British Armed ForcesBadges of Rank

(including those unique to cadet forces)

Badges of Rank of the Royal Navy,Combined Cadet Force (Naval Section),and Sea Cadet Corps

Ordinary Rate(ORD)

Able Rate(AB)

Upon joining the Royal Navy, sailors become Ordinary Rates. They can subsequently be promoted to Able Rate, however this position holds no responsibility and is not a non-commissioned rank.

Badges of Rank of the Royal Navy,Combined Cadet Force (Naval Section),and Sea Cadet Corps

Leading Rate(LH)

Petty Officer(PO)

Chief Petty Officer(CPO)

Non-Commissioned Officers

Badges of Rank of the Royal Navy,Combined Cadet Force (Naval Section),and Sea Cadet Corps

Warrant Officer(2nd Class)

WO2

Warrant Officer(1st Class)

WO1

Warrant Officers

Badges of Rank of the Royal Navy,Combined Cadet Force (Naval Section),and Sea Cadet Corps

Midshipman Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant-Commander

Commissioned Officers

Badges of Rank of the Royal Navy,Combined Cadet Force (Naval Section),and Sea Cadet Corps

Commander Captain Commodore

Commissioned Officers

Badges of Rank of the Royal Navy,Combined Cadet Force (Naval Section),and Sea Cadet Corps

Rear Admiral Vice-Admiral Admiral Admiral of the Fleet

Commissioned Officers

Badges of Rank of the British Army,Combined Cadet Force (Army Section),and Army Cadet Force

There are many different titles for the first rank in the Army including Private, Rifleman, Trooper and Signaller, and Sapper.

Badges of Rank of the British Army,Combined Cadet Force (Army Section),and Army Cadet Force

Lance Corporal(LCpl)

Corporal(Cpl)

Serjeant(Sjt)

Colour Serjeant(CSjt)

ProbationaryInstructor

(PI)Cadet Forces only

Non-Commissioned Officers

The traditional spelling of Sergeant is changed to Serjeant in the Rifles. Infantry regiments have Colour Sergeants whilst other regiments and corps have Staff Sergeants.

Badges of Rank of the British Army,Combined Cadet Force (Army Section),and Army Cadet Force

Lance Corporal(Equiv to LCpl)

Lance Corporalof the Horse

(Equiv to Cpl)

Staff Corporal(Equiv to CSgt)

CorporalOf the Horse(Equiv to Sgt)

Non-Commissioned Officers unique to the Household Cavalry

Although similar in appearance the Lance Corporal of the Horse has a cloth crown above three chevrons, whilst the Corporal of the Horse has a metal crown above three chevrons.

Badges of Rank of the British Army,Combined Cadet Force (Army Section),and Army Cadet Force

Company Serjeant Major(CSM)

Warrant Officer 2nd Class(WO2)

Regimental Quarter-Master Serjeant(RQMS)

Warrant Officer 2nd Class(WO2)

Regimental Serjeant Major(RSM)

Warrant Officer 1st Class(WO1)

Warrant Officers

Badges of Rank of the British Army,Combined Cadet Force (Army Section),and Army Cadet Force

Second Lieutenant(2Lt)

Lieutenant(Lt)

Captain(Capt)

Commissioned Officers

Badges of Rank of the British Army,Combined Cadet Force (Army Section),and Army Cadet Force

Major(Maj)

Lieutenant-Colonel(Lt Col)

Colonel(Col)

Brigadier(Brig)

Commissioned Officers

Badges of Rank of the British Army,Combined Cadet Force (Army Section),and Army Cadet Force

Major-General(Maj Gen)

Lieutenant-General(Lt Gen)

General(Gen)

Field Marshall(Fld Mshl)

Commissioned Officers

Badges of Rank of the Royal Air Force,Combined Cadet Force (RAF Section),and Air Training Corps

Aircraftman

Badges of Rank of the Royal Air Force,Combined Cadet Force (RAF Section),and Air Training Corps

LeadingAircraftman

(LAC)

SeniorAircraftman

(SAC)

SeniorAircraftmanTechnician(SAC Tech)

JuniorTechnician(Jnr Tech)

Upon joining the Royal Air Force, personnel become Aircraftsman. They can subsequently be promoted to Leading Aircraftsman, Senior Aircraftsman (and Technician), and Junior Technician, however these positions hold no responsibility and are not non-commissioned ranks.

Badges of Rank of the Royal Air Force,Combined Cadet Force (RAF Section),and Air Training Corps

Corporal(Cpl)

Sergeant(Sgt)

ChiefTechnician(Chf Tech)

Flight Sergeant(FS)

Flight SergeantAircrew(FSA)

SergeantAircrew(Sgt Air)

Non-Commissioned Officers

Junior Corporal(JCpl)

Cadet Forces only

Badges of Rank of the Royal Air Force,Combined Cadet Force (RAF Section),and Air Training Corps

Warrant OfficerMaster Aircrew

Warrant Officers

Badges of Rank of the Royal Air Force,Combined Cadet Force (RAF Section),and Air Training Corps

Pilot Officer(Plt Off)

Flying Officer(Fg Off)

Flight Lieutenant(Flt Lt)

Commissioned Officers

Badges of Rank of the Royal Air Force,Combined Cadet Force (RAF Section),and Air Training Corps

Squadron Leader(Sqn Ldr)

Wing Commander(Wg Cdr)

Group Captain(Gp Capt)

Air Commodore(Air Cdre)

Commissioned Officers

Badges of Rank of the Royal Air Force,Combined Cadet Force (RAF Section),and Air Training Corps

Air Vice Marshall(AVM)

Air Marshall(Air Mshl)

Air Chief Marshall(Air Chf Mshl)

Marshall of theRoyal Air Force

(MRAF)

Commissioned Officers

Ordinary Rate(ORD)

Able Rate(AB)

Rifleman

AircraftmanLeading

AircraftmanSenior

Aircraftman& SAC Technician

JuniorTechnician

Lance Corporal

Lance Corporal Corporal Serjeant Colour Serjeant

CSMRQMS

Corporal

Sergeant

SergeantAircrew

ChiefTechnician

FlightSergeant

Leading Rate Petty Officer Chief Petty Officer Warrant Officer2nd Class

PI

FlightSergeantAircrew

CSMRQMS

Warrant Officer2nd Class

Warrant Officer1st Class

RSM

Warrant Officer

Second Lieutenant

Pilot Officer

Midshipman Sub-Lieutenant

Master Aircrew

Second Lieutenant

Pilot Officer

Midshipman Sub-Lieutenant

Flying Officer Flight Lieutenant

Lieutenant Captain

Lieutenant Lieutenant-Commander

Major

Squadron Leader

Colonel

Group Captain

Captain Commodore

Air Commodore

Brigadier

Rear Admiral

Lieutenant-Colonel

Wing Commander

Commander

Major-General

Air Vice Marshall

Lieutenant-General

Air Marshall

Vice Admiral Admiral

Air Chief Marshall

General

Admiral of the Fleet

Major-General

Air Vice Marshall

Rear Admiral

Field Marshall

Marshall of theRoyal Air Force