# United States Air Force Academy Cadet Insignia

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 Fourth Class - C4C (Freshman) | Cadet Third Class - C3C (Sophomore) | 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 Sergeant | Cadet Master Sergeant | Cadet Master Sergeant | Cadet Senior Master Sergeant | Cadet Senior Master Sergeant | Cadet Chief Master Sergeant | Cadet Chief Master Sergeant |
| Unranked | Group/Squadron Staff | Master Sergeant | Squadron First Sergeant | Senior Master Sergeant | Squadron Superintendent | Group Superintendent | Wing Command Chief |
Cadet First Class - C1C (Senior) :
| Cadet 1st Class | Cadet 2nd Lieutenant | Cadet 1st Lieutenant | Cadet Captain | Cadet Captain |
| Unranked | | Squadron Staff | Squadron Staff | Flight Commander |
| Cadet Major | Cadet Lieutenant Colonel | Cadet Lieutenant Colonel | | |
| Group Staff | Wing Staff | Squadron Commander | | |
| Cadet Colonel | Cadet Colonel | Cadet Colonel | Cadet Colonel | |
| Wing Directors | Group Commander | Vice Wing Commander | Wing Commander | |

### Former cadet ranks

* Cadet Third Class - C3C (Sophomore)
* Cadet Staff Sergeant Chief Clerk

## Cadet Squadron Insignia
### Current Cadet Squadrons

First Cadet Group :
| Cadet Sq. 1 | Cadet Sq. 2 | Cadet Sq. 3 | Cadet Sq. 4 | Cadet Sq. 5 | Cadet Sq. 6 | Cadet Sq. 7 | Cadet Sq. 8 | Cadet Sq. 9 | Cadet Sq. 10 |
| Mighty Mach One | Deuce | Dogs of War | Fightin' Fourth | Wolfpack | Bull Six | Shadow Seven | Eagle Eight | Viking Nine | Tiger Ten |
Second Cadet Group :
| Cadet Sq. 11 | Cadet Sq. 12 | Cadet Sq. 13 | Cadet Sq. 14 | Cadet Sq. 15 | Cadet Sq. 16 | Cadet Sq. 17 | Cadet Sq. 18 | Cadet Sq. 19 | Cadet Sq. 20 |
| Rebeleven | Dirty Dozen | Bulldawgs | Cobras | War Eagles | Chicken Hawks | Stalag 17 | Nightriders | Wolverines | Trolls |
Third Cadet Group :
| Cadet Sq. 21 | Cadet Sq. 22 | Cadet Sq. 23 | Cadet Sq. 24 | Cadet Sq. 25 | Cadet Sq. 26 | Cadet Sq. 27 | Cadet Sq. 28 | Cadet Sq. 29 | Cadet Sq. 30 |
| Blackjack | Raptors | Barnstormers | Phantoms | Redeye | Barons | Thunderbirds | Blackbirds | Black Panthers | Knights |
Fourth Cadet Group :
| Cadet Sq. 31 | Cadet Sq. 32 | Cadet Sq. 33 | Cadet Sq. 34 | Cadet Sq. 35 | Cadet Sq. 36 | Cadet Sq. 37 | Cadet Sq. 38 | Cadet Sq. 39 | Cadet Sq. 40 |
| Grim Reapers | Roadrunners | King Ratz (Cellar Ratz) | Loose Hawgs | Wild Weasels | Pink Panthers | Skyraiders | All-stars | Jedi Knights | Warhawks |

### Defunct Cadet Squadron Insignia

Defunct Squadron Insignia :
| Cadet Sq. 2 | Cadet Sq. 2 | Cadet Sq. 3 | Cadet Sq. 5 | Cadet Sq. 5 | Cadet Sq. 8 | Cadet Sq. 8 | Cadet Sq. 8 | Cadet Sq. 8 | Cadet Sq. 9 | Cadet Sq. 9 |
| Deuce | Deuce | Big 3 (Thirsty Third) | Wolfpack | Wolfpack | Evil Eight | Evil Eight | Evil Eight | Evil Eight | Viking Nine | Star Trek |
Defunct Squadron Insignia (cont) :
| Cadet Sq. 14 | Cadet Sq. 14 | Cadet Sq. 17 | Cadet Sq. 19 | Cadet Sq. 19 | Cadet Sq. 19 | Cadet Sq. 20 | Cadet Sq. 23 | Cadet Sq. 23 | Cadet Sq. 28 | Cadet Sq. 28 |
| Cobras | Cobras | Stalag 17 | Playboy 19 | Playboy 19 | Starship | Trolls | Barnstormers | Barnstormers | Blackbirds | Blackbirds |
Defunct Squadron Insignia (cont) :
| Cadet Sq. 31 | Cadet Sq. 31 | Cadet Sq. 34 | Cadet Sq. 34 | Cadet Sq. 35 | Cadet Sq. 35 | Cadet Sq. 37 | Cadet Sq. 38 | Cadet Sq. 39 | Cadet Sq. 40 | Cadet Sq. 40 |
| Grim Reapers | Grim Reapers | Thunderbolts/Razorbacks (Loose Hawgs) | Thunderbolts/Razorbacks (Loose Hawgs) | Wild Weasels | Wild Weasels | Skyraiders | Bandits | Campus Rads | Ali Baba | Warhawks |

## 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 Insignia :
| Commandant's List | Dean's List | Athletic Director's List | Commandant's & Dean's Lists | Commandant's & Athletic Director's Lists | Dean's & Athletic Director's Lists | Superintendent's List |

### Aviation

Cadet aviation insignia are worn by cadets who achieve certain milestones in their flight training.
Cadet Aviation Insignia :
| Unmanned Aerial Systems | Soaring/Powered Flight - Solo | Command Soaring Instructor Pilot | Cadet 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" program at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
Other Cadet Insignia :
| Parachute (jump) Wings | Air Assault Badge | Bulldog Badge |