RAF other ranks

The term used in the Royal Air Force (RAF) to refer to all ranks below commissioned officer level is other ranks (ORs). It includes warrant officers (WOs), non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and airmen.

Origins

Upon the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918, rank titles and badges for ORs were adopted from the British Army, specifically the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). The RFC ranks of Flight Sergeant (equivalent to Staff Sergeant), Sergeant, Corporal and Air Mechanic were directly adopted. The RFC's four-bladed propeller trade classification badge above the Sergeants' and Flight Sergeants' chevrons was dropped.

To distinguish them from Army personnel, RAF personnel wore the RAF eagle on a rectangular patch below the shoulder seam on the sleeve. The RAF Eagle is depicted with its beak turned to the rear rather than the front. RAF NCOs were fond of saying that represented that their eyes were everywhere.

The trade classification of Leading Aircraftman was created on 5 April 1918 to fill a void in the Service ranks. It was granted the double-bladed propeller rank insignia of the RFC Air Mechanic 1st Class and was equivalent in rank and authority to the Army appointment of Lance-Corporal. On 1 January 1919 the rank of Aircraftman replaced the ranks of Private, Air Mechanic, and Clerk. Aircraftmen were nicknamed "Erks" (a corruption of the word 'Aircraft') by the senior ranks, which was preferred to 'other ranks' or 'troops'.

The rank of Master Clerk was originally equivalent to Sergeant Major 1st Class. On 28 November 1918, the new rank of Chief Master Clerk was made equivalent to the rank of Sergeant Major 1st Class, and the old rank of Master Clerk was made equivalent to the rank of Sergeant Major 2nd Class.

The original RAF ranks are vertically listed by seniority; the Technical ranks had precedence over the Administrative ranks, which in turn had precedence over the Service ranks. This was meant to keep non-technical NCOs from interfering with the efforts of technical and administrative NCOs. This was abolished in January 1919 and a streamlined single-column rank system was devised.

Rank group	RAF other ranks (1 April 1918)					RAF other ranks (1 January 1919)
	Technical		Administrative	Service
Senior NCOs	File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-9a.svg	Chief Master Mechanic	Chief Master ClerkTemplate:Efn	File:British RAF 1918 OR-9.svg	Sergeant Major 1st Class	File:British RAF OR-9 (1919-1953).svg	Sergeant Major 1st Class
	File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-7.svg	Master Mechanic	Master ClerkTemplate:Efn	File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-7.svg	Sergeant Major 2nd Class	File:British RAF OR-8 (1919-1939).svg	Sergeant Major 2nd Class
	File:RFC Flight Sergeant.svg	Chief Mechanic	Flight Clerk	File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-6.svg	Flight Sergeant	File:British RAF OR-7b (1919-1953).svg	Flight Sergeant
	File:RFC Sergeant.svg	Sergeant Mechanic	Sergeant Clerk	File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-4.svg	Sergeant	File:British RAF OR-6.svg	Sergeant
Junior NCOs	File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-3.svg	Corporal Mechanic	Corporal Clerk	File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-3.svg	Corporal	File:British RAF OR-4.svg	Corporal
Enlisted men	File:RAF Air Mechanic 1st Class 1918-1919.svg	Air Mechanic 1st Class	Clerk 1st Class		Leading AircraftmanTemplate:Efn	File:British RAF OR-2a.svg	Leading AircraftmanTemplate:Efn
		Air Mechanic 2nd Class	Clerk 2nd Class		Private 1st Class		Aircraftman 1st Class
		Air Mechanic 3rd Class	Clerk 3rd Class		Private 2nd Class		Aircraftman 2nd Class

1930–1949

Warrant officers

In 1933, the ranks of Sergeant Major 1st Class and Sergeant Major 2nd Class were renamed Warrant Officer Class I and Warrant Officer Class II to put them in line with the Army. In 1939, the rank of Warrant Officer II was abolished and the rank of Warrant Officer I was renamed Warrant Officer. RAF Warrant Officers were given equivalent status to the continuing Army rank of Warrant Officer Class I.

Aircrew

On 1 July 1946, NCOs serving as aircrew were assigned different rank badges which distinguished them from ORs in ground trades. The new ranks were:

RAF aircrew ranks (1946–1950)

Aircrew rank	Equivalent rank	Insignia descriptionTemplate:Efn	Rank insignia
Master Aircrew	Warrant Officer	Wreath closed by Royal Arms and inset with an RAF Eagle within.	File:1946 RAF Master Aircrew.svg
Aircrew I	Flight Sergeant	Crown over Wreath closed by an RAF Eagle and inset with three 6-pointed stars within.	File:RAF Aircrew I rank.png
Aircrew II	Sergeant	Wreath closed by an RAF Eagle and inset with three 6-pointed stars within.	File:RAF Aircrew II rank.png
Aircrew III	Corporal	Wreath closed by an RAF Eagle and inset with two 6-pointed stars within.	File:RAF Aircrew III rank.png
Aircrew IV	Leading Aircraftman	Wreath closed by an RAF Eagle and inset with one 6-pointed star within.	File:RAF Aircrew IV rank.png
Aircrew Cadet	Trainee	Wreath closed by an RAF Eagle and a blank field within.	File:RAF Aircrew Cadet rank.png

1950s

File:1901 pattern Tudor Crown (gold and red).svg

File:Crown of Saint Edward (gold and red).svg

In 1953, the crown was changed from the Tudor Crown to the Crown of St Edward, when Queen Elizabeth II adopted a stylised image of the crown for use in coats of arms, badges, logos and various other insignia.

Technicians and aircrew

In 1950, a new grading system for technicians was introduced. This involved the creation of the following ranks:

RAF technician ranks (1950–1964)

Technician rank	Equivalent rank	Rank insignia
Master Technician	Warrant Officer	File:British RAF OR-9 (1919-1953).svg
Chief Technician	Flight Sergeant	File:British RAF OR-7a (1950-1953).svg
Senior Technician	Sergeant	File:British RAF OR-5 (1950-1964).svg
Corporal Technician	Corporal	File:British RAF OR-4a (1950-1964).svg
Junior Technician	Leading Aircraftman	File:British RAF OR-3 (1950-1964).svg

Also in 1950, the unpopular NCO aircrew ranks were abolished, although Master Aircrew was retained as a rank. Aircrew I became Flight Sergeant Aircrew and Aircrew II, III and IV became Sergeant Aircrew. Both new ranks adopted a gold RAF Eagle between the chevrons to permit continuing distinction from ground trades. Aircrew cadets wore the RAF Eagle on its own as a trade classification badge.

RAF aircrew ranks (1950–present)

Aircrew rank	Rank insignia
Master Aircrew	File:British RAF (Aircrew) OR-9 (1946-1953).svg
Flight Sergeant Aircrew	File:British RAF (Aircrew) OR-7 (1950-1953).svg
Sergeant Aircrew	File:British RAF (Aircrew) OR-6.svg

Junior ranks

On 1 January 1951, two junior ranks were introduced:

• Senior Aircraftman/Senior Aircraftwoman with a triple-bladed propeller.
• Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman with a double-bladed propeller (this had previously been only a trade classification and not a rank)

1960s

Technicians

In 1964, the technician ranks were abolished, with the exception of Junior Technician and Chief Technician, the latter becoming an intermediate rank between Sergeant and Flight Sergeant for Technical Trades. Junior Technicians adopted the four-bladed propeller as their badge of rank and Chief Technicians adopted a treble chevron surmounted by a four-bladed propeller as their rank insignia. Master Technicians, Senior Technicians and Corporal Technicians became Warrant Officer, Sergeant and Corporal respectively. The ORs structure became:

• Warrant Officer (WO) / Master Aircrew (MAcr)
• Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt, F/Sgt, or FS) / Flight Sergeant Aircrew (FSAcr)
• Chief Technician (Chf Tech, C/T, or CT)
• Sergeant (Sgt) / Sergeant Aircrew (SAcr)
• Corporal (Cpl)
• Junior Technician (Jnr Tech, J/T, or JT)
• Senior Aircraftman (SAC) / Senior Aircraftwoman (SACW)
• Leading Aircraftman (LAC) / Leading Aircraftwoman (LACW)
• Aircraftman (AC) / Aircraftwoman (ACW)

Changes in the 2000s

Phasing out of Junior Technician

File:British RAF OR-2c.svg

2005 Senior Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (Technician) rank

From 2005 onwards, no more airmen have been promoted to Junior Technician. Although there are currently personnel in the rank of Junior Technician, once they have all been promoted or discharged from the RAF, the rank will cease to be used. From March 2005, SACs in technical trades who had attained the Operational Performance Standard were promoted to Senior Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (Technician) SAC(T) and given a new badge of rank, consisting of the three-bladed propeller inside a circle. This new rank was introduced to distinguish airmen trained to work unsupervised from those who were not, and is equivalent to the old Junior Technician rank.

Introduction of Lance Corporal

On 1 April 2010, the RAF Regiment introduced the rank of lance corporal for SACs at the time who undertook the role of section second-in-command/fire team commander. This gave them more authority on the ground, as well as a better pay band. The rank has not moved to other trades, and is solely in the RAF Regiment.

Aviator replaces Airman/Airwoman

In November 2021 the official RAF magazine AirClues promulgated: "the term 'aviator' has now replaced the generic term of ‘airman’ to bring right up to date the way we should describe all of our personnel," since women now numbered a fifth of candidates applying to enlist in the RAF.

Air Specialist replaces Airman/Airwoman

In July 2022, the RAF officially introduced the ranks Air recruit, Air specialist class 2, Air specialist class 1 and Air specialist (class 1) technician to replace the ranks Aircraftman/woman, Leading Aircraftman/woman, Senior Aircraftman/woman and Senior Aircraftman/woman (Technician). This was an attempt to further promote gender neutrality and inclusion with the RAF.

Timeline of changes

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Flying Corps (1912–April 1918)	File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-9a.svg						File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-7.svg		File:RFC Quartermaster Sergeant.svg	File:RFC Flight Sergeant.svg	File:RFC Sergeant.svg												File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-3.svg				File:RFC Air Mechanic 1st Class.svg		No insigniaTemplate:Hr
	Warrant officer class I						Warrant officer class II		Quartermaster sergeant	Flight sergeant	Sergeant												Corporal				Air mechanic 1st class		Air mechanic 2nd class						Air mechanic 3rd class
Royal Naval Air Service (1914–April 1918)									2 golden cuff buttons, and a golden eagle pin on the collar Chief petty officer mechanic, 1st grade Chief petty officer mechanic, 2nd grade Chief petty officer mechanic, 3rd grade		File:UK Petty officer 1st class 1901.svg												File:British Royal Navy OR-4.svg						File:Blank.svg						File:Blank.svg
											Petty officer mechanic												Leading mechanic						Air mechanic, 1st class						Air mechanic, 1st class (acting)	Air mechanic, 2nd class
(1918 – 1919)	File:British RAF 1918 OR-9.svg						File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-7.svg		File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-6.svg		File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-4.svg												File:British Army (1920–1953), OR-3.svg						No insigniaTemplate:Hr
	Sergeant major 1st class						Sergeant major 2nd class		Flight sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal						Private 1st class						Private 2nd class
(1919 – 1933)	File:British RAF OR-9 (1919-1953).svg						File:British RAF OR-8 (1919-1939).svg		File:British RAF OR-7b (1919-1953).svg		File:British RAF OR-6.svg												File:British RAF OR-4.svg						No insigniaTemplate:Hr
	Sergeant major 1st class						Sergeant major 2nd class		Flight sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal						Leading aircraftmanTemplate:Efn			Aircraftman 1st class			Aircraftman 2nd class
(1933 – 1939)	File:British RAF OR-9 (1919-1953).svg						File:British RAF OR-8 (1919-1939).svg		File:British RAF OR-7b (1919-1953).svg		File:British RAF OR-6.svg												File:British RAF OR-4.svg						No insigniaTemplate:Hr
	Warrant officer class I						Warrant officer class II		Flight sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal						Leading aircraftmanTemplate:Efn			Aircraftman 1st class			Aircraftman 2nd class
(1939 – 1950)	File:British RAF OR-9 (1919-1953).svg								File:British RAF OR-7b (1919-1953).svg		File:British RAF OR-6.svg												File:British RAF OR-4.svg						No insigniaTemplate:Hr
	Warrant officer								Flight sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal						Leading aircraftmanTemplate:Efn			Aircraftman 1st class			Aircraftman 2nd class
(1950 – 1951)	File:British RAF OR-9 (1919-1953).svg			File:British RAF OR-9 (1919-1953).svg					File:British RAF OR-7b (1919-1953).svg	File:British RAF OR-7a (1950-1953).svg	File:British RAF OR-6.svg						File:British RAF OR-5 (1950-1964).svg						File:British RAF OR-4.svg		File:British RAF OR-4a (1950-1964).svg		File:British RAF OR-3 (1950-1964).svg		No insigniaTemplate:Hr
	Warrant officer			Master technician					Flight sergeant	Chief technician	Sergeant						Senior technician						Corporal		Corporal technician		Junior technician		Leading aircraftmanTemplate:Efn			Aircraftman 1st class			Aircraftman 2nd class
(1951 – 1953)	File:British RAF OR-9 (1919-1953).svg			File:British RAF OR-9 (1919-1953).svg					File:British RAF OR-7b (1919-1953).svg	File:British RAF OR-7a (1950-1953).svg	File:British RAF OR-6.svg						File:British RAF OR-5 (1950-1964).svg						File:British RAF OR-4.svg		File:British RAF OR-4a (1950-1964).svg		File:British RAF OR-3 (1950-1964).svg		File:British RAF OR-2b.svg			File:British RAF OR-2a.svg			No insignia
	Warrant officer			Master technician					Flight sergeant	Chief technician	Sergeant						Senior technician						Corporal		Corporal technician		Junior technician		Senior aircraftman			Leading aircraftman			Aircraftman
(1953 – 1964)	File:British RAF OR-9.svg			File:British RAF OR-9.svg					File:British RAF OR-7b.svg	File:British RAF OR-7a (1953-1964).svg	File:British RAF OR-6.svg						File:British RAF OR-5 (1950-1964).svg						File:British RAF OR-4.svg		File:British RAF OR-4a (1950-1964).svg		File:British RAF OR-3 (1950-1964).svg		File:British RAF OR-2b.svg			File:British RAF OR-2a.svg			No insignia
	Warrant officer			Master technician					Flight sergeant	Chief technician	Sergeant						Senior technician						Corporal		Corporal technician		Junior technician		Senior aircraftman			Leading aircraftman			Aircraftman
(1964 – 2005)	File:British RAF OR-9.svg								File:British RAF OR-7b.svg	File:British RAF OR-7a.svg	File:British RAF OR-6.svg												File:British RAF OR-4.svg				File:British RAF OR-3 (1964-2005).svg		File:British RAF OR-2b.svg			File:British RAF OR-2a.svg			No insignia
	Warrant officer								Flight sergeant	Chief technician	Sergeant												Corporal				Junior technician		Senior aircraftman/ woman			Leading aircraftman/ woman			Aircraftman/ woman
(2005 – 2010)	File:British RAF OR-9.svg								File:British RAF OR-7b.svg	File:British RAF OR-7a.svg	File:British RAF OR-6.svg												File:British RAF OR-4.svg						File:British RAF OR-2c.svg		File:British RAF OR-2b.svg		File:British RAF OR-2a.svg		No insignia
	Warrant officer								Flight sergeant	Chief technician	Sergeant												Corporal						Senior aircraftman/ woman technician		Senior aircraftman/ woman		Leading aircraftman/ woman		Aircraftman/ woman
(2010 – 2022)	File:British RAF OR-9b.svg			File:British RAF OR-9.svg					File:British RAF OR-7b.svg	File:British RAF OR-7a.svg	File:British RAF OR-6.svg												File:British RAF OR-4.svg				File:British RAF OR-3.svg		File:British RAF OR-2c.svg		File:British RAF OR-2b.svg		File:British RAF OR-2a.svg		No insignia
	Warrant officer								Flight sergeant	Chief technician	Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal (RAF Regiment only)		Senior aircraftman/ woman technician		Senior aircraftman/ woman		Leading aircraftman/ woman		Aircraftman/ woman
(2022 – present)	File:British RAF OR-9b.svg			File:British RAF OR-9.svg					File:British RAF OR-7b.svg	File:British RAF OR-7a.svg	File:British RAF OR-6.svg												File:British RAF OR-4.svg				File:British RAF OR-3.svg		File:British RAF OR-2c.svg		File:British RAF OR-2b.svg		File:British RAF OR-2a.svg		No insignia
	Warrant officer								Flight sergeant	Chief technician	Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal (RAF Regiment only)		Air specialist (class 1) technician		Air specialist (class 1)		Air specialist (class 2)		Air recruit
NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Aircrew

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
(1946 – 1950)	File:British RAF (Aircrew) OR-9 (1946-1953).svg								File:RAF Aircrew I rank.png		File:RAF Aircrew II rank.png												File:RAF Aircrew III rank.png				File:RAF Aircrew IV rank.png								File:RAF Aircrew Cadet rank.png
	Master aircrew								Aircrew I		Aircrew II												Aircrew III				Aircrew IV								Aircrew Cadet
(1950 – 1953)	File:British RAF (Aircrew) OR-9 (1946-1953).svg								File:British RAF (Aircrew) OR-7 (1950-1953).svg		File:British RAF (Aircrew) OR-6.svg
	Master aircrew								Flight sergeant aircrew		Sergeant aircrew
(1953 – present)	File:British RAF (Aircrew) OR-9.svg								File:British RAF (Aircrew) OR-7.svg		File:British RAF (Aircrew) OR-6.svg
	Master aircrew								Flight sergeant aircrew		Sergeant aircrew
NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

See also

• Aircrew brevet
• British Army Other Ranks rank insignia
• Comparative military ranks of World War I
• Comparative military ranks of World War II
• Comparative military ranks
• List of Royal Air Force ground trades
• List of Royal Air Force members
• Military rank
• RAF officer ranks
• Ranks and insignia of NATO Air Forces Enlisted
• Ranks of the cadet forces of the United Kingdom
• Royal Navy ratings rank insignia
• Royal Observer Corps ranks
• Women's Auxiliary Air Force ranks

External links

• Ranks and Badges of the Royal Air Force
• RAF ORs and equivalents, reproduced from Air Ministry Weekly Order 109 of 1921