Ranks in the Army Cadets

Badges of rank in the Australian Army Cadets (AAC) closely follow those of the Australian Army, with a few exceptions. On modern uniforms, rank is worn on a “slide” positioned on the chest. Army Cadet rank slides all include a blue ribbon, with either “AAC” or “ARMY CADETS” embroidered in gold thread, to distinguish Army Cadet ranks from Army ranks.

Cadet Ranks

Cadets start at the rank of cadet recruit, and may be promoted through the ranks listed below. AAC cadet ranks are always prefixed with the word “Cadet” (or “CDT” when abbreviated) in order to distinguish from the Australian Army equivalent. When promoted, cadets generally progress through the NCO ranks, and as senior cadets the final rank obtained is often Cadet Warrant Officer or Cadet Under Officer.

Cadet (CDT)/Cadet Recruit (CDTREC)

No badge of rank

Cadet Recruits and Cadets do not wear a rank slide. Upon advancement from CDTREC to CDT, a cadet is eligible to wear the Australian National Flag on the left shoulder of their general duty uniform.

Cadet Lance Corporal (CDTLCPL)

Cadet Lance Corporals wear an insignia of one chevron, and are usually Section¹ 2ICs or perform a specialist role within the cadet unit. A CDTLCPL is to be addressed as "(Lance) Corporal" by their subordinates, where "Lance" is sometimes dropped for brevity.

Cadet Corporal (CDTCPL)

Cadet Corporals wear an insignia of two chevrons, and are usually Section¹ Commanders or perform a specialist role within the cadet unit. A CDTCPL is to be addressed as "Corporal" by their subordinates.

Cadet Sergeant (CDTSGT)

Cadet Sergeants wear an insignia of three chevrons, and are usually Platoon Sergeants (PL SGT), Company Sergeant Majors (CSM), Company Quartermaster Sergeants² (CQMS), acting Platoon or Company Commanders (PL/COY COMD) or hold another senior position in the cadet unit. A CDTSGT is to be addressed as "Sergeant" by their subordinates.

Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two (CDTWO2)

Cadet Warrant Officers Class Two wear an insignia of a crown bounded by a square frame, and are usually the Company Sergeant Major (CSM)¹, or may hold a unit training or operations role within the cadet unit. A CDTWO2 is to be addressed as "Sir/Ma'am" by their subordinates.

Cadet Warrant Officer Class One (CDTWO1)

Cadet Warrant Officers Class One wear an insignia of a Coat of Arms, and are usually the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of an AAC Battalion, AAC Brigade or a school-based cadet unit (SBU), or may hold a unit training or operations role within the cadet unit. A CDTWO1 is to be addressed as "Sir/Ma'am" by their subordinates.

Cadet Under Officer (CUO)

Cadet Under Officers wear an insignia of a lozenge, which consists of 27½ chevrons arranged in a diamond shape (not shown in the provided image). This rank does not have an equivalent in the Australian Army, and within a cadet unit CUOs may fulfill a number of junior officer roles such as Platoon Commander (PL COMD) Company Commander (COY COMD), Cadet Adjutant (ADJT), and more. A CUO is to be addressed as "Sir/Ma'am" by their subordinates, and subordinates are required to pay compliments (salute, etc).

Regional Cadet Under Officer (RCUO)

Regional Cadet Under Officers wear an insignia of a lozenge, with a blue centre. This rank is held by a cadet whose position is at a Regional² Headquarters.

National Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major (NRSM)

The National Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major wears an insignia of a Coat of Arms, surrounded by a laurel wreath. Usually a single cadet holds this rank, whose position is at National Headquarters (HQ AAC).

National Cadet Under Officer (NCUO)

The National Cadet Under Officer wears an insignia of a lozenge, with a red centre. Usually a single cadet holds this rank, whose position is at National Headquarters (HQ AAC).

Officers of Cadets (OOC) Ranks

Officers of Cadets⁴ are adult volunteers who run activities and administer the AAC program. OOC ranks are always suffixed with “(AAC)” in parentheses in order to distinguish from the Australian Army equivalent. Whilst OOCs do not hold a commission, they are to be addressed as “Sir/Ma’am” and are to be saluted by subordinates⁵.

Second Lieutenant (2LT(AAC))

AAC Second Lieutenants wear an insignia of one pip. They are often appointed to the role of Administration Officer, Quartermaster, or another similar role within their cadet unit.

Lieutenant (LT(AAC))

AAC Lieutenants wear an insignia of two pips. They are usually often to the role of Training Officer or Executive Officer within their cadet unit. Sometimes LTs (AAC) may be the Administrative Commander (AC) of their cadet unit, in place of an Officer Commanding (OC).

Captain (CAPT(AAC))

AAC Captains wear an insignia of three pips. They are often Officers Commanding (OC) of a cadet unit, or staff members at sub-regional headquarters (e.g. Bn HQ), regional headquarters (e.g. Bde HQ) and national headquarters (HQ AAC) may also hold the rank of CAPT (AAC), in various positions ranging from operations officer, to training development officer, to IT support officer (ITSO).

Major (MAJ(AAC))

AAC Majors wear an insignia of one crown. They are often sub-regional Commanding Officers, SBU Commanding Officers, or hold a position at regional headquarters (e.g. Bde HQ) or national headquarters (HQ AAC) in various staff officer or specialist officer positions.

Lieutenant Colonel (LTCOL(AAC))

AAC Lieutenant Colonels wear an insignia of a crown atop a single pip. They are Regional Assistant Commanders (ACOMD), SBU Commanding Officers, or hold a staff officer position at national headquarters (HQ AAC).

Colonel (COL(AAC))

AAC Colonels wear an insignia of a crown atop two pips. It is the rank of the National Assistant Commander (NAC), who is typically the only OOC to hold this rank⁶.

Other Adult Cadet Staff (ACS) Ranks

Defence Approved Helper (DAH)

No badge of rank

Defence Approved Helpers assist with cadet activities from time to time, hold no rank and do not wear a uniform. They are to be referred to by cadets as "Mr, Mrs, Ms/Miss" by cadets.

Trainee Officer of Cadets (TOOC)

Trainee Officer of Cadets has been redefined as a category (rather than an AAC rank) as of 2022, and this rank is no longer used. ACS now join as a uniformed member of staff at the rank of 2LT (AAC).

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Notes

1. Some cadet units, through association with their Army foster unit or for historical reasons, may refer to their formation as (an Armoured) troop/squadron rather than (an Infantry) section/company, and thus use the terms “Troop Commander” and “Squadron Sergeant Major” respectively.
2. The rank Cadet Staff Sergeant (CDTSSGT) was phased out from the AAC in 2011.
3. AAC regions roughly correspond with states. Notable exceptions are Queensland, which has North Queensland (NQLD) and South Queensland (SQLD) regions respectively, and NSW, which has a brigade that encompasses community-based units (CBUs) in both NSW and the ACT, and a “2nd Brigade” for SBUs. Furthermore, the RCUO rank may, in certain circumstances, be given to Senior Under Officers (SUO) of a large SBU.
4. In the recent past, an Instructor of Cadets (IOC) was an adult cadet staff member which held an NCO or WO rank. The IOC stream was abolished in 2018, and thus all adult cadet staff members are Officers of Cadets.
5. OOCs are not to be saluted by members of the ADF.
6. In the distant past, regional commanders were OOCs holding the rank of COL (AAC), however the present-day AAC sub-regions are commanded by a senior Army officer.