Officer cadet Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadet s during their training to become commissioned officer s and merchant navy officers , respectively . The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries . Some countries refer to naval officers in training , instead , as midshipmen , although in other countries , this means something slightly different . In the United Kingdom , the rank is also used by members of University Royal Naval Unit s , 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 the Australian Army ( OCDT ) and the Royal Australian Air Force ( OFFCDT ) ) , for personnel undergoing initial officer training . Officer cadets in the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force , unlike midshipmen in the Royal Australian Navy , do not yet hold a commission , and are not saluted or referred to as " sir " or " ma ' am " . Officer cadets in the Australian Army are subordinate to warrant officers and officers and address them as " sir " or " ma ' am " . As officer cadets are appointed to their position , they are technically a superior to other ranks , although they will typically not have direct subordinates . 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 ADFA , upon completion of all academic training through the " UNSW @ ADFA " , military training and subsequent training at other military establishments , officer cadets from the RAAF are promoted as commissioned officers , while those from the Australian Army spend another year at the Royal Military College , Duntroon before being commissioned . 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 appointment of officer cadet ( OCdt ) , or " élève - officier ( élof ) " in French , is held by beginning officers , as well as students attending the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston , Ontario or the Collège militaire royal de Saint - Jean , Saint - Jean - sur - Richelieu , Québec . Officer cadets may sometimes hold a staff or even line appointments within a unit , such as second - in - command of a platoon within a company - sized or larger unit . This is done for training purposes as Officer Cadets may not be employed in or hold command positions as they have no command authority . For Royal Canadian Navy members of the same rank , naval cadet ( NCdt ) , or " aspirant de marine ( aspm ) " in French , is used in lieu of officer cadet . Officer cadets and naval cadets are referred to and addressed as " Mister 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 " . Further , as pointed out above , they are generally addressed as " mister " or " miss " by commissioned officers and non - commissioned member s . Officer cadets and Naval Cadets are never referred to as " sir " nor " ma ' am " by non - commissioned member s . Officer cadets and naval cadets in the CF are subordinate officer s , but generally billet or mess with other officers . They do not carry the Queen ' s commission , and as such are not entitled to be saluted . The rank insignia is a narrow gold braid ( 1 / 4 - inch ; note difference with standard braid size ) on the cuff of the 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 term for cadets who try to insist that they be treated as commissioned officers ( i . e . be accorded salutes , etc . ) . Pakistan . In the Pakistan Army , potential servicemen training to be officers at the Pakistan Military Academy ( PMA ) are known as Gentlemen Cadets . Gentlemen Cadets join PMA Kakul either as a direct entry from civilian colleges or from Military Cadet colleges after going through an InterServices Selection Board . GCs undergo a two year military training program at PMA Kakul , equally divided into four semesters . The Academic Degree program for Gentlemen Cadets at PMA is a 4 year BS Engineering Sciences which compromises of 8 semesters , four of which they complete at PMA and the remaining four they study as second lieutenants at Human Resource Development Centres after the Grant of Commission from PMA . 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 Officer Cadet School 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 trainee officers in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth , and the Royal Air Force College at RAF Cranwell , as well as students who are members of the University Officers ' Training Corps albeit that the latter are mostly not trainee officers . 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 " by their juniors . However , as they do not hold the Queen ' s commission , they are not saluted . 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 . Army . The rank of officer cadet is held by those undergoing either the Regular Commissioning Course at Sandhurst or the Territorial Army Commissioning Course holding an AOSB main board pass . The Territorial Army Commissioning Course is administered by Sandhurst but run in modules divided between Sandhurst and Territorial Army Regional Training Centre s . 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 ) , cadet forces that are open to university students . Officer cadets in the UOTCs are not trainee officers , although a minority do go to Sandhurst after their first or second year , or 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 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ( Training ) Branch ( 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 ( 14 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 until they pass out of BRNC at the end of their initial training . The No . 1 uniform bears the rank the cadet will hold upon completing initial officer training . British Army . The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , which trains all British Army officer cadets ( and some from overseas militaries ) , appoints junior under officer s ( 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 , senior under officers are not at present appointed . Cadets in the University Officers ' Training Corps wear zero to three horizontal bars on the rank slide . 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 white band on all non - ceremonial uniforms . A thin white band is worn throughout the first 10 week term at RAF College Cranwell with the Regiment Training Flight , 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 . ' E ' Squadron is currently the home of the RAD Flight ( injuries flight ) and of the DELTA flight ( additional leadership and officer qualities 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 to 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 white band with no coloured band . UAS officer cadets wear airmen ' s headdress with a white band . Officer cadets of the RAFVR ( T ) wear the 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 , 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 United States Air Force Academy . Members under the age of 17 in the Junior Reserve Officers ' Training Corps , the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps , and 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 rank of " midshipman " for students in the Reserve Officer Training Corps , United States Merchant Marine Academy or 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 . Per Army regulation , since cadets will serve in officer positions , enlisted personnel are encouraged to salute cadets and address them as " Sir " or Ma ' am " or by their title and surname . 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 equivalents wear from one to six 1 / 4 " gold stripes or bars . US Air Force cadets wear rank shoulderboards or lapel insignia which carry miniature insignia . Service academies . Each U . S . service academy has its own set of insignia , different from that of its service ' s ROTC program . U . S . Military Academy ( West Point ) . 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 - class ( yellow shield ) , second - class ( grey shield ) , or first - class ( black shield ) cadets . On traditional " dress grey " and " full dress grey " uniforms and overcoats , the class insignia is indicated by the number of service stripes ( one to three ) denoting completed years of service at the Academy . These stripes are located on the lower sleeve for the under two classes and on the upper sleeve for the upper two classes . Visitors are sometimes confused to see cadets early in the academic year wearing the insignia of cadet PFC - such cadets are often reduced in rank ( for any of a variety of reasons ) , but have already completed their first year and as such are no longer cadet PVTs ( Plebes ) . 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 ( for cadet corporal ) to six ( for cadet 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 of United States Air Force Academy cadets is denoted by the insignia on their shoulderboards in all " blue " uniforms , including day - to - day " blues " , service dress , mess dress and parade dress . All cadet shoulder boards carry the heraldic nebuly device , ( commonly referred to as " clouds " by cadets ) . Third class cadets ( sophomores ) have one thin bar ( ground ) underneath the clouds ; second and first class cadets wear two thin bars , one each above ( horizon ) and below the clouds . Additional chevrons denote cadet non - commissioned officer ranks , while additional bars denote cadet officer ranks . An exception to this is the unranked cadets , who are on probation of some kind ( academic , athletic , military , honor , etc . ) . For unranked third class cadets , only ground and cloud are present ; for unranked second class cadets only ground , cloud , and horizon are present ; for unranked first class cadets only ground , cloud , horizon and one thin bar are present . Vertical diamonds on the boards of second class cadets indicate either squadron or group superintendent positions . Horizontal diamonds on the same indicate squadron first sergeant positions . Stars on first class cadet boards indicate either flight , squadron , or group command positions . If multiple stars are present , the cadet is either the vice wing commander ( two stars ) , or the wing commander ( three stars ) , the senior cadet in the Wing . The only second class cadet rank with a star present is the Wing Command Chief , the senior second class cadet . On the ( now retired ) Battle Dress Uniform or Airman Battle Uniform , Air Force Academy cadets wear bars or chevrons on their lapels to denote their rank . While fourth class cadets wear no insignia on utility uniforms , they are awarded a Prop and Wings after recognition , to be worn on the flight cap . 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 ) and U . S . Merchant Marine Academy ( Kings Point ) . The rank insignia of the United States Naval Academy and the United States Merchant Marine 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 historic meanings : red and green represent the running lights on a vessel ; white signifies the white lights used as navigation lights , signifying the role as guides for the 4 / c ; blue signifies the officers that 1 / c are about to become . The second type of insignia is 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 numbers of horizontal stripes , up to six for the regimental commander . U . S . Naval Sea Cadet Corps . The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps uses the terms " Midshipman ( MIDN ) " and " Instructor ( INST ) " for adults members seeking an appointment as an officer . NSCC midshipmen are adult leaders in training who are between the ages of 18 and 21 . Normally NSCC midshipmen are former cadets who reached the rate of seaman as a cadet , former JROTC cadets , or members of the military who are not old enough to be an NSCC instructor or officer . A NSCC instructor is an adult leader who either has an interest in becoming an NSCC officer or who wants to dedicate his time to mentoring and training cadets . All persons applying to be in the NSCC are first enrolled as an NSCC instructor for a period of one year . After a year , instructors may apply for an appointment to the NSCC Officer Corps or remain an instructor .