# Ranks of the cadet forces of the United Kingdom

The following table displays the ranks of the Community Cadet Forces (Army Cadet Force, the Sea Cadet Corps, and the Air Training Corps), the Combined Cadet Force, the Volunteer Cadet Corps (RMVCC and RNVCC), and the Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets. This table is based on equivalent Rank Structures within the Cadet Forces as detailed in regulations of the SCC, RMC, and the Air Cadets.

## Cadet ranks

Cadet NCOs wear the issued cadet rank slides. The titles of some ranks in the ACF and CCF Army may vary as cadet detachments are affiliated to British Army regiments and adopt their terminology. More senior cadet ranks may be restricted to a set number per area.
Although promotion is based on merit rather than progression through the training syllabuses, certain criteria must be met before a cadet is eligible for promotion:
Whilst the CCF Regulations provide an equivalency table purely for the CCF, there is no official equivalency between the other cadet forces.
| Cadet Service | Officers | Cadet Senior NCOs | Cadet Senior NCOs | Cadet Senior NCOs | Cadet Senior NCOs | Cadet Senior NCOs | Cadet Junior NCOs | Cadet Junior NCOs | Cadet Junior NCOs | Cadet Junior NCOs | Cadets | Recruits |
| CCF Navy Cadets vte | | | | | | | | | | | |
| CCF Navy Cadets vte | Under Officer | Warrant Officer Cadet | | | Chief Petty Officer Cadet | Petty Officer Cadet | Leading Cadet | Able 3* Cadet | Able 2* Cadet | Able 1* Cadet | Naval Cadet | New Naval Entry |
| CCF Navy Cadets vte | UO | WOCDT | | | CPOCDT | POCDT | LCDT | A3*CDT | A2*CDT | A1*CDT | NCDT | NNE |
| CCF Royal Marines Cadets (Part of the CCF RN) vte | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| CCF Royal Marines Cadets (Part of the CCF RN) vte | Under Officer | Cadet Warrant Officer First Class | Cadet Warrant Officer Second Class | Cadet Warrant Officer Second Class | Cadet Colour Sergeant | Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet | Recruit |
| CCF Royal Marines Cadets (Part of the CCF RN) vte | UO | CDTWO1 | CDTWO2 | CDTWO2 | CDTCSGT | CDTSGT | CDTCPL | CDTCPL | CDTLCPL | CDTLCPL | CDT | RCT |
| Sea Cadets Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| Sea Cadets Corps vte | | Petty Officer Cadet | | | Leading Cadet | | | Able Cadet | Ordinary Cadet | Cadet 1st Class | Cadet | New Entry |
| Sea Cadets Corps vte | | POC | | | LC | | | AC | OC | CFC | CDT | NE |
| Royal Marines Cadets (Part of the SCC) vte | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Royal Marines Cadets (Part of the SCC) vte | | Cadet Sergeant | | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | | | Marine Cadet | Marine Cadet Recruit |
| Royal Marines Cadets (Part of the SCC) vte | | CDT SGT | | CDT CPL | CDT CPL | | CDT LCPL | CDT LCPL | | | MC | MCR |
| Royal Navy Volunteer Cadet Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| Royal Navy Volunteer Cadet Corps vte | | Warrant Officer Cadet | | | Chief Petty Officer Cadet | Petty Officer Cadet | Leading Cadet | Leading Cadet | Able Cadet | Able Cadet | Naval Cadet | New Naval Entry |
| Royal Navy Volunteer Cadet Corps vte | | WOCDT | | | CPOCDT | POCDT | LCDT | LCDT | ACDT | ACDT | NCDT | NNE |
| Royal Marine Volunteer Cadet Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Royal Marine Volunteer Cadet Corps vte | | Cadet Warrant Officer First Class | Cadet Warrant Officer Second Class | Cadet Warrant Officer Second Class | Cadet Colour Sergeant | Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet | Recruit |
| Royal Marine Volunteer Cadet Corps vte | | CDTWO1 | CDTWO2 | CDTWO2 | CDTCSGT | CDTSGT | CDTCPL | CDTCPL | CDTLCPL | CDTLCPL | CDT | RCT |
| CCF Army Cadets vte | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| CCF Army Cadets vte | Under Officer | Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major | Cadet Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant | Cadet Company Sergeant Major | Cadet Staff/Colour Sergeant | Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet | Recruit |
| CCF Army Cadets vte | UO | Cdt RSM | Cdt RQMS | Cdt CSM | Cdt SSgt/Cdt CSgt | Cdt Sgt | Cdt Cpl | Cdt Cpl | Cdt LCpl | Cdt LCpl | Cdt | Rct |
| Army Cadet Force vte | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Army Cadet Force vte | Under Officer (CCF Only) | Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major | Cadet Company Sergeant Major | Cadet Company Sergeant Major | Cadet Staff Sergeant | Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet | Recruit |
| Army Cadet Force vte | UO | Cdt RSM | Cdt CSM | Cdt CSM | Cdt SSgt | Cdt Sgt | Cdt Cpl | Cdt Cpl | Cdt LCpl | Cdt LCpl | Cdt | Rct |
| Cayman Islands Cadet Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| Cayman Islands Cadet Corps vte | Cadet Under Officer | | Cadet Company Sergeant Major | Cadet Company Sergeant Major | Cadet Staff Sergeant | Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet | Recruit |
| Cayman Islands Cadet Corps vte | CDTUO | | CDTCSM | CDTCSM | CDTSSGT | CDTSGT | CDTCPL | CDTCPL | CDTLCPL | CDTLCPL | CDT | RCT |
| CCF RAF Cadets vte | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | |
| CCF RAF Cadets vte | Cadet Under Officer (Former rank no longer in use) | Cadet Warrant Officer | | | Cadet Flight Sergeant | Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet | |
| CCF RAF Cadets vte | CUO | CWO | | | Cdt FS | Cdt Sgt | Cdt Cpl | Cdt Cpl | Cdt LCpl | Cdt LCpl | Cdt | |
| Air Training Corps vte | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| Air Training Corps vte | | Cadet Warrant Officer | | | Cadet Flight Sergeant | Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | | | Cadet |
| Air Training Corps vte | | CWO | | | Cdt FS | Cdt Sgt | Cdt Cpl | Cdt Cpl | | | Cdt |
| Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets vte | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets vte | Officer Cadet | | | | Cadet Unit Sergeant | Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Leading Cadet | Cadet | Recruit |
| Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets vte | OFFCDT | | | | CDTUSGT | CDTSGT | CDTCPL | CDTCPL | CDTLC | LCDT | CDT | RCT |

### Junior cadets

| Junior Sea Cadets Corps vte | | | |
| Junior Sea Cadets Corps vte | Leading Junior Cadet | Able Junior Cadet | Junior Cadet First Class | Junior Cadet |
| Junior Sea Cadets Corps vte | LJC | AJC | JCFC | JC |

### Former cadet organisations

Cadet ranks and insignia of former cadet organisations :
| Air Defence Cadet Corps vte | 1939-1941 1941 | | | | | | | No insignia |
| Air Defence Cadet Corps vte | Cadet Warrant Officer | Cadet Flight Sergeant | Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet |
| Air Defence Cadet Corps vte | CDTWO | CDTFSGT | CDTSGT | CDTCPL | CDTCPL | CDTLCPL | CDTLCPL | CDT |
| Women's Junior Air Corps vte | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| Women's Junior Air Corps vte | | Cadet Unit Sergeant | Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal | Cadet |
| Women's Junior Air Corps vte | | CDTUSGT | CDTSGT | CDTCPL | CDTCPL | CDTLCPL | CDTLCPL | CDT |

#### Welbeck DSFC

Epaulettes were worn by students whilst in the college kit, G-Kit, MTP and service uniform. It denoted their academic year and the seniority/position of authority that they held within the college. The college closed in July 2021.
| Welbeck DSFC CCF | Senior College Prefect | Senior College Prefect | Senior College Prefect | College Prefect | House Prefect | House Prefect | Student | Student | Student | Student |
| Royal Navy students | | | | | | | | | | |
| British Army students | | | | | | | | | | |
| Royal Air Force students | | | | | | | | | | |
| title | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet |
| title | Head of College | Vice Head of College | Deputy Heads of College | Head of House | Deputy Head of House | House Prefect | Upper Sixth Student (with College Award) | Lower Sixth Student (with College Award) | Upper Sixth Student | Lower Sixth Student |
| title | OCdt HoC | OCdt VHoC | OCdt DHoC | OCdt HoH | OCdt DHoH | OCdt HP | OCdt U6CA | OCdt L6CA | OCdt U6 | OCdt L6 |
| Defence Engineering and Science Group students | no equivalent | no equivalent | no equivalent | no equivalent | | | | | | |
| Defence Engineering and Science Group students | no equivalent | no equivalent | no equivalent | no equivalent | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet | Officer Cadet |
| Defence Engineering and Science Group students | no equivalent | no equivalent | no equivalent | no equivalent | Deputy Head of House | House Prefect | Upper Sixth Student (with College Award) | Lower Sixth Student (with College Award) | Upper Sixth Student | Lower Sixth Student |
| Defence Engineering and Science Group students | no equivalent | no equivalent | no equivalent | no equivalent | OCdt DHoH | OCdt HP | OCdt U6CA | OCdt L6CA | OCdt U6 | OCdt L6 |
| Welbeck DSFC CCF | Senior College Prefect | Senior College Prefect | Senior College Prefect | College Prefect | House Prefect | House Prefect | Student | Student | Student | Student |

## Cadet force adult volunteer ranks
### NCOs / Senior ratings

From 2009 to 2019, if a person joined as a civilian instructor in the Sea Cadets or Royal Marine Cadets and wanted to be a uniformed member of staff, they would become an acting petty officer or sergeant, following a six-month probationary period.
In 2018 the role of sergeant instructor (SI) was introduced for CCF(Army) sections, this is the first occasion that adults other than SSIs have been appointed as an NCO rather than a commissioned rank in the CCF.
| Army | CCF | | | | | | | | |
| Army | Title | Regimental Sergeant Major Instructor | Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor | Sergeant Major Instructor | Staff Sergeant Instructor | Sergeant Instructor | Probationary Sergeant | Probationary Instructor | Civilian Assistant |
| Army | Abbr. | RSMI | RQMSI | SMI | SSI | SI | SPI | PI | CA |
| ATC/CCF (RAF) | Groundcrew | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| ATC/CCF (RAF) | Aircrew | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| ATC/CCF (RAF) | Title | Warrant Officer/Master aircrew | Warrant Officer/Master aircrew | Warrant Officer/Master aircrew | Flight Sergeant | Sergeant | Acting Sergeant | Civilian Instructor/ Civilian Gliding Instructor | Civilian Instructor/ Civilian Gliding Instructor |
| ATC/CCF (RAF) | Abbr. | WO RAFAC/MAcr RAFAC | WO RAFAC/MAcr RAFAC | WO RAFAC/MAcr RAFAC | FS RAFAC | Sgt RAFAC | A/Sgt RAFAC | CI/CGI | CI/CGI |
| SCC | | | | | | | | | |
| SCC | Title | Warrant Officer Class 1 RNR | Warrant Officer Class 1 RNR | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Chief Petty Officer | Petty Officer | Probationary Petty Officer | Civilian Instructor | Unit Assistant |
| SCC | Abbr. | WO1 (SCC) RNR | WO1 (SCC) RNR | WO2 (SCC) RNR | CPO (SCC) | PO (SCC) | P/PO (SCC) | CI | UA |
| RMC/CCF (RM) | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| RMC/CCF (RM) | Title | Warrant Officer Class 1 RMR | Warrant Officer Class 1 RMR | Warrant Officer Class 2 RMR | Colour Sergeant | Sergeant | Probationary Sergeant | Civilian Instructor | Civilian Instructor |
| RMC/CCF (RM) | Abbr. | WO1 (SCC) RMR | WO1 (SCC) RMR | WO2 (SCC) RMR | CSgt (SCC) | Sgt (SCC) | P/Sgt (SCC) | CI | CI |
| CCF (RN) | | | | | | | | | |
| CCF (RN) | Title | | | | Chief Petty Officer (School Staff Instructor) | | | | |
| CCF (RN) | Abbr. | | | | CPO (SSI) | | | | |
| GVCAC | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| GVCAC | Title | | | | | | | Civilian Instructor | Civilian Instructor |
| GVCAC | Abbr. | | | | | | | CI | CI |

### Officers

Formerly, officers in MOD-recognised cadet organisations (SCC, CCF, ACF, VCC) held a highest substantive rank of lieutenant, with more senior ranks being acting ranks.
Since 2017, all cadet officers are now commissioned under a bespoke Cadet Forces Commission (CFC), with all appointments now being substantive. All previous Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch) (RAFVR(T)) officers of the ATC and CCF RAF had their commissions transferred to the new CFC in 2017.
| Army | CCF | | | | | | | | |
| Army | Title | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | 2nd Lieutenant | Adult Under Officer | Adult Under Officer |
| Army | Abbr. | Col | Lt Col | Maj | Capt | Lt | 2Lt | AUO | AUO |
| ATC/CCF (RAF) | | | | | | | | | |
| ATC/CCF (RAF) | Title | Group Captain | Wing Commander | Squadron Leader | Flight Lieutenant | Flying Officer | Pilot Officer | Acting Pilot Officer | Acting Pilot Officer |
| ATC/CCF (RAF) | Abbr. | Gp Capt | Wg Cdr | Sqn Ldr | Flt Lt | Fg Off | Plt Off | APO | APO |
| CCF (RN) and SCC | | | | | | | | | |
| CCF (RN) and SCC | SCC Title | Captain (SCC) RNR | Commander (SCC) RNR | Lieutenant Commander (SCC) RNR | Lieutenant (SCC) RNR | Sub Lieutenant (SCC) RNR | Midshipman (SCC) RNR | | |
| CCF (RN) and SCC | CCF Title | | Commander (CCF) RNR | Lieutenant Commander (CCF) RNR | Lieutenant (CCF) RNR | Sub Lieutenant (CCF) RNR | | | |
| CCF (RN) and SCC | Abbr. | Capt | Cdr | Lt Cdr | Lt | SLt | Mid | | |
| RMC/CCF (RM) | | | | | | | | | |
| RMC/CCF (RM) | RMC Title | | Lieutenant Colonel (CCF) RMR | Major (CCF) RMR | Captain (CCF) RMR | Lieutenant (CCF) RMR | 2nd Lieutenant (CCF) RMR | | |
| RMC/CCF (RM) | Abbr. | | Lt Col | Maj | Capt | Lt | 2Lt | | |
| GVCAC | | | | | | | | | |
| GVCAC | Title | Honorary Corps Commandant | Senior Officer | Unit Officer | Unit Officer | Assistant Unit Officer | Section Officer | Acting Section Officer | Potential Section Officer |