page_title: RAF officer ranks
section_title: Shoulder boards
hierarchical_section_title: RAF officer ranks / Origins / Shoulder boards
caption_attribution_description: English: Rank Shoulder Board of Marshal of the RAF
context_page_description: The officer ranks of the Royal Air Force, as they are today, were introduced in 1919. Prior to that Army ranks were used.
context_section_description: Shoulder boards (as shown) are worn by officers of general rank equivalent (air commodore and above). Officers entitled to wear aiguillettes or the Royal Cypher, AVMs and above, the Director of Nursing Services, and those officers assigned to certain one-star posts, wear plain blue shoulder boards when in No 1 Service Dress. AVMs and above and those officers assigned to the one-star posts of commandant RAFC Cranwell, Air Officer Wales and Air Officer Scotland wear distinctive unranked ceremonial shoulder boards when in No 1A (ceremonial day) dress. If these officers wear a greatcoat, gold ranked shoulder straps in Crombie material are used. Officers of the rank of marshal of the Royal Air Force have a distinctive set of shoulder boards with greater decoration.
caption: Shoulder board of marshal of the RAF
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