| RANK
| DESCRIPTION |
EPAULETTE |
| CADET |
Once enrolled, all Cadets take this rank. There is no insignia worn by cadets and while they have no formal leadership role, they will have the opportunity to work as a small team leader on occasion. |
|
| CORPORAL |
Corporal is the first NCO rank that a cadet can obtain. The average time taken for a cadet to be promoted is two years, but it can be much more or less. A Corporal is referred to as a Junior NCO (JNCO) and acts as a liaison between cadets and Senior NCOs (SNCO). The promotion to Corporal is made by Commanding Officer (CO) of the cadet's Squadron, in consultation with the Squadron's other adult staff. Selection is purely on merit and not on classification. The emblem of the rank of Corporal is two silver downward pointing chevrons and is worn on the epaulettes. |
 |
| SERGEANT |
A Sergeant is a SNCO and a cadet is promoted to this position after he or she has reached the rank of Corporal. Appointment is made by Squadron CO and staff. In a large Squadron, a Sergeant will be second in charge (2IC) of a flight, or in charge (IC) of a flight if the Squadron is not quite so big. The rank's emblem is as that of Corporal, but with an additional chevron. |
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| FLIGHT SERGEANT |
This is the highest a Squadron CO can send a cadet. If a squadron is split up into flights then a Flt/Sgt will be the non-commissioned officer in command (NCOIC) of a flight. The emblem is the same as Sergeant but with a silver crown above it. |
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| CADET WARRANT OFFICER |
Promotion to CWO can only be made by the Commanding Officer of a Wing. There are a set number of CWOs each wing can have - one per squadron plus two thirds. The emblem of a Cadet Warrant Officer is a crown surrounded by laurel branches. To be a CWO you must be over 18. CWOs usually take over all charge of all flight in a Squadron. If a cadet gets to the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer, he or she can stay in the ATC until the age of 22, rather than 20 for any other rank. |
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