RAF other ranks

Navies Armies Air forces
Commissioned officers
Admiral of
the fleet		 Marshal or
Field marshal		 Marshal of
the air force
Admiral General Air chief marshal
Vice admiral Lieutenant general Air marshal
Rear admiral Major general Air vice-marshal
Commodore Brigadier or
Brigadier general		 Air commodore
Captain Colonel Group captain
Commander Lieutenant colonel Wing commander
Lieutenant
commander		 Major or
Commandant		 Squadron leader
Lieutenant Captain Flight lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant Lieutenant or
First lieutenant 		Flying officer
Ensign Second
lieutenant		 Pilot officer
Midshipman Officer cadet Officer cadet
Enlisted grades
Chief petty officer or
Warrant officer		 Sergeant major or
Warrant officer		 Warrant officer
Petty officer Sergeant Sergeant
Leading seaman Corporal Corporal
Seaman Private Aircraftman

The term used in the Royal Air Force to refer to all ranks below commissioned officer level is Other Ranks (ORs). It includes Warrant Officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and airmen.


Ranks

NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
United Kingdom Royal Air Force
(United Kingdom)
(Edit)		 No equivalent
Flight sergeant
Flight sergeant aircrew
Sergeant
Sergeant aircrew
Senior aircraftman/woman technician
Senior aircraftman/woman
 No insignia
Master aircrew Warrant officer Chief technician Corporal Lance corporal
RAF Regiment only		 Leading aircraftman/woman Aircraftman/Woman
Abbreviation MAcr WO FS Chf Tech Sgt Cpl LCpl SAC(T) SAC LAC AC

Origins

Upon the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, rank titles and badges for ORs were adopted from the British Army, specifically the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). The RFC ranks of Warrant Officer Class I, Warrant Officer Class II, Flight Sergeant, Sergeant and Corporal were directly adopted, although the four-bladed propeller above the Sergeants' and Flight Sergeants' chevrons was dropped. The double-bladed propeller used as the badge of rank for an RFC Air Mechanic 1st Class was introduced as the trade classification badge for Leading Aircraftman. The rank of Aircraftman replaced the RFC rank of Air Mechanic 2nd Class.

Changes in 1939—Warrant Officers

In 1939, the ranks of Warrant Officer Class I and Warrant Officer Class II were combined as a single rank, Warrant Officer. RAF warrant officers were given equivalent status to the continuing Army rank of Warrant Officer Class I.

Changes in 1946—Aircrew

On 1 July 1946, NCOs serving as aircrew were assigned different rank badges which distinguished them from ORs in ground trades. The new ranks were:

Master Aircrew equivalent to Warrant Officer Eagle within wreath below Royal Arms
Aircrew I equivalent to Flight Sergeant Three 6-pointed stars within wreath below eagle below crown
Aircrew II equivalent to Sergeant Three 6-pointed stars within wreath below eagle
Aircrew III equivalent to Sergeant Two 6-pointed stars within wreath below eagle
Aircrew IV equivalent to Sergeant One 6-pointed star within wreath below eagle
Aircrew Cadet for trainee aircrew Empty wreath below eagle

Changes in 1950—Technicians and Aircrew

In 1950, a new grading system for technicians was introduced. This involved the creation of the following ranks:

Also in 1950, the unpopular NCO aircrew ranks were abolished, although Master Aircrew was retained as a rank. Aircrew I became Flight Sergeant Aircrew and Aircrew II, III and IV became Sergeant Aircrew. Both new ranks adopted a gold eagle above the chevrons to permit continuing distinction from ground trades. Aircrew cadets wore the eagle on its own.

Master Aircrew Flight Sergeant Aircrew Sergeant Aircrew

Changes in 1951—Junior Ranks

On 1 January 1951, two junior ranks were introduced:

Changes in 1964—Technicians

In 1964, the technician ranks were abolished, with the exception of Junior Technician and Chief Technician, the latter becoming an intermediate rank between Sergeant and Flight Sergeant for Technical Trades. Junior Technicians adopted the four-bladed propeller as their badge of rank and Chief Technicians adopted a treble chevron surmounted by a four-bladed propeller as their rank insignia. Master Technicians, Senior Technicians and Corporal Technicians became Warrant Officer, Sergeant and Corporal respectively. The ORs structure became:

Changes in 2005—phasing out of Junior Technician

From 2005 onwards, no more airmen have been promoted to Junior Technician. Although there are currently personnel in the rank of Junior Technician, once they have all been promoted or discharged from the RAF, the rank will cease to be used. From March 2005, SACs in technical trades who had attained the Operational Performance Standard were promoted to SAC(T) and given a new badge of rank, consisting of the three-bladed propeller inside a circle. This new rank was introduced, to distinguish airmen trained to work unsupervised from those who were not, and is equivalent to the old Junior Technician rank.

Introduction of Lance Corporal

On 1 April 2010, the RAF Regiment introduced the rank of Lance Corporal for current SACs who undertake the role of section second-in-command/fire team commander. This gives them more authority on the ground, as well as a better pay band. It seems that the rank will not be moving to other trades, and will be solely in the RAF Regiment.[1]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "New Rank for the RAF Regiment", RAF website

External links