The Air Cadet Organisation is managed on a local level by officers who hold a Queens Cadet Forces Commission in the Royal Air Force. These officers are all volunteers who give up their spare time to help organise and run cadet activities. They wear the same uniform as regular RAF officers with embroidered RAF Air Cadets identifier on their rank slides.
A candidate for Commissioning must first serve as a Civilian Instructor, SNCO or Cadet Warrant Officer for a period of no less than 3 months. They must then pass a filter interview at Wing Headquarters, followed by a two day commission board at the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC) RAFC Cranwell. The commission board consists of a series tests of leadership and organisational ability, a fitness test and a formal interview with senior officers.
Candidates successfully passing the commission board are duly appointed as Acting Pilot Officer in the RAFAC.
ACTING PILOT OFFICER RAFAC
Rank: Acting Pilot Officer
Abbreviation: A/Plt Off
Addressed as: Sir/ Ma'm
Candidates successfully passing the commission board process are initially appointed as an Acting Pilot Officer.
They return to their Squadron and gain experience in an executive role, they will remain as Acting Pilot Officer until they successfully complete the 1 week Officers Initial Course (OIC) at the Adult Training Facility (ATF), Headquarters Air Cadets.
Before they pass the relevant courses, they are an acting Pilot Officer, denoted by the white tape at the bottom of the rank slide.
PILOT OFFICER RAFAC
Rank: Pilot Officer
Abbreviation: Plt Off
Addressed as: Sir/ Ma'am
On completion of OIC an Officer will be formally gazetted as a Pilot Officer in the RAFAC.
They will remain Pilot Officers for a minimum period of two years, if their performance has been satisfactory they are then promoted to Flying Officer.
FLYING OFFICER RAFAC
Rank: Flying Officer
Abbreviation: Fg Off
Addressed as: Sir/ Ma'am
Flying Officers will typically act as Deputy Officer Commanding/Adjutant/Flight Commander on an ATC Squadron.
On small Squadrons or Detached Flights they may act as Officer Commanding.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT RAFAC
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Abbreviation: Flt Lt
Addressed as: Sir/ Ma'am
Flight Lieutenants typically act as Squadron Commanders in the ATC, they may also be found at Wing/Region Headquarters filling various Staff Officer roles.
Confirmation of promotion to Flight Lieutenant is usually dependant on the Officer attending the Squadron Commanders Course (SCC) at ATF and fulfilling a Continuous Professional Development programme.
SQUADRON LEADER RAFAC
Rank: Squadron Leader
Abbreviation: Sqn Ldr
Addressed as: Sir / Ma’am
Squadron Leader is the first senior officer rank and is usually held by Wing/Region Staff Officers, although large Squadrons with 100+ cadets on strength may have a Squadron Leader as Officer Commanding.
WING COMMANDER RAFAC
Rank: Wing Commander
Abbreviation: Wg Cdr
Addressed as: Sir / Ma’am
Wing Commander in the RAFAC holds exactly that position. He/she will command the entire Wing.
Our Wing Commander is Wg Cdr Wilson.
Our Wing is South and East Midlands Wing
Our Wing Headquarters is at RAF Wittering.
GROUP CAPTAIN VRT
Rank: Group Captain
Abbreviation: Grp Capt
Addressed as: Sir/ Ma'm
A Group Captain would be in charge of a Region (above the wing).
It is also the honourary rank given to the Ambassador of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.
Our current ambassador is Honorary Group Captain RAFAC Carol Vorderman MBE
Click on the rank slide to see our Ambassador
AIR COMMODORE
Rank: Air Commodore
Abbreviation: Air Cdre
Addressed as: Sir/ Ma'am
The Air Commodore is in overall command of the Royal Air Force Air Cadet organisation.
The current Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets is Air Commodore Tony Keeling.
Click on the rank slide to see Air Commodore Tony Keeling
