Commissioned Officers

The RAFAC is managed on a local level by officers who hold a Queens Commission in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets. 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 the addition of a 'RAF AIR CADETS' branch identifier on their rank slides.

A candidate for Commissioning must first serve as a Civilian Instructor, Adult NCO 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 three day commission board at the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC), RAF 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 Officers in the RAFAC.

Acting Pilot Officer

Rank:
Abbreviation:
Addressed as:

Acting Pilot Officer
A/Plt Off RAFAC
Sir / Ma'am

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, but will remain an Acting Pilot Officer until they successfully complete the 1 week Officers Initial Course (OIC) at the RAFAC Training Academy (RAFAC TA), RAF Cranwell.

Pilot Officer

Rank:
Abbreviation:
Addressed as:

Pilot Officer
APO
Sir / Ma'am

On completion of OIC an Officer will be formally appointed a Pilot Officer in the RAFAC and will remain a Pilot Officer for a minimum period of two years. If their performance is satisfactory they are then automatically promoted to Flying Officer.

Flying Officer

Rank:
Abbreviation:
Addressed as:

Flying Officer
Fg Off
Sir / Ma'am

Flying Officer is the substantive rank in the RAFAC - that is to say all ranks above this are only acting paid/unpaid positions. Flying Officers will typically act as Deputy Officer Commanding / Adjutant / Flight Commander on an RAFAC Squadron. On small Squadrons or Detached Flights they may act as Officer Commanding.

Flight Lieutenant

Rank:
Abbreviation:
Addressed as:

Flight Lieutenant
Flt Lt RAFAC
Sir / Ma'am

Flight Lieutenants typically act as Squadron Commanders in the RAFAC although they may also be found at Wing / Region Headquarters filling various Staff Officer roles. Such Officers will be hold the rank of Acting Flt Lt (Paid). After completing nine years service in the RAFAC all Flying Officers, regardless of role, may be promoted to Acting Flight Lieutenant (Unpaid) on a time served basis. Confirmation of promotion to Flt Lt is usually dependant on the Officer attending the Squadron Commanders Course (SCC) at RAFAC TA.

Squadron Leader

Rank:
Abbreviation:
Addressed as:

Squadron Leader
Sqn Ldr
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 may have a Squadron Leader as Officer Commanding.