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The term used in the Royal Air Force (RAF) to refer to all ranks below commissioned officer level is other ranks (ORs). It includes warrant officers (WOs), non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and airmen.

Ranks

NATO rank code OR-9 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Royal Air Force
rank insignia
(view) 		no insignia
rank title[1] Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force Warrant Officer Flight Sergeant Chief Technician Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal
(RAF Regiment) 		Air Specialist (Class 1) Technician Air Specialist (Class 1) Air Specialist (Class 2) Air Recruit
abbreviation WORAF WO FS Chf Tech Sgt Cpl LCpl AS1(T) AS1 AS2 AR
Aircrew
rank insignia 		no equivalent
rank title Master Aircrew Flight Sergeant Aircrew Sergeant Aircrew
abbreviation MAcr FSAcr SAcr

Origins

Upon the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918, rank titles and badges for ORs were adopted from the British Army, specifically the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). The RFC ranks of Flight Sergeant (equivalent to Staff Sergeant), Sergeant, Corporal and Air Mechanic were directly adopted. The RFC's four-bladed propeller trade classification badge above the Sergeants' and Flight Sergeants' chevrons was dropped.

To distinguish them from Army personnel, RAF personnel wore the RAF eagle on a rectangular patch below the shoulder seam on the sleeve. The RAF Eagle is depicted with its beak turned to the rear rather than the front. RAF NCOs were fond of saying that represented that their eyes were everywhere.

The trade classification of Leading Aircraftman was created on 5 April 1918 to fill a void in the Service ranks. It was granted the double-bladed propeller rank insignia of the RFC Air Mechanic 1st Class and was equivalent in rank and authority to the Army appointment of Lance-Corporal. On 1 January 1919 the rank of Aircraftman replaced the ranks of Private, Air Mechanic, and Clerk. Aircraftmen were nicknamed "Erks" (a corruption of the word 'Aircraft') by the senior ranks, which was preferred to 'other ranks' or 'troops'.

The rank of Master Clerk was originally equivalent to Sergeant Major 1st Class. On 28 November 1918, the new rank of Chief Master Clerk was made equivalent to the rank of Sergeant Major 1st Class, and the old rank of Master Clerk was made equivalent to the rank of Sergeant Major 2nd Class.

The original RAF ranks are vertically listed by seniority; the Technical ranks had precedence over the Administrative ranks, which in turn had precedence over the Service ranks. This was meant to keep non-technical NCOs from interfering with the efforts of technical and administrative NCOs. This was abolished in January 1919 and a streamlined single-column rank system was devised.

RAF other ranks (1 April 1918)[2][3][4] RAF other ranks (1 January 1919)[5][4]
Technical Administrative Service Other ranks
Chief Master Mechanic (Chief Master Clerk) Sergeant Major 1st Class Sergeant Major 1st Class
Master Mechanic (Master Clerk) Sergeant Major 2nd Class Sergeant Major 2nd Class
Chief Mechanic Flight Clerk Flight Sergeant Flight Sergeant
Sergeant Mechanic Sergeant Clerk Sergeant Sergeant
Corporal Mechanic Corporal Clerk Corporal Corporal
Air Mechanic 1st Class Clerk 1st Class (Leading Aircraftman) Leading Aircraftman
Air Mechanic 2nd Class Clerk 2nd Class Private 1st Class No insignia Aircraftman 1st Class
Air Mechanic 3rd Class Clerk 3rd Class Private 2nd Class Aircraftman 2nd Class

1930–1949

Warrant officers

In 1933, the ranks of Sergeant Major 1st Class and Sergeant Major 2nd Class were renamed Warrant Officer Class I and Warrant Officer Class II to put them in line with the Army. In 1939, the rank of Warrant Officer II was abolished and the rank of Warrant Officer I was renamed Warrant Officer.[4] RAF Warrant Officers were given equivalent status to the continuing Army rank of Warrant Officer Class I.

Aircrew

On 1 July 1946, NCOs serving as aircrew were assigned different rank badges which distinguished them from ORs in ground trades.[6] The new ranks were:

RAF aircrew ranks (1946–1950)
Aircrew rank Equivalent rank Insignia description[a] Rank insignia
Master Aircrew Warrant Officer Wreath closed by Royal Arms and inset with an RAF Eagle within.
Aircrew I Flight Sergeant Crown over Wreath closed by an RAF Eagle and inset with three 6-pointed stars within.
Aircrew II Sergeant Wreath closed by an RAF Eagle and inset with three 6-pointed stars within.
Aircrew III Corporal Wreath closed by an RAF Eagle and inset with two 6-pointed stars within.
Aircrew IV Leading Aircraftman Wreath closed by an RAF Eagle and inset with one 6-pointed star within.
Aircrew Cadet Trainee Wreath closed by an RAF Eagle and a blank field within.

1950s

In 1953, the crown was changed from the Tudor Crown to the Crown of St Edward, when Queen Elizabeth II adopted a stylised image of the crown for use in coats of arms, badges, logos and various other insignia.[7][4]

Technicians and aircrew

In 1950, a new grading system for technicians was introduced.[8] This involved the creation of the following ranks:

RAF technician ranks (1950–1964)
Technician rank Equivalent rank Rank insignia
Master Technician Warrant Officer
Chief Technician Flight Sergeant
Senior Technician Sergeant
Corporal Technician Corporal
Junior Technician Leading Aircraftman

Also in 1950, the unpopular NCO aircrew ranks were abolished, although Master Aircrew was retained as a rank.[6] Aircrew I became Flight Sergeant Aircrew and Aircrew II, III and IV became Sergeant Aircrew. Both new ranks adopted a gold RAF Eagle between the chevrons to permit continuing distinction from ground trades. Aircrew cadets wore the RAF Eagle on its own as a trade classification badge.

RAF aircrew ranks (1950–present)
Aircrew rank Rank insignia
Master Aircrew
Flight Sergeant Aircrew
Sergeant Aircrew

Junior ranks

On 1 January 1951, two junior ranks were introduced:

  • Senior Aircraftman/Senior Aircraftwoman with a triple-bladed propeller.
  • Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman with a double-bladed propeller (this had previously been only a trade classification and not a rank)

1960s

Technicians

1964 technician ranks
Chief technician
Junior technician

In 1964, the technician ranks were abolished, with the exception of Junior Technician and Chief Technician, the latter becoming an intermediate rank between Sergeant and Flight Sergeant for Technical Trades.[8] Junior Technicians adopted the four-bladed propeller as their badge of rank and Chief Technicians adopted a treble chevron surmounted by a four-bladed propeller as their rank insignia.[9] Master Technicians, Senior Technicians and Corporal Technicians became Warrant Officer, Sergeant and Corporal respectively. The ORs structure became:

Changes in the 2000s

Phasing out of Junior Technician

2005 Senior Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (Technician) rank

From 2005 onwards, no more airmen have been promoted to Junior Technician. Although there are currently personnel in the rank of Junior Technician, once they have all been promoted or discharged from the RAF, the rank will cease to be used. From March 2005, SACs in technical trades who had attained the Operational Performance Standard were promoted to Senior Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (Technician) SAC(T) and given a new badge of rank, consisting of the three-bladed propeller inside a circle.[9] This new rank was introduced to distinguish airmen trained to work unsupervised from those who were not, and is equivalent to the old Junior Technician rank.

Introduction of Lance Corporal

On 1 April 2010, the RAF Regiment introduced the rank of lance corporal for SACs at the time who undertook the role of section second-in-command/fire team commander. This gave them more authority on the ground, as well as a better pay band. The rank has not moved to other trades, and is solely in the RAF Regiment.[11]

Aviator replaces Airman/Airwoman

In November 2021 the official RAF magazine AirClues promulgated: "the term 'aviator' has now replaced the generic term of ‘airman’ to bring right up to date the way we should describe all of our personnel," since women now numbered a fifth of candidates applying to enlist in the RAF.[12]

Air Specialist replaces Airman/Airwoman

In July 2022, the RAF officially introduced the ranks Air recruit, Air specialist class 2, Air specialist class 1 and Air specialist (class 1) technician to replace the ranks Aircraftman/woman, Leading Aircraftman/woman, Senior Aircraftman/woman and Senior Aircraftman/woman (Technician). This was an attempt to further promote gender neutrality and inclusion with the RAF.[13]

Timeline of changes

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Royal Flying Corps
(1912–April 1918)[3] 		No insignia
Warrant Officer Class I Warrant Officer Class II Quartermaster sergeant Flight sergeant Sergeant Corporal Air Mechanic 1st Class Air Mechanic 2nd Class Air Mechanic 3rd Class
Royal Naval Air Service
(1914–April 1918)
2 golden cuff buttons, and a golden eagle pin on the collar
Chief Petty Officer Mechanic, 1st Grade Chief Petty Officer Mechanic, 2nd Grade Chief Petty Officer Mechanic, 3rd Grade
Petty Officer Mechanic Leading Mechanic Air Mechanic, 1st Class Air Mechanic, 1st Class (acting) Air Mechanic, 2nd Class
(1918 – 1919)[4] No insignia
Sergeant Major 1st Class Sergeant Major 2nd Class Flight sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private 1st Class Private 2nd Class
(1919 – 1933)[4] No insignia
Sergeant Major 1st Class Sergeant Major 2nd Class Flight sergeant Sergeant Corporal Leading aircraftman[b] Aircraftman 1st Class Aircraftman 2nd Class
(1933 – 1939)[4] No insignia
Warrant Officer Class I Warrant Officer Class II Flight sergeant Sergeant Corporal Leading aircraftman[b] Aircraftman 1st Class Aircraftman 2nd Class
(1939 – 1950) No insignia
Warrant Officer Flight sergeant Sergeant Corporal Leading aircraftman[b] Aircraftman 1st Class Aircraftman 2nd Class
(1950 – 1951)[8] No insignia
Warrant Officer Master technician Flight sergeant Chief technician Sergeant Senior technician Corporal Corporal technician Junior technician Leading aircraftman[b] Aircraftman 1st Class Aircraftman 2nd Class
(1951 – 1953) No insignia
Warrant Officer Master technician Flight sergeant Chief technician Sergeant Senior technician Corporal Corporal technician Junior technician Senior aircraftman Leading aircraftman Aircraftman
(1953 – 1964) No insignia
Warrant Officer Master technician Flight sergeant Chief technician Sergeant Senior technician Corporal Corporal technician Junior technician Senior aircraftman Leading aircraftman Aircraftman
(1964 – 2005)[9] No insignia
Warrant Officer Flight sergeant Chief technician Sergeant Corporal Junior technician Senior aircraftman/ woman Leading aircraftman/ woman Aircraftman/ woman
(2005 – 2010)[9] No insignia
Warrant Officer Flight sergeant Chief technician Sergeant Corporal Senior aircraftman/
woman technician 		Senior aircraftman/ woman Leading aircraftman/ woman Aircraftman/ woman
(2010 – 2022) No insignia
Warrant Officer Flight sergeant Chief technician Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal
(RAF Regiment only) 		Senior aircraftman/
woman technician 		Senior aircraftman/ woman Leading aircraftman/ woman Aircraftman/ woman
(2022 – present) No insignia
Warrant Officer Flight sergeant Chief technician Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal
(RAF Regiment only) 		Air specialist (class 1) technician Air specialist (class 1) Air specialist (class 2) Air recruit
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Aircrew
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
(1946 – 1950)[6]
Master aircrew Aircrew I Aircrew II Aircrew III Aircrew IV Aircrew Cadet
(1950 – 1953)
Master aircrew Flight sergeant aircrew Sergeant aircrew
(1953 – present)
Master aircrew Flight sergeant aircrew Sergeant aircrew
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The RAF Eagle in the insignia is properly displayed with its beak turned to the rear.
  2. ^ a b c d Used a two bladed propeller badge as a trade classification but not made a rank until 1951

References

  1. ^ "RAF Ranks". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. n.d. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  2. ^ Air Memorandum No. 1 (March 1918)
  3. ^ a b Barrass, M. B. "Royal Flying Corps Non Commissioned Officers 1912 - 1918". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Barrass, M. B. "RAF Non-Commissioned Ranks/Trade Classifications". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  5. ^ Air Ministry Weekly Order 109 (1921, reprint of 1923)
  6. ^ a b c Barrass, M. B. "Aircrew from 1946". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Victorian Coat of Arms". Victoria State Government. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Barrass, M. B. "Technician Trades 1950 - 1964". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d Barrass, M. B. "Technician Trades 1964 - present". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  10. ^ Jefford, C.G. (2010). Observers and Navigators: And Other Non-Pilot Aircrew in the RFC, RNAS and RAF. London: Grub Street. p. 285. ISBN 978-1-909808-02-7. Air Ministry Order A.80/1963 of 6 March 1963 replaced the AC1 and AC2 with just 'Aircraftman' with effect from 1 April 1964
  11. ^ Woods, Lesley, ed. (12 April 2010). "New Rank for the RAF Regiment". Royal Air Force website. www.RAF.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  12. ^ White, Debbie (21 November 2021). "RAF goes gender-neutral as aviators replace airmen". The Times. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023.
  13. ^ "RAF Ranks". RAF. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022.
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