Australian Defence Force ranks

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

border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=5
valign=Bottom align=left ! NATO code	Aus code	Navy	Army	RAAF
bgcolor=#dcdcdc ! 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.}} \| Admiral of the Fleet \| Field Marshal \| Marshal of the RAAF
valign=top \| OF-9	O-10{{efn\|O-10 ranks - The Chief of the Defence Force is the sole O-10 ranked appointment.}} \| Admiral \| General \| Air Chief Marshal
valign=top \| 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.}} \| Vice Admiral \| Lieutenant general \| Air Marshal
valign=top \| OF-7	O-8 \| Rear Admiral \| Major General \| Air Vice Marshal
valign=top \| OF-6	O-7 {{efn\|Chaplains: In the Royal Australian Air Force and Australian Army, Chaplains wear normal rank insignia. O5 ranks - In the Royal Australian Navy, Chaplains and MSWOs are commissioned officers without rank. For reasons of protocol, ceremonial occasions and for saluting purposes, they are, where appropriate, normally grouped with Commanders (O-5).{{cite web \|url=https://www.navy.gov.au/about-navy/ranks \|title=Ranks - Royal Australian Navy \|author= \|date= \|website=navy.gov.au \|publisher=Royal Australian Navy \|access-date=2024-01-01 \|quote=... Chaplains and MSWOs are commissioned officers without rank. However, for ceremonial and protocol purposes they are, where appropriate, normally grouped with Commanders (O-5). ...}} O6-O7 ranks - The more senior Division 4 Senior Chaplains are grouped with Captains (O-6) and Division 5 Principal Chaplains are grouped with Commodores (O-7). O8 ranks - The heads of the various churches and religions officially associated to the ADF's Religious Advisory Committee, such as the Anglican and Catholic bishops of the military, are equivalent to a brigadier, air vice marshall, or rear admiral (O-8).{{cite web \|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/wopapub/senate/committee/fadt_ctte/completed_inquiries/1999_02/adf_personnel/submissions/sub24_pdf.ashx \|title=Inquiry into Recruitment and Retention of ADF Personnel \|author= \|date= \|website=aph.gov.au \|publisher=Australian Parliament House \|access-date=2024-01-01 \|quote=... RACS members have two-star status in Defence. ...}} }} \|		Air Commodore
valign=top
bgcolor=#dcdcdc ! colspan=5 align=left \| Senior officers
OF-6	O-7{{ref\|d\|[d]}}	Commodore Principal Chaplain Principal MSWO	Brigadier	—
valign=top \| OF-5	O-6{{ref\|d\|[d]}}	Captain (RAN) Senior Chaplain (Class 4) Principal MSWO (Class 4)	Colonel	Group Captain
valign=top \| OF-4	O-5{{ref\|d\|[d]}}	Commander Chaplain/MSWO (Div/Class 1-3)	Lieutenant Colonel	Wing Commander
valign=top \| OF-3	O-4{{ref\|d\|[d]}}	Lieutenant Commander	Major	Squadron Leader
bgcolor=#dcdcdc ! colspan=5 align=left \| Junior officers
valign=top \| OF-2	O-3{{ref\|d\|[d]}}	Lieutenant	Captain (Army)	Flight Lieutenant
valign=top \| OF-1	O-2	Sub Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Flying Officer
valign=top \| OF-1	O-1	Acting Sub Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Pilot Officer
— \|O-0 \|Midshipman \|— \|Officer Cadet
bgcolor=#dcdcdc ! colspan=5 align=left \| Cadets
valign=top \| —	—	—	Officer Cadet/Staff Cadet(RMC) \|

Warrant Officer ranks

border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=5 ! NATO code	Aus/ code	Navy	Army	RAAF
bgcolor=#dcdcdc ! 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
align=center \| 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

border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=5 ! NATO code	Aus code	Navy	Army	RAAF
bgcolor=#dcdcdc ! colspan=5 align=left \| Senior non-commissioned officers
valign=top \| OR-8	E-8	Chief Petty Officer \|align=center\| —	Flight Sergeant
valign=top \| OR-7	E-7	—	Staff Sergeant{{efn\|Without prejudice to existing holders of the rank, the Army has ceased to promote soldiers to the rank of staff sergeant.{{Cite web\|url=https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/australian-army-rank-structure/other-ranks\|title=Australian Army Rank Structure, Other Ranks\|date=25 October 2019\|website=army.gov.au\|publisher=Australian Army\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227005831/https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/australian-army-rank-structure/other-ranks\|archive-date=27 February 2020\|access-date=25 January 2020}}}}	—
valign=top \| OR-6	E-6	Petty Officer	Sergeant	Sergeant
bgcolor=#dcdcdc ! colspan=5 align=left \| Junior non-commissioned officers
valign=top \| OR-5	E-5	Leading Seaman	Corporal/Bombardier	Corporal
valign=top \| OR-4	E-4	—	Lance Corporal/Bombardier	—

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.}}

border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=5 ! NATO Code	Aus Code	Navy	Army	RAAF
bgcolor=#dcdcdc ! colspan=5 align=left \| Enlisted
valign=top \| OR-3	E-3	Able Seaman	Private proficient*	Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman
valign=top \| 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.

style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"

== Student officer ranks ==

style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px; text-align:center;"
bgcolor="#CCCCCC" ! 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 \| Staff cadet
rowspan=2\| {{air force\|Australia}} \| 50px
Officer cadet

=Other ranks=

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

style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"

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}}

style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|United Kingdom}}
(1827–1853)

| colspan=10 rowspan=2|

| colspan=6| 50px

| colspan=6 rowspan=2|

| colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}}

style="text-align:center;"

| colspan=6| Petty officer 1st class

| colspan=6| Petty officer 2nd class

| colspan=6| Able seaman

| colspan=2| Ordinary seaman

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|United Kingdom}}
(1853–1890)

| colspan=6 rowspan=2|

| colspan=2| 50px

| colspan=2 rowspan=2|

| colspan=6| 50px

| colspan=4| 50px

| colspan=2 rowspan=2|

| colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}}

style="text-align:center;"

| 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

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|United Kingdom}}
(1890–1901)

| colspan=6 rowspan=2|

| colspan=2| Arm badge replaced by lapel badges

| colspan=2 rowspan=2|

| colspan=6| 50px

| colspan=4| 50px

| colspan=2 rowspan=2|

| colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}}

style="text-align:center;"

| 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

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}}
(1901–1907)

| colspan=6 rowspan=2|

| colspan=2| Arm badge replaced by lapel badges

| colspan=2 rowspan=2|

| colspan=6| 50px

| colspan=4| 50px

| colspan=2 rowspan=2|

| colspan=8| No insignia{{hr}}

style="text-align:center;"

| 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

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}}
(1907–1925)

| 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}}

style="text-align:center;"

| colspan=2| Chief petty officer

| colspan=12| Petty officer

| colspan=4| Leading seaman

| colspan=6| Able seaman

| colspan=2| Ordinary seaman

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}}
(1925–1953)

| 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}}

style="text-align:center;"

| colspan=2| Chief petty officer

| colspan=12| Petty officer

| colspan=4| Leading seaman

| colspan=6| Able seaman

| colspan=2| Ordinary seaman

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}}
(1953–1966)

| 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}}

style="text-align:center;"

| colspan=2| Chief petty officer

| colspan=12| Petty officer

| colspan=4| Leading seaman

| colspan=6| Able seaman

| colspan=2| Ordinary seaman

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}}
(1966–1971)

| 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}}

style="text-align:center;"

| colspan=2| Chief petty officer

| colspan=12| Petty officer

| colspan=4| Leading seaman

| colspan=6| Able seaman

| colspan=2| Ordinary seaman

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}}
(1971–1974)

| 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}}

style="text-align:center;"

| 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

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}}
(1974–1991)

| 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}}

style="text-align:center;"

| colspan=6| Warrant officer

| colspan=2| Chief petty officer

| colspan=12| Petty officer

| colspan=4| Leading seaman

| colspan=6| Able seaman

| colspan=2| Seaman

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}}
(1991–1993)

| 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

style="text-align:center;"

| colspan=6| Warrant officer

| colspan=2| Chief petty officer

| colspan=12| Petty officer

| colspan=4| Leading seaman

| colspan=6| Able seaman

| colspan=2| Seaman

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{navy|Australia}}
(1993–present)

| 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

style="text-align:center;"

| 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

History of Australian Army enlisted ranks

style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{army|Australia}}
(–2019)

| 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

style="text-align:center;"

| 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
(or equivalent)

style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2| {{army|Australia}}
(2019–Present)

| 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

style="text-align:center;"

| 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
(or equivalent)

Note: Staff sergeants still exist, but no one is promoted into the role.

Notes

References

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]

Category:Australia and the Commonwealth of Nations

style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px; text-align:center;"
bgcolor="#CCCCCC" ! 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 \| Staff cadet
rowspan=2\| {{air force\|Australia}} \| 50px
Officer cadet

Australian Defence Force ranks

Commissioned officer ranks

Warrant Officer ranks

Non-Commissioned Officer ranks

Other ranks

Insignia

=Commissioned officer ranks=

== Student officer ranks ==

=Other ranks=

History of Royal Australian Navy enlisted ranks

History of Australian Army enlisted ranks

See also

Notes

References

External links