.4, pg.1, sections 1.4.1 and 1.4.2, Edition AL13 (November 2009), People Strategies and Policy, Australian Department of Defence.[1] "Equivalent rank" means the corresponding rank set out under Regulation 8 of the Defence Force Regulations 1952.[2]


Officer ranks

NATO
Code 		Aus/US
Code 		NAVY ARMY RAAF
General/Flag officers
OF-10 O-11[3] Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force
OF-9 O-10[4] Admiral General Air Chief Marshal
OF-8 O-9[5] Vice Admiral Lieutenant General Air Marshal
OF-7 O-8 Rear Admiral Major General Air Vice Marshal
OF-6 O-7[6] Commodore — Air Commodore
Senior Officers
OF-6 O-7[6] — Brigadier —
OF-5 O-6[6] Captain (RAN) Colonel Group Captain
OF-4 O-5[6] Commander Lieutenant Colonel Wing Commander
OF-3 O-4[6] Lieutenant Commander Major Squadron Leader
Junior Officers
OF-2 O-3[6] Lieutenant Captain (Army) Flight Lieutenant
OF-1 O-2 Sub Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer
OF-1 O-1 Acting Sub Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer
Cadets
- - Midshipman Officer Cadet Officer Cadet

Non-commissioned ranks

NATO
Code 		Aus/US
Code 		NAVY ARMY RAAF
Warrant Officers
OR-9 E-9 Warrant Officer of the Navy Warrant Officer (RSM of the Army) Warrant Officer of the Air Force
OR-9 E-9 Warrant Officer Warrant Officer Class 1 Warrant Officer
OR-8 E-8 - Warrant Officer Class 2 -
Senior Non-commissioned Officers
OR-8 E-8 Chief Petty Officer - Flight Sergeant
OR-7 E-7 - Staff Sergeant[1][7] -
OR-6 E-6 Petty Officer Sergeant Sergeant
Junior Non-commissioned Officers
OR-4 E-5 Leading Seaman Corporal/Bombardier Corporal
OR-3 E-4 - Lance Corporal/Lance Bombardier -
Enlisted
OR-3 E-3 Able Seaman [Private Proficient][1][8] Leading Aircraftman/Woman
OR-2 E-2 Seaman Private Aircraftman/Woman

See also

References and notes

  1. ^ a b c PACMAN, ADF Pay and Conditions Manual, Vol.2, Chap.1, Part.4, pg.1, sections 1.4.1 and 1.4.2, Edition AL12 (February 2008), People Strategies and Policy, Australian Department of Defence. (Online at http://www.defence.gov.au/DPE/PAC/V2_Ch1_Pt4.htm)
  2. ^ Defence Force Regulations 1952.
  3. ^ O-11 ranks - Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal and Marshal of the RAAF - may only be used in wartime and for honorary appointments.
  4. ^ O-10 ranks - The Chief of the Defence Force (currently ACM Angus Houston) is the sole O-10 ranked appointment.
  5. ^ O-9 ranks - The Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Chief of Joint Operations, Chief of the Capability Development Executive and Chiefs of the Navy, Army and Air Force comprise the six O-9 ranked appointments.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Chaplains:
    O-3 ranks - Chaplains are commissioned officers without rank, however they are accorded the rank of Captain (O-3) for reasons of protocol, ceremonial occasions and for saluting purposes.
    O-4/5 ranks - The more senior division 2 and 3 chaplains are accorded the rank of Major (O-4) and Lieutenant Colonel (O-5), respectively.
    O-6 ranks - The three Principal Chaplains representing the three major Christian denominations: Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant, are equivalent to a Colonel (O-6).
    O-7 ranks - The heads of the various churches and religions officially associated to the ADF's Religious Advisory Committee, such as the Anglican and Catholic Bishops of the Military, are equivalent to a Brigadier (O-7).
  7. ^ Without prejudice to existing holders of the rank, the Army has ceased to promote soldiers to the rank of Staff Sergeant.[citation needed]
  8. ^ "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 http://www.defence.gov.au/DPE/PAC/V2_Ch1_Pt4.htm and http://www.defence.gov.au/DPE/PAC/V2_Ch3_Pt2_Div3.htm
    This is the same as the situation with Seaman being re-classified to Able Seaman, and Aircraftman/Women being re-classified Leading Aircraftman/Women after 12 months; the requirements are the same for all three services. Thus, Able Seaman and Leading Aircraftman/Women do not outrank an Army Private.
    The relevant regulations are:
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