History of The Royal Canadian Air Force - Ranks and Uniforms - Ranks

Ranks

The original Royal Canadian Air Force used a rank structure similar to that of the Royal Air Force, with the exceptions, in the enlisted ranks, of the RCAF having the ranks of Warrant Officer 1 and 2, not having the ranks of Senior Aircraftman or Junior Technician, and not distinguishing between aircrew and non-aircrew for Sergeants and above. The rank structure is almost identical to that of the Royal Australian Air Force, once again with the exception of Warrant Officer 2. RCAF Women's Division personnel used a different rank structure. When the age limit for BCATP aircrew recruits was lowered to seventeen in 1941, the recruits were placed into the temporary rank of "Boy" until they reached their eighteenth birthday and became eligible for flying training. The current RCAF uses the army-style ranks instituted by the Canadian Forces when unification took place in 1968.

This chart compares ranks of the former and current RCAF. Ranks are listed with the most senior rank at the top.

Royal Canadian Air Force (to 1968) Canadian Forces (1968–1975)
Canadian Forces Air Command (1975–2011)
Royal Canadian Air Force (from 2011)
Air Chief Marshal / A/C/M General / Gen
Air Marshal / A/M Lieutenant General / LGen
Air Vice-Marshal / A/V/M Major General / MGen
Air Commodore / A/C Brigadier General / BGen
Group Captain / G/C Colonel / Col
Wing Commander / W/C Lieutenant Colonel / LCol
Squadron Leader / S/L Major / Maj
Flight Lieutenant / F/L Captain / Capt
Flying Officer / F/O Lieutenant / Lt
Pilot Officer / P/O Second Lieutenant / 2Lt
Flight Cadet / F/C (until 1962)
Officer Cadet / OCdt (after 1962)
Officer Cadet / OCdt
Warrant Officer, Class 1 / WO1 Chief Warrant Officer / CWO
Warrant Officer, Class 2 / WO2 Master Warrant Officer / MWO
Flight Sergeant / FS Warrant Officer / WO
Sergeant / Sgt Sergeant / Sgt
No Equivalent Master Corporal / MCpl
Corporal / Cpl Corporal / Cpl
Aircraftman Leading Aircraftman / LAC
Leading Airwoman / LAW
Private / Pte

Aircraftman First Class / AC1
Airwoman First Class/ AW1
Aircraftman Second Class / AC2
Airwoman Second Class/ AW2

Read more about this topic:  History Of The Royal Canadian Air Force, Ranks and Uniforms

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