Cadet grades and insignia of the Civil Air Patrol Cadet grades and insignia of the Civil Air Patrol are a series of cadet ranks awarded to cadets in the Civil Air Patrol . Each grade and insignia corresponds to an equivalent United States Air Force enlisted and an equivalent officer grade insignia . A cadet begins at Cadet Airman Basic ( the lowest enlisted grade ) and must progress through all the enlisted grades before becoming a cadet officer . Each achievement requires the completion of several tasks . Phase I - The Learning Phase . Cadet Airman Basic . Cadet Airman Basic ( C / AB ) is the beginner level grade of Civil Air Patrol ( CAP ) cadets and of all phases . During the time that this grade is held , most Cadets undergo some form of squadron - , group - , and , occasionally , wing - level training in the basics of CAP and what it has to offer . The grade has no corresponding achievement award . Cadet Airmen Basic are to be referred to as " Cadet " or by their last name by other cadets and Senior Members . Cadet Airman . Cadet Airman ( C / Amn ) is a grade that indicates the completion of the first achievement of 16 in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program . The Cadet Airman insignia is based on the design of the airman insignia from the USAF with a CAP Cadet shield superimposed over the center . Requirements to obtain this grade include a 25 question test on the fundamentals of leadership and followership taken from chapter one of " Learn to Lead " , a drill performance test , and a physical fitness test . Also included in promotion is attending at least one Moral Leadership session provided by the cadet ' s local squadron . Some local units also require review boards to ensure that a person meets all requirements for this . The grade accompanies the General J . F . Curry Achievement . Cadets that have earned the Curry Achievement are then eligible to go to Encampment ( a week long basic training for CAP Cadets ) and also attain their General Emergency Services ( GES ) rating to assist CAP in its ES work . Cadet Airmen are to be referred to as " Airman " or by their last name by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Cadet Airman First Class . Cadet Airman 1st Class ( C / A1C ) is like Cadet Airman in many ways . Promotion to this grade indicates completion of the second of 16 achievements in the program . Some differences though are that at this level , Cadets must pass an aerospace test based on one of six modules in the current program along with a leadership , drill and physical fitness test . Cadets also must attend at least one Moral Leadership session . Along with this , Cadets sometimes begin serving as element leaders or begin working towards the experience of being flight sergeants while polishing their skills in learning how to be effective followers . The design is similar to that of a Cadet Airman with a second stripe . The grade accompanies the General H . H . " Hap " Arnold Achievement . Cadet Airmen First Class are to be referred to as " Airman " or by their last name by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Cadet Senior Airman . Cadet Senior Airman ( C / SrA ) is the third enlisted rank in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program . It , like the requirements for Cadet Airman First Class ( C / A1C ) includes a leadership , aerospace , and physical fitness test with many units requiring review boards to obtain this promotion . By this time , Cadets have served at least 4 months in the program ( usually more ) . Most Cadets take longer than that to reach this point and usually have a couple of group , wing , or other , higher level activities and experience . Senior Airmen are in essence NCO ' s in training . They may be asked to supervise subordinate cadets in the absence of a junior NCO . By this point a Senior Airman is usually an element leader . He / she may also apply for a staff position at an encampment or national activity . The grade accompanies the Mary Feik Achievement . Cadet Senior Airmen are to be referred to as " Airman " or by their last name by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Cadet Staff Sergeant . Cadet Staff Sergeant ( C / SSgt ) is a grade in the Civil Air Patrol of the United States of America . It is granted alongside the Wright Brothers Award , which is the first of 5 milestone awards given in the Cadet Program . Formerly the Wright Brothers Achievement ( which accompanied C / SrA prior to April 2003 ) , it was made an award to mark the completion of the first phase of the CAP Cadet Program . The award requires passing a comprehensive test on leadership covering the material learned over the 1st three achievements of the program along with a physical fitness test and a drill performance test , as well as a commitment of at least eight months of active membership in the Civil Air Patrol . In addition Staff Sergeants may also become Flight Sergeants and supervise Flights anywhere from 8 - 20 cadets . The grade accompanies the Wright Brothers Award , the first of the five Cadet Program Milestone Awards . Cadet Staff Sergeants are to be referred to as " Sergeant " by other cadets and " Cadet " or " Sergeant " by Senior Members . Phase II - The Leadership Phase . Cadet Technical Sergeant . The grade of Cadet Technical Sergeant ( C / TSgt ) is the sixth enlisted grade of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program . It is most often known as " Cadet Tech . Sergeant " . At this rank Cadets are usually Flight Sergeants , but may also serve as element leaders instead . The grade accompanies the Captain Eddie Rickenbacker Achievement . Cadet Technical Sergeants are to be referred to as " Sergeant " by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Cadet Master Sergeant . The grade of Cadet Master Sergeant ( C / MSgt ) is the seventh enlisted grade of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program . At this point a Cadet becomes a Senior NCO and may be given the billet of First Sergeant , at which time a diamond is placed on the grade insignia . The grade accompanies the Charles A . Lindbergh Achievement . Cadet Master Sergeants are to be referred to as " Sergeant " by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Cadet Senior Master Sergeant . The grade of Cadet Senior Master Sergeant ( C / SMSgt ) is the eighth enlisted grade of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program . At this rank a cadet may serve as a First Sergeant . However , it is not uncommon for a Senior Master Sergeant to be a Flight Sergeant . Rarely , but in the event that there is a shortage of commissioned officers a Senior NCO may act as a Flight Commander , commanding a group of cadets numbering usually from 8 - 20 . The grade accompanies the General Jimmy Doolittle Achievement . Cadet Senior Master Sergeants are to be referred to as " Sergeant " by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Cadet Chief Master Sergeant . The grade of Cadet Chief Master Sergeant ( C / CMSgt ) is the ninth enlisted grade of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program . At this rank a Chief usually serves as a Squadron First Sergeant . However , a Chief may also be a Flight Sergeant . Lastly , like a Senior Master Sergeant , a Chief may serve as a Flight Commander if there is a shortage in officers . The grade accompanies the Dr . Robert H . Goddard Achievement . In order for a cadet to earn this grade , the cadet must pass the Leadership Achievement 7 test , and the only aerospace education test that the cadet has not yet passed . The cadet must also take and pass their Cadet Physical Fitness Test ( CPFT ) , attend at least one moral leadership session in their squadron since their last promotion , have actively participated , and finally , the cadet must have spent at least 60 days as a Cadet Senior Master Sergeant . In addition , the grade of Cadet Chief Master Sergeant is kept for another 60 days after which the cadet had earned the Goddard Achievement . Upon completing a physical fitness test and speech given to the squadron , and after the extra 60 - day term , the cadet will earn the Neil Armstrong Achievement , which is the final achievement a cadet is able to receive before promoting on to officership . Cadet Chief Master Sergeants are to be referred to as " Chief " by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Cadet First Sergeant ( Position ) . Cadet First Sergeant ( C / CCF ) is a position conferred to a senior cadet non - commissioned officer ( NCO ) in a unit . Rather than being a grade which any cadet may attain , this is a position granted to the cadet who will be acting in the leadership role over other cadets , and as such , there will be only one First Sergeant at any given time . Once a cadet achieves the grade of Cadet Second Lieutenant , he or she may no longer hold the position of First Sergeant , and it will be awarded to another senior cadet NCO . The role of the Cadet First Sergeant is to relay information to Flight Sergeants and other NCO ' s or Airmen from the command staff . The First Sergeant has no authority over Flight Commanders ( since the Flight Commander position is an Officer billet , even when filled by another cadet NCO ) . Often the First Sergeant is mistakenly placed above Flight Commanders in the Chain of Command , however , the First Sergeant position is not in the chain , and is simply there to make the chain of command work by relaying information from the " enlisted " grade cadets to the command level staff , mainly the Cadet Commander . The reason the First Sergeant position is not in the chain of command is because it does need to be positioned above flight staff to work , however , Flight Commanders are typically Officers , and under no circumstances is an NCO above an Officer in the chain of command . First Sergeants do not have the authority to give Flight Commanders orders . Typically , Flight Commanders work directly with the Cadet Commander and receive their orders from that authority . The insignia for this position will be the same as the cadet ' s grade ( Cadet Master Sergeant , Cadet Senior Master Sergeant or Cadet Chief Master Sergeant ) . Junior NCOs are not assigned to this position . Cadets serving in this position are normally referred to as First Sergeant by other cadets . Phase III - The Command Phase . Cadet Second Lieutenant . The grade of Cadet Second Lieutenant ( C / 2d Lt ) is the first cadet officer grade of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program , and second milestone award ( after Cadet Staff Sergeant ) . In order to achieve the award , cadets must pass the comprehensive and timed Aerospace , and Leadership test , as well as passing a Cadet Physical Fitness Test ( CPFT ) , having gone to an encampment , having spent at least four months in the past grade 2 for the Armstrong and 2 for the Goddard , and participating in Moral Leadership at least once since the cadet ' s last promotion and having been recorder and discussion leader at some point since completing the first phase of the Cadet Program . At this rank a Second Lieutenant usually serves as a Flight Commander . They may also have to receive some leadership training . However , contrary to the active duty military all commissioned officers have risen through all the enlisted ranks . A silver star worn on the ribbon denotes successful completion of Cadet Officer School . The grade accompanies the Billy Mitchell Award . If the cadet later enlists in the United States Armed Forces with this grade or higher , he or she enters with a Department of Defense pay grade of E - 3 . Upon completing this award , cadets are eligible for direct promotion to Second Lieutenant as a Senior Member once they turn 21 . Cadet Second Lieutenants are to be referred to as " Lieutenant " ( or " Sir / Ma ' am " ) by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Cadet First Lieutenant . The grade of Cadet First Lieutenant ( C / 1st Lt ) is the second cadet officer grade of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program . The grade has no corresponding ribbon . A 1st Lt usually commands a large flight of about 15 - 20 cadets . At this grade they may also become a cadet executive officer . They may also serve as an aerospace education or emergency services officer . Cadet First Lieutenants are to be referred to as " Lieutenant " ( or " Sir / Ma ' am " ) by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Cadet Captain . The grade of Cadet Captain ( C / Capt ) is the third cadet officer grade of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program , and also the third milestone of five in the cadet program . In order to achieve the award , cadets must pass the comprehensive and timed aerospace and leadership test , as well as passing a Cadet Physical Fitness Test ( CPFT ) , have written three Staff Duty Analyses , spent at least four months in the past grade and participated in Moral Leadership at least once since the cadet ' s last promotion . The grade accompanies the Amelia Earhart Award . Award of the Earhart Award ( and corresponding promotion to Cadet Captain ) makes the cadet eligible for Civil Air Patrol ' s International Air Cadet Exchange . In addition Cadet Captains may begin to serve as Deputy Commander or even cadet commanders . At encampments or special activities a Cadet Captain may command a squadron and have as many as three Flights or 60 Cadets , 3 Flight Sergeants and a First Sergeant under him / her . Upon completing this award , cadets are eligible for direct promotion to First Lieutenant as a Senior Member once they turn 21 . Cadet Captains are to be referred to as " Captain " ( or " Sir / Ma ' am " ) by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Phase IV - The Executive Phase . Cadet Major . The grade of Cadet Major ( C / Maj ) is the fourth cadet officer grade of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program . The grade has no corresponding ribbon . At encampment or wing level a Cadet Major may serve as an Executive officer or Deputy Commander . He / She may also serve as a Cadet Commander at a squadron level . Also it is not uncommon for Cadet Majors and above to serve as training officers . Cadet Majors are to be referred to as " Major " ( or " Sir / Ma ' am " ) by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Cadet Lieutenant Colonel . The grade of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel ( C / Lt Col ) is a cadet officer grade that a cadet of the Civil Air Patrol may attain . It is the fourth milestone of five in the Cadet Program . Prior to 1996 this level of achievement was simply referred to as " Phase IV Completion " . At this rank a Lt Col may serve as a Squadron or Wing Cadet Commander . The grade accompanies the General Ira C . Eaker Award . In order for a cadet to earn this award , the cadet must have written an essay and give a speech , as well as take the PT test . Also they must have attended a cadet officer ' s course such as RCLS ( Regional Cadet Leadership School ) like COBC ( Cadet Officers Basic Course ) , or COS ( Cadet Officers School ) . Another alternative is to take the CAP Senior Officer Course ( AFIADL - 13 ) ; this option is rarely taken considering the valuable information learned at a RCLS or COS . Cadet Lieutenant Colonels are to be referred to as " Colonel " ( or " Sir / Ma ' am " ) by other cadets and " Cadet " by Senior Members . Program completion . Cadet Colonel . The grade of Cadet Colonel ( C / Col ) is the highest grade , and final milestone that a cadet of the Civil Air Patrol may attain . The Spaatz Exam is a comprehensive series consisting of a 60 - question leadership exam ( with a passing score of 80 % ) , a 60 - question aerospace exam ( also with a passing score of 80 % ) , physical fitness test consisting of three chosen events , and a moral leadership essay . Upon completion of the Cadet Program achievements ( Eaker Award , formerly known as " Phase IV Completion " ) , the cadet may request this examination . Only three attempts are authorized . If reached , this is considered to be the pinnacle of a cadet ' s career . The grade accompanies the General Carl A . Spaatz Award . Upon completing this award , cadets are eligible for direct promotion to Captain as a Senior Member once they turn 21 . Cadet Colonels are to be referred to as " Colonel " ( or " Sir / Ma ' am " ) by other cadets and may be called " Cadet " by Senior Member s . A list of Spaatz Award recipients may be found at the Spaatz Association ' s website .