The cadet rank at the United States Air Force Academy is determined by two factors: class year and job. First year, or fourth-class, cadets (C4C) have only one rank; but as they progress through the Academy, their roles, responsibilities, and ranks increase, culminating in their senior year, where roles as an Assistant Shop Lead garner the rank of cadet first lieutenant (C/1Lt), while roles such as the Cadet Wing Commander (AFCW/CC), Cadet Vice Wing Commander (AFCW/CV), or Cadet Wing Director of Operations (AFCW/DO) are accorded the highest rank of cadet colonel.
Cadet Rank Insignia Cadet Fourth Class - C4C (Freshman) Cadet Third Class - C3C (Sophomore) Cadet 4th Class Cadet Airman Cadet 3rd Class Cadet Staff Sergeant No insignia
Cadet Second Class - C2C (Junior) Cadet 2nd Class Cadet Technical SergeantCadet Master SergeantCadet Senior Master SergeantCadet Chief Master Sergeant Unranked Group/Squadron Staff Master Sergeant Squadron First Sergeant Senior Master Sergeant Squadron Superintendent Group SuperintendentWing Command Chief
Cadet First Class - C1C (Senior) Cadet 1st Class Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Cadet 1st Lieutenant Cadet Captain UnrankedSquadron StaffSquadron Staff Flight Commander Cadet MajorCadet Lieutenant ColonelGroup StaffWing StaffSquadron CommanderCadet ColonelWing DirectorsGroup CommanderVice Wing CommanderWing Commander
Former cadet ranks Cadet Third Class - C3C (Sophomore) Cadet Staff SergeantChief Clerk
Cadet Squadron Insignia Current Cadet Squadrons First Cadet GroupCadet Sq. 1Cadet Sq. 2Cadet Sq. 3Cadet Sq. 4Cadet Sq. 5Cadet Sq. 6Cadet Sq. 7Cadet Sq. 8Cadet Sq. 9Cadet Sq. 10Mighty Mach OneDeuceDogs of WarFightin' FourthWolfpackBull SixShadow SevenEagle EightViking NineTiger Ten
Second Cadet GroupCadet Sq. 11Cadet Sq. 12Cadet Sq. 13Cadet Sq. 14Cadet Sq. 15Cadet Sq. 16Cadet Sq. 17Cadet Sq. 18Cadet Sq. 19Cadet Sq. 20RebelevenDirty DozenBulldawgsCobrasWar EaglesChicken HawksStalag 17NightridersWolverinesTrolls
Third Cadet GroupCadet Sq. 21Cadet Sq. 22Cadet Sq. 23Cadet Sq. 24Cadet Sq. 25Cadet Sq. 26Cadet Sq. 27Cadet Sq. 28Cadet Sq. 29Cadet Sq. 30BlackjackRaptorsBarnstormersPhantomsRedeyeBaronsThunderbirdsBlackbirdsBlack PanthersKnights
Fourth Cadet GroupCadet Sq. 31Cadet Sq. 32Cadet Sq. 33Cadet Sq. 34Cadet Sq. 35Cadet Sq. 36Cadet Sq. 37Cadet Sq. 38Cadet Sq. 39Cadet Sq. 40Grim ReapersRoadrunnersKing Ratz (Cellar Ratz)Loose HawgsWild WeaselsPink PanthersSkyraidersAll-starsJedi KnightsWarhawks
Defunct Cadet Squadron Insignia Defunct Squadron Insignia Cadet Sq. 2Cadet Sq. 3 Cadet Sq. 5 Cadet Sq. 8 Cadet Sq. 9 DeuceBig 3 (Thirsty Third) Wolfpack Evil EightViking NineStar Trek
Defunct Squadron Insignia (cont) Cadet Sq. 14Cadet Sq. 17 Cadet Sq. 19Cadet Sq. 20 Cadet Sq. 23 Cadet Sq. 28 CobrasStalag 17 Playboy 19StarshipTrolls Barnstormers Blackbirds
Defunct Squadron Insignia (cont) Cadet Sq. 31 Cadet Sq. 34 Cadet Sq. 35Cadet Sq. 37Cadet Sq. 38Cadet Sq. 39 Cadet Sq. 40 Grim Reapers Thunderbolts/Razorbacks (Loose Hawgs) Wild WeaselsSkyraidersBanditsCampus RadsAli BabaWarhawks
Miscellaneous Insignia Merit lists Cadet merit list insignia are worn by those cadets who excel militarily (Commandant's List), academically (Dean's List), or athletically (Athletic Director's List). Cadets who earn a place on all three lists are awarded the insignia for the Superintendent's List. Cadet Merit List InsigniaCommandant's ListDean's ListAthletic Director's ListCommandant's & Dean's ListsCommandant's & Athletic Director's ListsDean's & Athletic Director's ListsSuperintendent's List
Aviation Cadet aviation insignia are worn by cadets who achieve certain milestones in their flight training. Cadet Aviation InsigniaUnmanned Aerial SystemsSoaring/Powered Flight - SoloCommand Soaring Instructor PilotCadet Aviation Instructor
Other qualifications While at the Air Force Academy, cadets may earn other insignia including: parachute wings, for completion of either freefall parachute training at the Academy or the U.S. Army's Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia; the Air Assault Badge for completion of the U.S. Army's Air Assault program at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; or the Bulldog badge for the completion of the U.S. Marine Corps' "Bulldog" programA program to commission USAF Academy cadets into the Marine Corps after they graduate. at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Other Cadet InsigniaParachute (jump) WingsAir Assault BadgeBulldog Badge
See also Cadet Wing Commander (AFCW/CC) Cadet Wing Director of Operations (AFCW/DO) United States Air Force Academy Cadet Wing United States Air Force Academy
Notes
References Squadron Insignia of the United States Air Force Academy, P. Michael Sheridan, 1990. ()
Contrails, various years. U.S. Air Force Academy, The Core of Cadet Life: Squadrons, https://www.usafa.edu/military/squadrons/ Retrieved 2021-09-08.