Officer Cadet is a rank Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms. Ranking systems have been known for most of military history to be advantageous for military operations, in particular with regards held by military cadets The word is recorded in English since 1634, originally for a young son, identical to the French, which is itself derived from the gascon Occitan capdet "captain, chief," in turn from the Late Latin capitellum, the diminutive of Latin caput "head" (hence also chief) during their training to become commissioned officers An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position. Commissioned officers are typically the only persons, in a military environment, able. The term Officer Trainee is used interchangeably in some countries. Some countries refer to naval officer cadets as midshipmen A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonweath countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, India, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya. The rank was also used, prior to 1968, by the Royal Canadian, although in other countries this means something slightly different.

In the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland[note 7] is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing, the rank is also used by members of university cadet units who are not actually training to become officers.

Common military ranks Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms. Ranking systems have been known for most of military history to be advantageous for military operations, in particular with regards
Officers An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position. Commissioned officers are typically the only persons, in a military environment, able
Navies Armies Air forces
Admiral of the Fleet Marshal Marshal is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word derives from Old High German marah "horse" and schalh "servant", and originally meant "stable keeper". As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few / Field Marshal Field Marshal is a military officer rank. Today, it is the highest rank in the armies in which it is used, one step above a general or colonel-general Marshal of the Air Force
Admiral Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above Vice Admiral and below Admiral of the Fleet/Fleet Admiral. It is usually abbreviated to "Adm." or "ADM". Where relevant, Admiral is a 4 star rank General A general officer is an officer of high military rank. The term or equivalent is used by nearly every country in the world. General can be used as a generic term for all grades of general officer, or it can specifically refer to a single rank that is simply called general Air Marshal Air Marshal is a 3 star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank
Commodore Commodore is a military rank used in many navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a navy captain, but is less than that of a rear admiral Brigadier Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is considerably variable. It is generally superior to a full Colonel and subordinate to a Major General. A Brigadier typically commands a Brigade consisting of three battalions (approximately 3,000 troops). It is usually a flag rank in most military structures around the world. In some Air Commodore Air Commodore is an air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure
Captain Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel Colonel Colonel (Col or COL) is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country in the world. It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures. A colonel is typically in charge of a regiment in the army Group Captain Group Captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above Wing Commander and immediately below Air Commodore. The name of the rank is the complete phrase, and is never shortened to "Captain"
Commander Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement Lt. Colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence. A lieutenant colonel is typically in charge of Wing Commander Wing Commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above Squadron Leader and immediately below Group Captain. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "Commander"
Lt. Commander Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a Lieutenant and subordinate to a Commander. The corresponding rank in most armies (armed services) and air forces is Major, and in the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces is Squadron Leader. The NATO rank code is OF-3 Major In the US Army and US Marine Corps, a Major is typically a staff officer, either a battalion Executive Officer (second in command), or a battalion staff officer such as the Operations Officer (S-3) / Commandant Commandant is a military or police title or rank. In the French, Spanish and Irish militaries it is a rank equivalent to Major. In anglophone nations it is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these cases a Squadron Leader ranks above Flight
Lieutenant Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service, emergency medical services or police officer rank Captain The army rank of Captain is an officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically the commander, or second in command, of a company or squadron . But in the Chinese People's Liberation Army, this rank maybe is the commander of a Flight Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above Flying Officer and immediately below Squadron Leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "Lieutenant". In informal usage, a flight lieutenant is sometimes referred to
Sub-Lieutenant In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of flying officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF). An RN sub-lieutenant ranks above an Army second lieutenant or an RAF pilot officer Lieutenant Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service, emergency medical services or police officer rank Flying Officer Flying Officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these cases a Flying Officer usually ranks above
Ensign Ensign is a junior rank of commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name 2nd Lieutenant Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces Pilot Officer Pilot Officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below Flying Officer. It normally denotes an Officer who has elected to join as a non-graduate direct entrant Officer, as those with degrees usually only serve a week at the rank after graduation from
Midshipman A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, India, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya. The rank was also used, prior to 1968, by the Royal Canadian Officer Cadet Officer Cadet
Seamen, Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks soldiers A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary. In most languages, "soldier" includes commissioned and non-commissioned officers in national land forces and airmen Airman is a term used to refer to any enlisted personnel in the United States Air Force or Other Ranks in the Royal Air Force . It is also a specific rank in the United States Air Force. More informally, it can refer to any member of an air force or to any pilot or aviator, military or civilian. When capitalized, it can mean any member of the
Warrant Officer The rank was first used in the English Royal Navy and is today used in many other countries, essentially the Commonwealth and USA. Outside the USA they are effectively senior non-commissioned officers with long military experience, although technically in a class of their own between NCOs and commissioned officers Sergeant Major A Sergeant Major is a rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers. In the United States, there are various degrees of Sergeant Major (Command Sergeant Major , Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA)), but they are Warrant Officer The rank was first used in the English Royal Navy and is today used in many other countries, essentially the Commonwealth and USA. Outside the USA they are effectively senior non-commissioned officers with long military experience, although technically in a class of their own between NCOs and commissioned officers
Petty Officer At the height of the Age of Sail there was a group of inferior officers between the sea officers, both commissioned and warrant, and the sailors commonly known as petty officers. These were men with some claim to officer's rank, sufficient to distinguish them from ordinary ratings without raising them so high as the sea officers. Several were Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent
Leading Seaman Leading Seaman is a junior non-commissioned rank or rate in navies, particularly those of the Commonwealth. When it is used by NATO nations, leading seaman has the rank code of OR-4. It is often equivalent to the army and air force rank of corporal and some navies use corporal rather than leading seaman Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4. The word is probably derived from a medieval Italian phrase capo corporale, meaning "head of a body ". It may also derive from an appointment as an officer's bodyguard, Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4. The word is probably derived from a medieval Italian phrase capo corporale, meaning "head of a body ". It may also derive from an appointment as an officer's bodyguard,
Seaman Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks Private A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" (a term still used in the United Kingdom) who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalized into service by a nobleman forming an army. The usage of Private dates from the 18th century, when the army Aircraftman Aircraftman , or Aircraftwoman (ACW), is the lowest rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of several other Commonwealth countries

Contents

Australia

The Australian Defence Force follows the same usage as the British military system, using the rank of Officer Cadet for Australian Army (OCDT) and Royal Australian Air Force (OFFCDT) for personnel undergoing initial officer training. Officer Cadets in the Australian Army, unlike Officer Cadets in the Royal Australian Air Force and Midshipmen in the Royal Australian Navy, do not yet hold a commission, and are not saluted. Officer Cadets in the Australian Army address Warrant Officers and officers as "Sir" or "Ma'am".

Initial officer training can occur through either single-service institutions, such as the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Royal Australian Naval College, or the Officer Training School RAAF, or through the tri-service Australian Defence Force Academy. The ranks of Officer Cadet, Staff Cadet, or Midshipman are primarily found at these establishments. However, RAAF Officer trainees are often appointed at higher rank while undergoing their initial training course at OTS, if they have prior military experience, either as Officer Cadets prior to their initial officer course, or at Airman rank. Officer Cadets are also appointed in the Australian Army Reserve where training is conducted on a part-time basis at various University Regiments around the country.

Australian Army Reserve Officer Cadets must pass various training courses (conducted at different barracks around Australia) throughout their training with the final module completed at the Royal Military College, Duntroon before being commissioned.

At the Royal Military College, Duntroon and University Regiments, the title of 'Staff Cadet' is often used to address Officer Cadets although this is not an official rank.

At ADFA, upon completion of all academic training through the University of New South Wales-ADFA, military training and subsequent training at other military establishments, Officer Cadets from the Australian Defence Force are promoted as commissioned officers.

Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers and Air Combat Officers joining the RAAF directly through the Officers' Training School (without going to ADFA) also start their career as an Officer Cadet. Once they have completed their employment training (2FTS, SATC and SAW respectively), they are promoted.

Canada

Canadian Naval Cadet sleeve insignia Canadian army Officer Cadet sleeve insignia Canadian air force Officer Cadet sleeve insignia

In the Canadian Forces the rank of Officer Cadet (OCdt) is held by any beginning officer, as well as students attending the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. For Canadian Navy members of the same rank, Naval Cadet (NCdt) is used in lieu of Officer Cadet. They are referred to and addressed as, for example, "Mr Smith" or "Miss Smith", or more formally as "Officer Cadet Smith" or "Naval Cadet Smith". There is also a tendency in less cordial environments to refer to an Officer Cadet as "OC Smith".

Officer Cadets may sometimes hold a staff or even line appointment within a unit, such as second-in-command of a platoon within a company-sized or larger unit; this is usually done for training purposes, but may also be done to fill holes in an establishment due to manpower shortages within the officer cadre.

Officer Cadets in the CF are subordinate officers, and billet and mess with other officers, but do not carry the Queen's commission and are not entitled to receive salutes. Also, they are generally addressed as "Mister" or "Miss" by non-commissioned members, but may just as appropriately be referred to as "Sir" or "Ma'am".

The rank insignia is a narrow gold braid (1/4-inch; note difference with standard braid size) on the cuff of the DEU (Distinctive Environmental Uniform) jacket, and on the epaulettes of all other uniforms. The peak of the service cap (if worn) is plain. This gives rise to the somewhat derogatory term 'quarter-inch admiral' as a referent for OCdt/NCdts who try to insist that they be treated as commissioned officers (i.e. be accorded salutes, etc.)

In French, the titles are Élève-officier (élof) for Officer Cadets and Aspirant de marine (aspm) for Naval Cadets .

Singapore

Main article: Officer Cadet School (Singapore)

In the Singapore Armed Forces, potential servicemen training to be officers are known as Officer Cadets in the Army and Air Force, while those in the Navy are known as Midshipmen. All Officer Cadets and Midshipmen receive tri-service initial training in Officer Cadet School before being sent to the appropriate training schools. They return to OCS for their commissioning parade.

Officer Cadets and Midshipmen wear one, two, or three white bars on their shoulderboards to denote their seniority. The graduating class of Officer Cadets wear peaked caps and berets depending on their vocations, and are accorded the privilege of being addressed "Sir" by junior Officer Cadets. At this point, they are given more privileges and responsibilities commensurate with their seniority.

Officer Cadets take turns to hold various administrative and exercise appointments. Administrative appointment-holders' shoulderboards have additional loops and whorls known as "fishes" in addition to their existing one, two or three bars. Exercise appointment-holders wear yellow rank insignia appropriate to the appointment of the Officer Cadet. For example, an exercise Platoon Commander will wear two bars of a Lieutenant, and his exercise Platoon Sergeant will wear a brassard with First Sergeant's chevrons.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom the rank of Officer Cadet is held by students in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Royal Air Force College at RAF Cranwell.

Officer Cadets in the British Armed Forces are treated in most respects as commissioned officers, except that Officer Cadets are not saluted (RAFVR(T) aside). In the British Army and Royal Air Force they are referred to and addressed as, for example, "Mr Smith" or "Miss Smith", or more formally as "Officer Cadet Smith" or as "Sir" or "Ma'am".

In the Royal Navy the abbreviation for Officer Cadet is O/C, in the Army OCdt, in the RAF Off Cdt.[citation needed]

Royal Navy

In Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, the rank is non-substantive and only used in the initial phases of training, after which officers use their substantive ranks of Midshipman or Sub-Lieutenant depending on education, or occasionally Lieutenant for certain specialisations. Formerly, cadets at the Royal Naval Colleges at Dartmouth and Osborne had the substantive rank of Naval Cadet, or Cadet, RN, until passing out of Dartmouth as a midshipman. This rank is still mentioned in the Naval Discipline Act 1957, but is no longer used.

The rank is also held in the first year of training by members of the University Royal Naval Units (after which, they use the rank of midshipman).

Army

The rank of Officer Cadet is held by those undergoing either the Regular Commissioning Course at Sandhurst or the Territorial Army Commissioning Course (TACC) holding an AOSB Main Board Pass. The TACC is administered by Sandhurst but run in modules divided between Sandhurst and TA Regional Training Centres[1]. Personnel in the early stages of TACC without a Main Board Pass are given the appointment of Potential Officer (PO)[citation needed].

Until the Second World War, cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst were referred to as Gentleman Cadets.

The rank is also held by members of the University Officers' Training Corps (UOTCs),[2] which are open to university students. Officer Cadets in the UOTCs are not trainee officers, although a minority do go to Sandhurst after leaving university.[3]

Royal Air Force

The rank of Officer Cadet is held by those undergoing Initial Officer Training at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell.

Pilot Officers of the RAFVR(T) hold the acting rank of Officer Cadet until they successfully complete their Officers' Initial Training at RAFC Cranwell[citation needed] – they differ from other RAF Officer Cadet ranks in that they hold a commission, and are therefore saluted. Within the Air Cadet Organisation, the rank of Officer Cadet is currently only used internally and Officer Cadets are referred to by their substantive rank in written documents.

Students undergoing the Foundation Degree course at DCAE Cosford, having been selected for service as Engineer Officers from the ranks, hold their previous rank while wearing Officer Cadet rank insignia for the duration, prior to attending Initial Officer Training.

The rank is also held by members of University Air Squadrons.

Rank insignia

Royal Navy

Royal Navy Officer Cadets wear shoulder flashes with a white square after they complete the first phase of training (7 weeks). Formerly, the insignia was a navy blue patch on both sides of the coat collar, with a white buttonhole and gold button, similar to a midshipman's patch. They continue to wear these tabs below their rank insignia when wearing rank in later phases until they pass out of BRNC at the end of their initial training. The No.1 Uniform bears no other qualifying marks or insignia.

British Army

British Army Officer Cadets in the University Officers' Training Corps[2] wear zero to three horizontal bars on the rank slide[4]. There is considerable variation between the rank structure and rank slides in different UOTCs as they operate independently.

Under Officer is an appointment, not a rank, and outside the OTC they only have the status of ordinary Officer Cadets.

Royal Air Force

Rank insignia for RAF Officer Cadet (Service Dress)

Royal Air Force Officer Cadets wear a one inch wide white band on all non-ceremonial uniforms. This white band can have a narrower coloured band across its width indicating which of the training squadrons at the RAF College the cadet belongs to: yellow for 'B' Squadron, blue for 'C' Squadron, and green for 'D' Squadron. A thin white band is worn throughout the Basic phase with the Regiment Training Flight (term one), a thicker white band is adopted in term two, the white band remains the same in term three but with the addition of the Pilot Officer's rank stripe in the fore. 'A' Squadron is currently the home of the RAD Flight(injuries flight)and of the DELTA flight (additional leadership training flight). Aircrew Cadets graduate as Sergeant Aircrew, not officers; this status is denoted by a red band on the white background and the RAF airman's cap badge with a white patch behind. Members of all squadrons who are injured are moved to the Development(formerly Holding) Flight and wear a purple band on the white background.

On the service dress and mess dress uniforms, RAF cadets wear the braid of the rank they will hold on graduation. However, gorget patches (rectangular white tabs with one triangular end) are worn on both lapels. The only exception for this is the female mess dress, where they are worn on the sleeve. The only other distinctive identifiers are on headdress – a white patch on the beret behind the badge. The cap badge is the same as that worn by a commissioned officer (between the ranks of Pilot Officer and Group Captain), but with a white band around the cap. This band is removed on graduation.

A blue band on the white background is also used to denote Officer Cadets of the University Air Squadrons (UASs) who are receiving Bursaries from the Royal Air Force. UAS cadets who are not in receipt of Scholarships wear just the 1 inch white band with no coloured band. UAS Officer Cadets wear airmen's headdress with a white band (except for ESUAS who wear standard airman headdress with a black band in contrast to standard UAS protocols).

Officer Cadets of the RAFVR(T) wear the 1 inch white band with the gilt VRT identifier positioned centrally. VR(T) Officer Cadets wear the standard Officer's peaked cap while serving at their units, a white hat band is issued for the week long Officers Initial Course to maintain uniformity with regular Officer Cadets under training.

United States

The United States Army, United States Coast Guard and Air Force use the term "Cadet" for officer candidates in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and for students at the United States Military Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy and at the United States Air Force Academy as well as Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. The term "Officer Candidate" or "Officer Trainee" is generally used for officer candidates who are seeking their commission by means other than ROTC or a military academy, such as through Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Air Force Officer Training School (OTS). The United States Navy uses the term "Midshipman" for officer candidates in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, United States Merchant Marine Academy or at the United States Naval Academy, and the term "Officer Candidate" for others seeking a commission as an officer. The term "cadet" may also be used generally to refer to students at a private military academy, or members of a youth group associated with the military who are receiving preliminary training with the intention of joining the military, sometimes at a younger age than they would be able to do otherwise.

Officer Cadets are generally paid below the standard pay rates for junior officers but receive some of the rights and responsibilities of a junior officer during their training. Officer Cadets are nominally in the chain of command and have, in certain battles, been the surviving officer in a unit and thus in command.[citation needed] Officer cadets, trainees, and midshipmen are considered Geneva Conventions Category I personnel.

ROTC

Cadets and Midshipmen in the ROTC program hold training ranks equivalent to enlisted soldiers during their first three years of training and officer-equivalent ranks during their senior year, except in the Air Force where they hold officer-equivalent rank during their junior and senior years. Cadets or Midshipmen holding cadet-enlisted rank must salute cadet or Midshipman officers within their own branch of the service. At the service academies, they hold similar ranks (generally for the first two years, they hold simulated low enlisted ranks, then in the third year, senior enlisted ranks, and in the final year, officer ranks). However, at the academies and some ROTC units, it is not customary for Cadets or Midshipmen to salute each other regardless of rank, nor will they salute ROTC cadets senior to them. All Cadets and Midshipmen are required to salute commissioned officers regardless of branch.

Cadet officer ranks in US Army ROTC are denoted by "pips" – one to three circular insignia denoting the company-grade equivalents, one to three diamond-shaped insignia denoting the field-grade equivalents [1]. For Midshipman ranks, both junior and senior officer equivalencies wear from one to six 1/4" gold stripes or bars. US Air Force cadets wear rank shoulderboards or lapel insignia which carry miniaturized insignia.

Service academies

Each U.S. service academy has its own unique set of insignia, different from that of its service's ROTC program.

U.S. Military Academy (West Point)

Distinctive United States Military Academy class insignia are worn on the collar and epaulets of certain uniforms. An enameled shield bearing a Greek sword surmounted by the helmet of Pallas, worn on the left collar or above cadet rank stripes/bars on epaulets, is the standard class insignia for third- (yellow shield), second- (grey shield), or first-class (black shield) cadets. On traditional Dress Grey and Full Dress Grey uniforms and overcoats, the class insignia is found in the number of service stripes (one to three) denoting completed years of service at the Academy. These stripes are found on the lower sleeve. Visitors are sometimes confused to see cadets early in the academic year wearing the insignia of Cadet PFC: Such cadets were "turned back" for any of a variety of reasons, and are repeating the first year as cadets, but retain the rank that they earned as Cadet Privates First Class.

Rank within the Corps of Cadets is denoted by collar insignia "railroad tracks," a number of black enamel bars with silver outline, or epaulet stripes from one (CDT Corporal) to six (CDT Captain in certain command and staff roles) on certain uniforms. On the traditional Dress-Grey-based uniforms and overcoats, chevrons denote rank in the Corps. A Cadet Corporal wears two chevrons on the lower sleeve. A cadet sergeant wears two chevrons on the upper sleeve, a cadet lieutenant three, and a cadet captain from four to six chevrons. For cadets in the rank of cadet sergeant and up, various combinations of stars, diamonds, rockers or arcs, and other devices are used on the sleeves to denote specific positions/jobs. The title of Cadet Captain is used for all cadets wearing four or more stripes/bars. The Brigade Commander, also called the First Captain, wears six stripes/bars/sleeve chevrons with a gold star.[2]

U.S. Air Force Academy

The shoulderboard insignia of the USAF Academy cadet wing commander

The rank insignia of United States Air Force Academy cadets is denoted on their shoulderboards in all "blue" uniforms, including day-to-day "blues", service dress, mess dress and parade dress. All cadet shoulder board insignia carries the heraldic nebuly device, commonly referred to as "clouds" by cadets. Third class cadets (sophomores) have one thin bar underneath the clouds; second class cadets wear one thin bar each above and below the clouds; and first class cadets (seniors) have one thin bar below the clouds and two above. Additional chevrons denote cadet non-commissioned officer ranks, while additional bars denote cadet officer ranks. A diamond indicates that the cadet is a member of the wing or group staff and stars are used to denote cadet commanders.

On the battle dress uniform or Airman Battle Uniform, Air Force Academy cadets wear bars or chevrons on their lapels to denote their rank. Fourth class cadets wear no insignia, but are awarded a Prop and Wings after recognition. Third class cadets wear one chevron on each lapel, signifying that they are cadet/staff sergeants. Second class cadets wear two to five chevrons, indicating ranks from cadet/technical sergeant to cadet/chief master sergeant. First class cadets function as cadet officers and wear one to six bars on their lapels, corresponding to ranks from cadet/second lieutenant to cadet/colonel.

U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis)

The rank insignia of the United States Naval Academy is a combination of sleeve, shoulder and collar insignia, similar to that used by the Navy ROTC units.

United States Coast Guard Academy

There are two types of insignia used by Coast Guard Academy cadets. The first is a metal pin-on device. It is a colored shield with a gold anchor with a silver star above it. The color of the background denotes the class. The colors are Green for 4/c, red for 3/c, white for 2/c and blue for 1/c. The colors all have meaning as well with the red and green signifying the running lights on a vessel, the white because white lights are used as navigation lights signifying their role as guides for the 4/c, and blue for the officers that 1/c are about to become. The second type of insignia are shoulder boards. All cadet shoulder boards have a slightly smaller version of the shield found on officer shoulderboards and stripes denoting class or 1/c leadership positions. The 4/c have no stripes, 3/c 1 diagonal stripe, 2/c 2 diagonal stripes, and 1/c 1 horizontal stripe. First class leadership positions have increasing amounts of horizontal stripes up to six as the regimental commander.

See also

References

  1. ^ "RMAS courses". http://www.sandhurst.mod.uk/courses/index.htm#ta.
  2. ^ a b "University Officer Training Corps Home Page". Ministry of Defence. http://www2.army.mod.uk/uotc/index.htm.
  3. ^ "University Officer Training Corps About Us". Ministry of Defence. http://www2.army.mod.uk/uotc/about_us.htm. "UOTCs are military units but it is not about training students for war. Many UOTC members do go on to join the Armed Forces, both full and part time, but the majority have no further contact with the forces after they graduate."
  4. ^ Illustration of rank slide
  5. ^ Illustration of JUO rank slide
  6. ^ Illustration of SUO rank slide
United States commissioned officer and officer candidate ranks
Officer candidate O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6 O-7 O-8 O-9 O-10 Special Special
Approximate insignia: (no universal insignia) (no authorized insignia)
Air Force: CDT / OT 2d Lt 1st Lt Capt Maj Lt Col Col Brig Gen Maj Gen Lt Gen Gen GAF[1][4] [2]
Army: CDT / OC 2LT 1LT CPT MAJ LTC COL BG MG LTG GEN GA[1][4] General of the Armies[1][4]
Marine Corps: Midn / Cand 2ndLt 1stLt Capt Maj LtCol Col BGen MajGen LtGen Gen [2] [2]
Navy: MIDN / OC ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT RDML RADM VADM ADM FADM[1][4] Admiral of the Navy[1][4]
Coast Guard: CDT ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT RDML RADM VADM ADM [2] [2]
Public Health Service: [2] ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT RADM RADM VADM ADM [2] [2]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: [2] ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT RDML RADM VADM[1][4] [3] [2] [2]
Grade inactive [1] Grade never created [2] Grade is authorized for use by U.S. Code but has not been created [3] Grade requires Congressional approval for re-activation [4]
United States warrant officer ranks
W-1 W-2 W-3 W-4 W-5
Approximate insignia: (no universal insignia) (no universal insignia) (no universal insignia) (no universal insignia) (no universal insignia)
Air Force: WO-1[1] CWO-2[1] CWO-3[1] CWO-4[1] CWO-5[1]
Army: WO1 CW2 CW3 CW4 CW5
Marine Corps: WO-1 CWO-2 CWO-3 CWO-4 CWO-5
Navy: WO-1[1] CWO-2 CWO-3 CWO-4 CWO-5
Coast Guard: [3] CWO-2 CWO-3 CWO-4 [3]
Public Health Service: [3] [3] [3] [3] [2]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: [2] [2] [2] [2] [2]
Grade inactive [1] Grade never created [2] Grade is authorized for use by U.S. Code but has not been created [3]

Categories: Military ranks | Military ranks of Australia | Military ranks of Canada | Military ranks of the United Kingdom | Military ranks of the United States Army | Military ranks of the United States Air Force

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