RAF other ranks The term used in the Royal Air Force to refer to all ranks below commissioned officer level is Other Ranks ( ORs ) . It includes Warrant Officer s , non - commissioned officer s ( NCOs ) , and airmen . Origins . Upon the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918 , rank titles and badges for ORs were adopted from the British Army , specifically the Royal Flying Corps ( RFC ) . The RFC ranks of Warrant Officer Class I , Warrant Officer Class II , Flight Sergeant , Sergeant , and Corporal were directly adopted , although the four - bladed propeller above the Sergeants ' and Flight Sergeants ' chevrons was dropped . The double - bladed propeller used as the badge of rank for an RFC Air Mechanic 1st Class was introduced as the trade classification badge for Leading Aircraftman . The rank of Aircraftman replaced the RFC rank of Air Mechanic 2nd Class . Changes in 1939 — Warrant Officers . In 1939 , the ranks of Warrant Officer Class I and Warrant Officer Class II were combined as a single rank , Warrant Officer . RAF warrant officers were given equivalent status to the continuing Army rank of Warrant Officer Class I . Changes in 1946 — Aircrew . On 1 July 1946 , NCOs serving as aircrew were assigned different rank badges which distinguished them from ORs in ground trades . The new ranks were : Changes in 1950 — Technicians and Aircrew . In 1950 , a new grading system for technicians was introduced . This involved the creation of the following ranks : Also in 1950 , the unpopular NCO aircrew ranks were abolished , although Master Aircrew was retained as a rank . Aircrew I became Flight Sergeant Aircrew and Aircrew II , III and IV became Sergeant Aircrew . Both new ranks adopted a gold eagle above the chevrons to permit continuing distinction from ground trades . Aircrew cadets wore the eagle on its own . Changes in 1951 — Junior Ranks . On 1 January 1951 , two junior ranks were introduced : Changes in 1964 — Technicians . In 1964 , the technician ranks were abolished , with the exception of Junior Technician and Chief Technician , the latter becoming an intermediate rank between Sergeant and Flight Sergeant for Technical Trades . Junior Technicians adopted the four - bladed propeller as their badge of rank and Chief Technicians adopted a treble chevron surmounted by a four - bladed propeller as their rank insignia . Master Technicians , Senior Technicians and Corporal Technicians became Warrant Officer , Sergeant and Corporal respectively . The ORs structure became : Changes in 2005 — phasing out of Junior Technician . From 2005 onwards , no more airmen have been promoted to Junior Technician . Although there are currently personnel in the rank of Junior Technician , once they have all been promoted or discharged from the RAF , the rank will cease to be used . Also from 2005 , Senior Aircraftmen in technical trades who had attained the Operational Performance Standard were given a new badge of rank , consisting of the three - bladed propeller inside a circle ( SAC - T ' s ) . This new rank insignia was introduced , at least in part , to distinguish airmen trained to work unsupervised from those who were not — although in practice under the old rank structure long serving and competent SAC ' s would often carry out some of the technical duties that were designated as JT duties , this was mainly due to the large numbers of SAC ' s waiting for fitters course to enable promotion to JT . Introduction of Lance Corporal . On 1 April 2010 , the RAF Regiment introduced the rank of Lance Corporal for current SACs who undertake the role of section second - in - command / fire team commander . This gives them more authority on the ground , as well as a better pay band . It seems that the rank will not be moving to other trades , and will be solely in the RAF Regiment .