Australian Defence Force ranks

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) utilises ranks for the officers and non-commissioned personnel of its three service branches: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Each of the branches largely inherited the rank structure and rank insignia from their counterparts in the British Armed Forces.

The following tables show the "equivalent rank and classifications" for the three services, as defined in the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual. "Equivalent rank" means the corresponding rank set out under Regulation 8 of the Defence Force Regulations 1952.Defence Force Regulations 1952.

Commissioned officer ranks

NATOcode Auscode Navy Army RAAF Flag/General/Air officers OF-10 O-11 Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the RAAF OF-9 O-10 Admiral General Air Chief Marshal OF-8 O-9 Vice Admiral Lieutenant general Air Marshal OF-7 O-8 Rear Admiral Major General Air Vice Marshal OF-6 O-7 Air Commodore Senior officers OF-6 O-7 CommodorePrincipal ChaplainPrincipal MSWO Brigadier — OF-5 O-6 Captain (RAN)Senior Chaplain (Class 4)Principal MSWO (Class 4) Colonel Group Captain OF-4 O-5 CommanderChaplain/MSWO (Div/Class 1-3) Lieutenant Colonel Wing Commander OF-3 O-4 Lieutenant Commander Major Squadron Leader Junior officers OF-2 O-3 Lieutenant Captain (Army) Flight Lieutenant OF-1 O-2 Sub Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer OF-1 O-1 Acting Sub Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer—O-0Midshipman—Officer Cadet Cadets — — — Officer Cadet/Staff Cadet(RMC) -

Warrant Officer ranks

NATOcode Aus/code Navy Army RAAF Warrant officersOR-10E-10SEACSEACSEACWO-NRSM-AWOFF-AFOR-9E-9Warrant OfficerWarrant Officer Class 1 Warrant officerOR-8E-8— Warrant Officer Class 2—

Note that the most senior Warrant Officer in each of the three services is appointed and promoted to either Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N), Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A), or Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF), as appropriate. Although these are positional appointments, these three members hold the rank of Warrant Officer in their respective services and each wear special insignia, different from the rank insignia worn by other warrant officers.

In 2023 the E10 position of Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Force (SEAC) was created. This position can be staffed by a member from any of the three services and is rotational.

The RAN and the RAAF have two warrant officer ranks, the army has three. The soldier appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A) holds the unique Army rank of Warrant Officer (introduced in 1991 and senior to WO1). The Army rank of WO2 is the equivalent of the RAN and the RAAF's most senior NCOs, (i.e. Chief Petty Officer and Flight Sergeant). As Army WO2s hold a Warrant, while the RAN CPO and RAAF FSGT do not, WO2s are addressed as "Sir" or "Ma'am" by junior ranks, which extends to OCDTs and SCDTs.

Non-Commissioned Officer ranks

NATOcode Auscode Navy Army RAAF Senior non-commissioned officers OR-8 E-8 Chief Petty Officer — Flight Sergeant OR-7 E-7 — Staff Sergeant — OR-6 E-6 Petty Officer Sergeant Sergeant Junior non-commissioned officers OR-5 E-5 Leading Seaman Corporal/Bombardier Corporal OR-4 E-4 — Lance Corporal/Bombardier —

Other ranks

NATOCode AusCode Navy Army RAAF Enlisted OR-3 E-3 Able Seaman Private proficient Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman OR-2 E-2 Seaman Private Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman

Insignia

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Student officer ranks Rank group Student officer Midshipman Officer cadet Staff cadet Officer cadet

Other ranks The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Appointments Rank group Senior appointments Warrant Officer of the Navy Regimental sergeant major of the army Warrant Officer of the Air Force

History of Royal Australian Navy ranks

The historical changes to rank insignia for enlisted personnel of the navy. Admiral of the fleet Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commanderLieutenant Sub lieutenant Acting sub lieutenant

No insignia Petty officer 1st class Petty officer 2nd class Able seaman Ordinary seaman No insignia Chief petty officer Petty officer 1st class Petty officer 2nd class Leading seaman Able seaman Ordinary seaman Arm badge replaced by lapel badges No insignia Chief petty officer Petty officer 1st class Petty officer 2nd class Leading seaman Able seaman Ordinary seaman Royal Australian Navy Arm badge replaced by lapel badges No insignia Chief petty officer Petty officer 1st class Petty officer 2nd class Leading seaman Able seaman Ordinary seaman Royal Australian Navy Arm badge replaced by lapel badges No insignia Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Ordinary seaman Royal Australian Navy Three cuff buttons No insignia Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Ordinary seaman Royal Australian Navy No insignia Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Ordinary seaman No insignia Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Ordinary seaman No insignia Warrant officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Ordinary seaman No insignia Warrant officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Seaman Warrant officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Seaman Warrant Officer of the Navy Warrant officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Seaman TBU TBU Warrant Officer of the Navy Warrant officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading seaman Able seaman Seaman

History of Australian Army ranks Field marshal General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant<noinclude>

No insignia Regimental sergeant major of the army Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private(or equivalent) No insignia Regimental sergeant major of the army Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private(or equivalent)

Australian Defence Force ranks

Bron en licentie