Ranks of the Royal Australian Air Force

The rank structure of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been inherited from the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF based its officer ranks on the Royal Navy, and its airmen ranks on the British Army.

Unlike the RAF, RAAF rank abbreviations are always written in uppercase without spaces (e.g. Pilot Officer is written as PLTOFF, not Plt Off).

The rank insignia is very similar to that of the RAF for Corporal and above and for all officers. However the RAAF does not have the ranks of Senior Aircraftman, Junior Technician, Chief Technician or Master Aircrew. In 2022 the RAF renamed their lower ranks of Aircraftman (AC) to Air Recruit (AR) and Leading Aircraftman (LAC) to the ranks of Air Specialist '(Class 2 and 1)' and '(Class 1) Technician' to be more inclusive as they did not have the Aircraftwoman title for female service members. Both officers and airmen wear rank insignia on the chest when wearing General Purpose Uniform or Disruptive Pattern Combat Uniform. 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 cuff for officers and lower sleeve for Warrant Officers and the upper sleeve for airmen in their tunic and the sleeve of all enlisted Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) working uniform. The word 'Australia' appears immediately below all rank insignia worn on the shoulder or chest.

The most senior active rank of the RAAF, Air Marshal a three-star rank, is held by the Chief of Air Force. On the occasions that the Chief of the Defence Force is an officer of the RAAF, the rank of Air Chief Marshal is awarded. The rank of Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force has never been held as an active rank, however it is held as an honorary rank; previously by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh until his death in 2021, and currently by Charles III, King of Australia.

Officer ranks Air Officers Insignia Title Marshal of the RAAF Air Chief Marshal Air Marshal Air Vice-Marshal Air Commodore Abbreviation MRAAF ACM AIRMSHL AVM AIRCDREADF Code - O-10 O-9 O-8 O-7NATO Code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6Army Equivalent Field marshal General Lieutenant general Major general BrigadierNavy Equivalent Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore

Senior Officers Insignia Title Group Captain Wing Commander Squadron Leader Abbreviation GPCAPT WGCDR SQNLDRADF Code O-6 O-5 O-4NATO Code OF-5 OF-4 OF-3Army Equivalent Colonel Lieutenant Colonel MajorNavy Equivalent Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander

Junior Officers Insignia Title Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer Officer Cadet Abbreviation FLTLT FLGOFF PLTOFF OFFCDT ADF Code O-3 O-2 O-1 O-0NATO Code OF-2 OF-1 OF-1Army Equivalent Captain Lieutenant Second LieutenantNavy Equivalent Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant Acting Sub Lieutenant Midshipman

Enlisted ranks Warrant Officer Insignia Title Warrant Officer Abbreviation WOFFADF Code E-9NATO CodeOR-9Army Equivalent Warrant Officer Class 1Navy Equivalent Warrant Officer

Non-Commissioned Officers Insignia Title Flight Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Abbreviation FSGT SGT CPL ADF Code E-8 E-6 E-5NATO CodeOR-8OR-6OR-5Army Equivalent Warrant Officer Class 2 Sergeant CorporalNavy Equivalent Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer Leading Seaman

Aircraftmen/women Insignia Title Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman Abbreviation LAC/LACW AC/ACWADF Code E-3 E-1/2NATO CodeOR-3OR-1/2Army Equivalent Private Proficient PrivateNavy Equivalent Able Seaman Seaman

Special insignia Insignia Title Warrant Officer of the Air Force Abbreviation WOFF-AF Rank WOFF ADF Code E-10NATO CodeOR-9 Army Equivalent Regimental Sergeant Major of the ArmyRank:Warrant Officer Navy Equivalent Warrant Officer of the NavyRank:Warrant Officer

Ranks of the Royal Australian Air Force

Bron en licentie