Officer Cadet Officer Cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officer s amd Merchant Navy Officer s , respectively . The term Officer Trainee is used interchangeably in some countries . Some countries refer to naval officer cadets as midshipmen , although in other countries this means something slightly different . In the United Kingdom , the rank is also used by members of University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron s who are not actually training to become officers Australia . The Australian Defence Force follows the same usage as the British military system , using the rank of Officer Cadet for Australian Army ( OCDT ) and Royal Australian Air Force ( OFFCDT ) for personnel undergoing initial officer training . Officer Cadets in the Australian Army , unlike Officer Cadets in the Royal Australian Air Force and Midshipmen in the Royal Australian Navy , do not yet hold a commission , and are not saluted . Officer Cadets in the Australian Army address Warrant Officers and officers as " Sir " or " Ma ' am " . Initial officer training can occur through either single - service institutions , such as the Royal Military College , Duntroon , Royal Australian Naval College , or the Officer Training School RAAF , or through the tri - service Australian Defence Force Academy . The ranks of Officer Cadet , Staff Cadet , or Midshipman are primarily found at these establishments . However , RAAF Officer trainees are often appointed at higher rank while undergoing their initial training course at OTS , if they have prior military experience , either as Officer Cadets prior to their initial officer course , or at Airman rank . Officer Cadets are also appointed in the Australian Army Reserve where training is conducted on a part - time basis at various University Regiments around the country . Australian Army Reserve Officer Cadets must pass various training courses ( conducted at different barracks around Australia ) throughout their training with the final module completed at the Royal Military College , Duntroon before being commissioned . At the Royal Military College , Duntroon and University Regiments , the title of ' Staff Cadet ' is often used to address Officer Cadets although this is not an official rank . At ADFA , upon completion of all academic training through the University of New South Wales - ADFA , military training and subsequent training at other military establishments , Officer Cadets from the Australian Defence Force are promoted as commissioned officers . Pilots , Air Traffic Controllers and Air Combat Officers joining the RAAF directly through the Officers ' Training School ( without going to ADFA ) also start their career as an Officer Cadet . Once they have completed their employment training ( 2FTS , SATC and SAW respectively ) , they are promoted . Canada . In the Canadian Forces the rank of Officer Cadet ( OCdt ) is held by any beginning officer , as well as students attending the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston , Ontario . For Canadian Navy members of the same rank , Naval Cadet ( NCdt ) is used in lieu of Officer Cadet . They are referred to and addressed as , for example , " Mr Smith " or " Miss Smith " , or more formally as " Officer Cadet Smith " or " Naval Cadet Smith " . There is also a tendency in less cordial environments to refer to an Officer Cadet as " OC Smith " . Officer Cadets may sometimes hold a staff or even line appointment within a unit , such as second - in - command of a platoon within a company - sized or larger unit ; this is usually done for training purposes , but may also be done to fill holes in an establishment due to manpower shortages within the officer cadre . Officer Cadets in the CF are subordinate officer s , and billet and mess with other officers , but do not carry the Queen ' s commission and are not entitled to receive salutes , however , an Officer Cadet can be saluted either as a mark of respect to the individual , or at the discretion of the Commanding Officer or Regimental Sargent Major . Also , they are generally addressed as " Mister " or " Miss " by non - commissioned member s , but may just as appropriately be referred to as " Sir " or " Ma ' am " . The rank insignia is a narrow gold braid ( 1 / 4 - inch ; note difference with standard braid size ) on the cuff of the DEU ( Distinctive Environmental Uniform ) jacket , and on the epaulettes of all other uniforms . The peak of the service cap ( if worn ) is plain . This gives rise to the somewhat derogatory term ' quarter - inch admiral ' as a referent for OCdt / NCdts who try to insist that they be treated as commissioned officers ( i . e . be accorded salutes , etc . ) In French , the titles are " Élève - officier ( élof ) " for Officer Cadets and " Aspirant de marine ( aspm ) " for Naval Cadets . Singapore . In the Singapore Armed Forces , potential servicemen training to be officers are known as Officer Cadets in the Army and Air Force , while those in the Navy are known as Midshipmen . All Officer Cadets and Midshipmen receive tri - service initial training in Officer Cadet School before being sent to the appropriate training schools . They return to OCS for their commissioning parade . Officer Cadets and Midshipmen wear one , two , or three white bars on their shoulderboards to denote their seniority . The graduating class of Officer Cadets wear peaked caps and beret s depending on their vocations , and are accorded the privilege of being addressed " Sir " by junior Officer Cadets . At this point , they are given more privileges and responsibilities commensurate with their seniority . Officer Cadets take turns to hold various administrative and exercise appointments . Administrative appointment - holders ' shoulderboards have additional loops and whorls known as " fishes " in addition to their existing one , two or three bars . Exercise appointment - holders wear yellow rank insignia appropriate to the appointment of the Officer Cadet . For example , an exercise Platoon Commander will wear two bars of a Lieutenant , and his exercise Platoon Sergeant will wear a brassard with First Sergeant ' s chevrons . United Kingdom . In the United Kingdom the rank of Officer Cadet is held by students in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Royal Air Force College at RAF Cranwell . Officer Cadets in the British Armed Forces are treated in most respects as commissioned officer s , except that Officer Cadets are not saluted ( RAFVR ( T ) aside ) . In the British Army and Royal Air Force they are referred to and addressed as , for example , " Mr Smith " or " Miss Smith " , or more formally as " Officer Cadet Smith " or as " Sir " or " Ma ' am " . In the Royal Navy the abbreviation for Officer Cadet is O / C , in the Army OCdt , in the RAF Off Cdt . The rank ' Potential Officer Cadet ' is technically held by students at Welbeck DSFC , but only used for student ' s military records . Inside the college NCO rank ' appointments ' are held by some students , in a system similar to the Combined Cadet Force . On graduating from Welbeck and progressing to the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme , students are promoted to the rank of Officer Cadet . Royal Navy . In Britannia Royal Naval College , Dartmouth , the rank is non - substantive and only used in the initial phases of training , after which officers use their substantive ranks of Midshipman or Sub - Lieutenant depending on education , or occasionally Lieutenant for certain specialisations . Formerly , cadets at the Royal Naval Colleges at Dartmouth and Osborne had the substantive rank of Naval Cadet , or Cadet , RN , until passing out of Dartmouth as a midshipman . This rank is still mentioned in the Naval Discipline Act 1957 , but is no longer used . The rank is also held in the first year of training by members of the University Royal Naval Unit s ( after which , they use the rank of midshipman ) . Army . The rank of Officer Cadet is held by those undergoing either the Regular Commissioning Course at Sandhurst or the Territorial Army Commissioning Course ( TACC ) holding an AOSB Main Board Pass . The TACC is administered by Sandhurst but run in modules divided between Sandhurst and TA Regional Training Centre s . Personnel in the early stages of TACC without a Main Board Pass are given the appointment of Potential Officer ( PO ) . Until the Second World War , cadets at the Royal Military Academy , Woolwich and the Royal Military College , Sandhurst were referred to as Gentleman Cadets . The rank is also held by members of the University Officers ' Training Corps ( UOTCs ) , which are open to university students . Officer Cadets in the UOTCs are not trainee officers , although a minority do go to Sandhurst after leaving university . Royal Air Force . The rank of Officer Cadet is held by those undergoing Initial Officer Training at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell . Pilot Officer s of the RAFVR ( T ) hold the acting rank of Officer Cadet until they successfully complete their Officers ' Initial Training at RAF Cranwell – they differ from other RAF Officer Cadet ranks in that they hold a commission , and are therefore salute d . Within the Air Cadet Organisation , the rank of Officer Cadet is currently only used internally and Officer Cadets are referred to by their substantive rank in written documents . Students undergoing the Foundation Degree course at DCAE Cosford , having been selected for service as Engineer Officers from the ranks , hold their previous rank while wearing Officer Cadet rank insignia for the duration , prior to attending Initial Officer Training . The rank is also held by members of University Air Squadron s . Rank insignia . Royal Navy . Royal Navy Officer Cadets wear shoulder flashes with a white square after they complete the first phase of training ( 7 weeks ) . Formerly , the insignia was a navy blue patch on both sides of the coat collar , with a white buttonhole and gold button , similar to a midshipman ' s patch . They continue to wear these tabs below their rank insignia when wearing rank in later phases until they pass out of BRNC at the end of their initial training . The No . 1 Uniform bears no other qualifying marks or insignia . British Army . British Army Officer Cadets in the University Officers ' Training Corps wear zero to three horizontal bars on the rank slide . There is considerable variation between the rank structure and rank slides in different UOTCs as they operate independently . The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst which trains all British Army officer cadets ( and some from overseas militaries ) appoints Junior Under Officer s ( JUO ) ( identified by an Austrian Knot above a single bar . ) and Senior Under Officer s ( SUO ) who wear an Austrian Knot above two bars . In practice , SUOs are not at present appointed . Under Officer is an appointment , not a rank , and outside OTCs they only have the status of ordinary Officer Cadets . Royal Air Force . Royal Air Force Officer Cadets wear a one inch wide white band on all non - ceremonial uniforms . This white band can have a narrower coloured band across its width indicating which of the training squadrons at the RAF College the cadet belongs to : yellow for ' B ' Squadron , blue for ' C ' Squadron , and green for ' D ' Squadron . A thin white band is worn throughout the Basic phase with the Regiment Training Flight ( term one ) , a thicker white band is adopted in term two , the white band remains the same in term three but with the addition of the Pilot Officer ' s rank stripe in the fore . ' A ' Squadron is currently the home of the RAD Flight ( injuries flight ) and of the DELTA flight ( additional leadership training flight ) . Aircrew Cadets graduate as Sergeant Aircrew , not officers ; this status is denoted by a red band on the white background and the RAF airman ' s cap badge with a white patch behind . Members of all squadrons who are injured are moved to the Development ( formerly Holding ) Flight and wear a purple band on the white background . On the service dress and mess dress uniforms , RAF cadets wear the braid of the rank they will hold on graduation . However , gorget patches ( rectangular white tabs with one triangular end ) are worn on both lapels . The only exception for this is the female mess dress , where they are worn on the sleeve . The only other distinctive identifiers are on headdress – a white patch on the beret behind the badge . The cap badge is the same as that worn by a commissioned officer ( between the ranks of Pilot Officer and Group Captain ) , but with a white band around the cap . This band is removed on graduation . A blue band on the white background is also used to denote Officer Cadets of the University Air Squadrons ( UASs ) who are receiving Bursaries from the Royal Air Force . UAS cadets who are not in receipt of Scholarships wear just the 1 inch white band with no coloured band . UAS Officer Cadets wear airmen ' s headdress with a white band ( except for ESUAS who wear standard airman headdress with a black band in contrast to standard UAS protocols ) . Officer Cadets of the RAFVR ( T ) wear the 1 inch white band with the gilt VRT identifier positioned centrally . VR ( T ) Officer Cadets wear the standard Officer ' s peaked cap while serving at their units , a white hat band is issued for the week long Officers Initial Course to maintain uniformity with regular Officer Cadets under training . United States . The United States Army , United States Coast Guard and Air Force use the term " Cadet " for officer candidates in the Reserve Officer Training Corps ( ROTC ) and for students at the United States Military Academy , United States Coast Guard Academy and at the United States Air Force Academy . Members under the age of 17 in the Civil Air Patrol are also addressed as Cadet , but are civilians . The term " Officer Candidate " or " Officer Trainee " is generally used for officer candidates who are seeking their commission by means other than ROTC or a military academy , such as through Officer Candidate School ( OCS ) or Air Force Officer Training School ( OTS ) . The United States Navy uses the term " Midshipman " for officer candidates in the Reserve Officer Training Corps , United States Merchant Marine Academy or at the United States Naval Academy , and the term " Officer Candidate " for others seeking a commission as an officer . The term " cadet " may also be used generally to refer to students at a private military academy , or members of a youth group associated with the military who are receiving preliminary training with the intention of joining the military , sometimes at a younger age than they would be able to do otherwise . Officer Cadets are generally paid below the standard pay rates for junior officers but receive some of the rights and responsibilities of a junior officer during their training . Officer cadets , trainees , and midshipmen are considered Geneva Conventions Category III personnel . ROTC . Cadets and Midshipmen in the ROTC program generally hold training ranks equivalent to their branch ' s enlisted ranks during their first three years of training and officer - equivalent ranks during their senior year , except in the Air Force where they hold officer - equivalent rank during their junior and senior years . In addition , a small amount of NROTC Midshipmen 2 / C may hold Officer ranks , limited by the amount of available billets . Cadets or Midshipmen holding cadet - enlisted rank must salute cadet or Midshipman officers within their own branch of the service . At the service academies , they hold similar ranks ( generally for the first two years , they hold simulated low enlisted ranks , then in the third year , senior enlisted ranks , and in the final year , officer ranks ) . However , at the academies and some ROTC units , it is not customary for Cadets or Midshipmen to salute each other regardless of rank , nor will they salute ROTC cadets senior to them . All Cadets and Midshipmen are required to salute commissioned officers regardless of branch . Cadet officer ranks in US Army ROTC are denoted by " pips " – one to three circular insignia denoting the company - grade equivalents , one to three diamond - shaped insignia denoting the field - grade equivalents . For Midshipman ranks , both junior and senior officer equivalencies wear from one to six 1 / 4 " gold stripes or bars . US Air Force cadets wear rank shoulderboards or lapel insignia which carry miniaturized insignia . Service academies . Each U . S . service academy has its own unique set of insignia , different from that of its service ' s ROTC program . U . S . Military Academy ( West Point ) . Distinctive United States Military Academy class insignia are worn on the collar and epaulets of certain uniforms . An enameled shield bearing a Greek sword surmounted by the helmet of Pallas , worn on the left collar or above cadet rank stripes / bars on epaulets , is the standard class insignia for third - ( yellow shield ) , second - ( grey shield ) , or first - class ( black shield ) cadets . On traditional Dress Grey and Full Dress Grey uniforms and overcoats , the class insignia is found in the number of service stripes ( one to three ) denoting completed years of service at the Academy . These stripes are found on the lower sleeve . Visitors are sometimes confused to see cadets early in the academic year wearing the insignia of Cadet PFC : Such cadets were " turned back " for any of a variety of reasons , and are repeating the first year as cadets , but retain the rank that they earned as Cadet Privates First Class . Rank within the Corps of Cadets is denoted by collar insignia " railroad tracks , " a number of black enamel bars with silver outline , or epaulet stripes from one ( CDT Corporal ) to six ( CDT Captain in certain command and staff roles ) on certain uniforms . On the traditional Dress - Grey - based uniforms and overcoats , chevrons denote rank in the Corps . A Cadet Corporal wears two chevrons on the lower sleeve . A cadet sergeant wears two chevrons on the upper sleeve , a cadet lieutenant three , and a cadet captain from four to six chevrons . For cadets in the rank of cadet sergeant and up , various combinations of stars , diamonds , rockers or arcs , and other devices are used on the sleeves to denote specific positions / jobs . The title of Cadet Captain is used for all cadets wearing four or more stripes / bars . The Brigade Commander , also called the First Captain , wears six stripes / bars / sleeve chevrons with a gold star . U . S . Air Force Academy . The rank insignia of United States Air Force Academy cadets is denoted on their shoulderboards in all " blue " uniforms , including day - to - day " blues " , service dress , mess dress and parade dress . All cadet shoulder board insignia carries the heraldic nebuly device , commonly referred to as " clouds " by cadets . Third class cadets ( sophomores ) have one thin bar underneath the clouds ; second class cadets wear one thin bar each above and below the clouds ; and first class cadets ( seniors ) have one thin bar below the clouds and two above . Additional chevrons denote cadet non - commissioned officer ranks , while additional bars denote cadet officer ranks . A diamond indicates that the cadet is a member of the wing or group staff and stars are used to denote cadet commanders . On the battle dress uniform or Airman Battle Uniform , Air Force Academy cadets wear bars or chevrons on their lapels to denote their rank . Fourth class cadets wear no insignia , but are awarded a Prop and Wings after recognition . Third class cadets wear one chevron on each lapel , signifying that they are cadet / staff sergeant s . Second class cadets wear two to five chevrons , indicating ranks from cadet / technical sergeant to cadet / chief master sergeant . First class cadets function as cadet officers and wear one to six bars on their lapels , corresponding to ranks from cadet / second lieutenant to cadet / colonel . U . S . Naval Academy ( Annapolis ) . The rank insignia of the United States Naval Academy is a combination of sleeve , shoulder and collar insignia , similar to that used by the Naval ROTC units . United States Coast Guard Academy . There are two types of insignia used by Coast Guard Academy cadets . The first is a metal pin - on device . It is a colored shield with a gold anchor with a silver star above it . The color of the background denotes the class . The colors are Green for 4 / c , red for 3 / c , white for 2 / c and blue for 1 / c . The colors all have meaning as well with the red and green signifying the running lights on a vessel , the white because white lights are used as navigation lights signifying their role as guides for the 4 / c , and blue for the officers that 1 / c are about to become . The second type of insignia are shoulder boards . All cadet shoulder boards have a slightly smaller version of the shield found on officer shoulderboards and stripes denoting class or 1 / c leadership positions . The 4 / c have no stripes , 3 / c 1 diagonal stripe , 2 / c 2 diagonal stripes , and 1 / c 1 horizontal stripe . First class leadership positions have increasing amounts of horizontal stripes up to six as the regimental commander .