Australian Defence Force ranks
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The Australian Defence Force's (ADF) ranks of officers and enlisted personnel in each of its three service branches of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) inherited their rank structures from their British counterparts. The insignia used to identify these ranks are also generally similar to those used 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.{{cite web |title=ADF Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN) |volume=Vol. 2, Chap. 1, Part. 4, Sections 1.4.1 and 1.4.2 |page=1 |edition=AL13 |date=November 2009 |work=People Strategies and Policy |publisher=Department of Defence, Australian Government |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/DPE/PAC/V2_Ch1_Pt4.htm }} "Equivalent rank" means the corresponding rank set out under Regulation 8 of the Defence Force Regulations 1952.[http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw/Legislation/LegislativeInstrumentCompilation1.nsf/framelodgmentattachments/940A4F3215B96743CA256F7100446DD8 Defence Force Regulations 1952.]
Commissioned officer ranks
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! NATO | Aus code | Navy | Army | RAAF |
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! colspan=5 align=left | Flag/General/Air officers{{cite book |title=Badges of Rank and Special Insignia |date=September 2003 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia - Department of Defence |pages=2–3|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/badges_of_rank.cfm}} | ||||
OF-10 | O-11{{efn|O-11 ranks - admiral of the fleet, field marshal and marshal of the RAAF - may only be used in wartime and for honorary appointments.}} | |||
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| OF-9 | O-10{{efn|O-10 ranks - The Chief of the Defence Force is the sole O-10 ranked appointment.}}
| Admiral | General | |||
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| OF-8 | O-9{{efn|O-9 ranks - The Vice chief of the Defence Force, chief of joint operations, chief of the capability development executive and chiefs of the Navy, Army and Air Force comprise the six O-9 ranked appointments.}} | |||
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| OF-7 | O-8 | |||
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| OF-6 | O-7
{{efn|Chaplains:
}} | | Air Commodore | ||
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! colspan=5 align=left | Senior officers | ||||
OF-6 | O-7{{ref|d|[d]}} | Commodore Principal Chaplain Principal MSWO | Brigadier | — |
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| OF-5 | O-6{{ref|d|[d]}} | Captain (RAN) Senior Chaplain (Class 4) Principal MSWO (Class 4) | Colonel | Group Captain |
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| OF-4 | O-5{{ref|d|[d]}} | Commander Chaplain/MSWO (Div/Class 1-3) | Lieutenant Colonel | Wing Commander |
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| OF-3 | O-4{{ref|d|[d]}} | Lieutenant Commander | Major | Squadron Leader |
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! colspan=5 align=left | Junior officers | ||||
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| OF-2 | O-3{{ref|d|[d]}} | Lieutenant | Captain (Army) | Flight Lieutenant |
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| OF-1 | O-2 | Sub Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Flying Officer |
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| OF-1 | O-1 | Acting Sub Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | Pilot Officer |
—
|O-0 |Midshipman |— |Officer Cadet | ||||
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! colspan=5 align=left | Cadets | ||||
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| — | — | — | Officer Cadet/Staff Cadet(RMC) | |
Warrant Officer ranks
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! NATO | Aus/ code | Navy | Army | RAAF |
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! colspan=5 align=left | Warrant officers | ||||
OR-10
|E-10 |WO-N |RSM-A |WOFF-AF | ||||
OR-9
|E-9 |Warrant Officer | Warrant Officer Class 1 |Warrant officer | ||||
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| OR-8 | E-8 | — | Warrant Officer Class 2 | — |
:{{small|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. 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
Other ranks
{{for|ranks used by some corps in place of private|Australian Army enlisted rank insignia#Private soldier ranks{{!}}Australian Army enlisted rank insignia.}}
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! NATO | Aus Code | Navy | Army | RAAF |
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! colspan=5 align=left | Enlisted | ||||
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| OR-3 | E-3 | Able Seaman | Private proficient* | Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman |
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| OR-2 | E-2 | Seaman | Private | Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman |
:{{small|Private proficient is not an ADF rank. It is a proficiency point for which a higher rate of salary is provided.}}
Insignia
=Commissioned officer ranks=
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
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{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OF/Australia}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OF/Australia}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OF/Australia}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}} |
== Student officer ranks ==
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! Rank group | colspan=2| Student officer |
rowspan=2| {{naval|Australia}}{{cite web |title=Ranks - Royal Australian Navy |url=https://www.navy.gov.au/about-navy/ranks |website=navy.gov.au |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=2024-01-01}}
| 50px | |
Midshipman | |
rowspan=2| {{army|Australia}}
| 50px | 50px | |
Officer cadet | |
rowspan=2| {{air force|Australia}}
| 50px | |
Officer cadet |
=Other ranks=
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
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{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/Blank}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Australia}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/Australia}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Australia}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Blank}} |
History of Royal Australian Navy enlisted ranks
The historical changes to rank insignia for enlisted personnel of the navy.{{cite web|url=https://jmvh.org/article/a-history-of-australian-navy-health-sailor-uniforms-and-ranks-part-3/|title=A History of Australian Navy Health Sailor Uniforms and Ranks (Part 3)|access-date=23 February 2021}}
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{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Blank}} |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|United Kingdom}} | colspan=10 rowspan=2| | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=6 rowspan=2| | colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}} |
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| colspan=6| Petty officer 1st class | colspan=6| Petty officer 2nd class | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Ordinary seaman |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|United Kingdom}} | colspan=6 rowspan=2| | colspan=2| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}} |
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| colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=6| Petty officer 1st class | colspan=6| Petty officer 2nd class | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Ordinary seaman |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|United Kingdom}} | colspan=6 rowspan=2| | colspan=2| Arm badge replaced by lapel badges | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}} |
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| colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=6| Petty officer 1st class | colspan=6| Petty officer 2nd class | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Ordinary seaman {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Blank}} |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}} | colspan=6 rowspan=2| | colspan=2| Arm badge replaced by lapel badges | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}} |
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| colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=6| Petty officer 1st class | colspan=6| Petty officer 2nd class | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Ordinary seaman |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}} | colspan=6 rowspan=2| | colspan=2| Arm badge replaced by lapel badges | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=12| 50px{{hr}} | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}} |
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| colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=12| Petty officer | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Ordinary seaman |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}} | colspan=6 rowspan=2| | colspan=2| Three cuff buttons | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=12| 50px{{hr}} | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}} |
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| colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=12| Petty officer | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Ordinary seaman {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Blank}} |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}} | colspan=6 rowspan=2| | colspan=2| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=12| 50px{{hr}} | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}} |
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| colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=12| Petty officer | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Ordinary seaman |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}} | colspan=6 rowspan=2| | colspan=2| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=12| 50px{{hr}} | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}} |
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| colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=12| Petty officer | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Ordinary seaman |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}} | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=2| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=12| 50px{{hr}} | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}} |
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| colspan=6| Warrant officer | colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=12| Petty officer | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Ordinary seaman {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Blank}} |
style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}} | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=2| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=12| 50px{{hr}} | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}} |
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| colspan=6| Warrant officer | colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=12| Petty officer | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Seaman |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}} | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=2| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=12| 50px{{hr}} | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=2| 50px |
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| colspan=6| Warrant officer | colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=12| Petty officer | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Seaman |
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| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}} | colspan=3| 50px | colspan=3| 50px | colspan=2| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=12| 50px{{hr}} | colspan=4| 50px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=6| 50px | colspan=2| 50px |
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| colspan=3| Warrant Officer of the Navy | colspan=3| Warrant officer | colspan=2| Chief petty officer | colspan=12| Petty officer | colspan=4| Leading seaman | colspan=6| Able seaman | colspan=2| Seaman {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Blank}} |
History of Australian Army enlisted ranks
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{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/Blank}} |
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| rowspan=2| {{army|Australia}} | colspan=3| File:Australian Army OR-9b.svg | colspan=3| File:Australian Army OR-9a.svg | colspan=2| File:Australian Army OR-8.svg | colspan=2| File:Australian Army OR-7.svg | colspan=12| File:Australian Army OR-6.svg | colspan=4| File:Australian Army OR-5.svg | colspan=2| File:Australian Army OR-4.svg | colspan=8| No insignia |
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| colspan=3| Regimental sergeant major of the army | colspan=3| Warrant officer class 1 | colspan=2| Warrant officer class 2 | colspan=2| Staff sergeant | colspan=12| Sergeant | colspan=4| Corporal | colspan=2| Lance corporal | colspan=8| Private |
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| rowspan=2| {{army|Australia}} | colspan=3| File:Australian Army OR-9b.svg | colspan=3| File:Australian Army OR-9a.svg | colspan=2| File:Australian Army OR-8.svg | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=12| File:Australian Army OR-6.svg | colspan=4| File:Australian Army OR-5.svg | colspan=2| File:Australian Army OR-4.svg | colspan=8| No insignia |
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| colspan=3| Regimental sergeant major of the army | colspan=3| Warrant officer class 1 | colspan=2| Warrant officer class 2 | colspan=12| Sergeant | colspan=4| Corporal | colspan=2| Lance corporal | colspan=8| Private |
Note: Staff sergeants still exist, but no one is promoted into the role.
See also
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf ADF Badges of rank] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20080403033424/http://www.defence.gov.au/copyright.cfm copyright])
- [http://www.defence.gov.au/PayAndConditions/ADF/chapter-1/Part-4/default.asp ADF Pay & Conditions Manual - Equivalent ranks and classifications]
{{Military ranks by country}}
{{Australian Officer Ranks}}
{{Australian Non-Commissioned Ranks}}