This is a table of the ranks and insignia of the Canadian Armed Forces. As the Canadian Armed Forces is officially bilingual, the French language ranks are presented following the English (in italics).
The Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces (French : Commandant(e) en chef des Forces armées canadiennes) rank insignia is a special sleeve braid embellished with the crest of the Royal arms of Canada and this same embroidered crest is worn on the shoulder straps. [1]
The rank insignia for the commander-in-chief.
| Commander-in-chief | ||
|---|---|---|
 Royal Canadian Navy |  | |
 Canadian Army |  | |
 Royal Canadian Air Force |  | |
The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the navy, army, and air force.
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Navy [2] [3] |   |   |   |   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Admiral | Vice-admiral | Rear-admiral | Commodore | Captain (N) | Commander | Lieutenant-commander | Lieutenant (N) | Sub-lieutenant | Acting sub-lieutenant | Naval cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amiral(e) | Vice-amiral(e) | Contre-amiral(e) | Commodore | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant(e) de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe | Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe | Aspirant(e) de marine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army [2] [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Général(e) | Lieutenant(e)-général(e) | Major(e)-général(e) | Brigadier(ère)-général(e) | Colonel(le) | Lieutenant(e)-colonel(le) | Major(e) | Capitaine | Lieutenant(e) | Sous-lieutenant(e) | Élève-officier(ère) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Air Force [2] [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Général(e) | Lieutenant(e)-général(e) | Major(e)-général(e) | Brigadier(ère)-général(e) | Colonel(le) | Lieutenant(e)-colonel(le) | Major(e) | Capitaine | Lieutenant(e) | Sous-lieutenant(e) | Élève-officier(ère) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following are the rank insignia for non-commissioned members for the navy, army and air force respectively.
NCM rank insignia for the rank of petty officer 1st class/warrant officer and above are worn on the lower sleeve, while those for the rank of petty officer 2nd class/sergeant and below are worn on the upper sleeve. The Royal Canadian Navy has directed its personnel to use the English rank titles for OR-1 through OR-5, but they are not yet legally in force pursuant to the National Defence Act, as they are not yet updated in the King's Regulations and Orders issued by the governor-in-council. [4]
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Navy [2] [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief petty officer 1st class | Chief petty officer 2nd class | Petty officer 1st class | Petty officer 2nd class | Master sailor | Sailor 1st class | Sailor 2nd class | Sailor 3rd class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Premier(ère) maître de 1re classe | Premier(ère) maître de 2e classe | Maître de 1re classe | Maître de 2e classe | Matelot-chef | Matelot de 1re classe | Matelot de 2e classe | Matelot de 3e classe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army [2] [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief warrant officer | Master warrant officer | Warrant officer | Sergeant | Master corporal | Corporal | Private (trained) | Private (basic) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjudant(e)-chef | Adjudant(e)-maître | Adjudant(e) | Sergent(e) | Caporal(e)-chef | Caporal(e) | Soldat(e) (formé(e)) | Soldat(e) (confirmé(e)) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Air Force [2] [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief warrant officer | Master warrant officer | Warrant officer | Sergeant | Master corporal | Corporal | Aviator (trained) | Aviator (basic) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjudant(e)-chef | Adjudant(e)-maître | Adjudant(e) | Sergent(e) | Caporal(e)-chef | Caporal(e) | Aviateur (formé)/ Aviatrice (formée) | Aviateur (confirmé)/ Aviatrice (confirmée) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The rank insignia for NCM appointments.
| Rank group | Senior appointments | Appointments | ||||
| Royal Canadian Navy [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Canadian forces chief warrant officer | Command chief petty officer | Senior appointment Chief petty officer, 1st class | Drum major | Pipe major | Trumpet / Bugle major | |
| Adjudant(e)-chef des Forces canadiennes | Premier(ère) maître de 1re classe du commandement | Premier(ère) maître de 1re classe | Tambour-major | Cornemuseur-major | Trompette / Clairon-major | |
| Canadian Army [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Canadian forces chief warrant officer | Command chief warrant officer | Senior appointment chief warrant officer | Drum major | Pipe major | Trumpet / Bugle major | |
| Adjudant(e)-chef des Forces canadiennes | Adjudant(e)-chef du commandement | Adjudant(e)-chef nomination supérieure | Tambour-major | Cornemuseur-major | Trompette / Clairon-major | |
| Royal Canadian Air Force [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Canadian forces chief warrant officer | Command chief warrant officer | Senior Appointment Chief warrant officer | Drum major | Pipe major | Trumpet / Bugle major | |
| Adjudant(e)-chef des Forces canadiennes | Adjudant(e)-chef du commandement | Adjudant(e)-chef nomination supérieure | Tambour-major | Cornemuseur-major | Trompette / Clairon-major | |
| Rank group | Senior appointments | Appointments | ||||
The tables above describe the rank insignia worn on the service dress jacket. On DEU shirts, sweaters, and outerwear; and operational dress shirts and jackets, rank insignia are worn on slip-ons with the word "Canada" or a regimental/branch title embroidered underneath. Flag/general officers' slip-ons include only the crown, crossed sabre and baton, and maple leaves worn on the shoulder straps; they do not include the braid worn on the sleeve. Army NCM slip-ons for DEU shirts, sweaters, and outerwear display only the word "Canada" or a regimental/branch title, rank insignia being worn instead as enamelled metal pins on collar points or lapels.
From 1955 to 1968, Militia personnel were permitted to wear service insignia on the right jacket sleeve. [5] [6] There were one to five silver chevrons on drab backing for every two years of service or a maple leaf in silver thread on a drab cloth circle to represent 10 years of service. Chevron points were worn either up or down; even official documents and photos were confused on the matter. Further awards after 10 years were believed covered by the Canadian Forces' Decoration, which was awarded after 12 years and a clasp added for every 10 years afterwards.
Qualifying service could include prior active service in the active reserves of the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force or the regular or territorial forces of a fellow Commonwealth member nation. Service in Canadian Army reserve forces units (like the regular reserve, supplementary reserve and reserve militia) did not count. The awarding of Service Stripes ceased in 1968 after the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Every branch or corps of the Canadian Army uses a distinctive colour. Applicable only to officers, they are indicated by coloured borders of rank insignia on DEU shirt and sweater slip-ons and on mess dress. [7] [8] [9]
| Branch | Colour | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Armoured Corps | Yellow |  |
| Red |  | |
| Blue |  | |
| Scarlet |  |
| Royal Canadian Medical Service | Dull cherry |  |
| Canadian Intelligence Corps | Forest green (silver rank) |  |
| Royal Canadian Dental Corps | Emerald green |  |
| Royal Canadian Chaplain Service | Purple |  |
| RCIC members of Les Voltigeurs de Québec | Black |  |
Some branches and regiments use distinctive job titles for privates (trained) in those regiments:
| Branch | Distinct title |
|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Armoured Corps | Trooper (Cavalier or Cavalière) |
| Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery | Gunner (Artilleur or Artilleuse) |
| Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers | Sapper (Sapeur or Sapeuse) |
| Royal Canadian Corps of Signals | Signaller (Signaleur or Signaleuse) |
| Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Craftsman (Artisan or Artisane) |
| Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (RCIC) members of guards regiments | Guardsman (Garde) |
| RCIC members of rifle regiments | Rifleman (Carabinier or Carabinière) |
| RCIC members of fusilier regiments | Fusilier (Fusilier or Fusilière) |
| RCIC members of voltigeur regiment | Voltigeur (Voltigeur or Voltigeuse) |
| Musicians of the Music Branch | Musician (Musicien or Musicienne) |
| Pipers of the Music Branch | Piper (Cornemuseur or cornemuseuse) |
| Drummers of the Music Branch | Drummer (Batteur or Batteuse) |
| Canadian Rangers | Ranger (Ranger) |
Additionally, the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery uses "Bombardier" (Bombardier or Bombardière) for Corporal and "Master Bombardier" (Bombardier-chef or Bombardière-chef) for Master Corporal. In the Guards regiments, Warrant Officers are known as "Colour Sergeants" (Sergents fourriers) and Second-Lieutenants are known as "Ensigns" (Enseignes). [4]
When the Royal Canadian Navy was established in 1910, it kept with Royal Navy traditions and adopted sleeve braid with an executive curl for rank insignia. "Wavy" sleeve braid was adopted for the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) and rings of narrow interwoven gold lace for the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve (RCNR). Other variations in rank insignia included sky blue lace with a diamond shaped loop for officers of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, and warranted Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps officers, who had a small anchor in place of the executive curl.
Following the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy was reorganized with a single reserve component. In 1946, the distinctive wavy gold braid of the reserves gave way to the straight braided executive curl of the regular force until 1968. With the integration of the Canadian Forces the sea element was designated as Canadian Forces Maritime Command. Unembellished straight braid became the common rank insignia for officers of both the regular and reserve forces. The executive curl appeared only on navy mess dress.
On 5 March 2010, the Canadian House of Commons passed a motion (moved by Guy Lauzon [10] ) recommending the executive curl be reinstated on the Canadian navy uniform. Subsequently, in recognition of the Canadian Naval centennial, Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, authorized the use of the executive curl for the Canadian Navy on 2 May 2010. The insignia became effective on 11 June 2010, on the occasion of the Pacific Canadian Naval International Fleet Review parade of nations in Victoria, B.C. [11] [12]
More than 54 countries, including Canada and 18 other of the 22 Commonwealth navies, use the insignia. Most navies that do not use the executive curl insignia, such as the United States Navy and the French Navy, substitute a star or other national device above the top row of lace.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Navy (1910–1968) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maritime Command (1968–1985) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maritime Command (1985–2010) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Navy (2011–Present) | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles | Admiral | Vice-admiral | Rear-admiral | Commodore | Captain(N) | Commander | Lieutenant-commander | Lieutenant(N) | Sub-lieutenant | Acting sub-lieutenant | Naval cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amiral or Amirale | Vice-amiral or Vice-amirale | Contre-amiral or Contre-amirale | Commodore | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant de vaisseau or Lieutenante de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de première classe | Enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe | Aspirant de marine or Aspirante de marine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Navy (1953–1968) |  |  |  |  |  | Trade badge | No insignia | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe | Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe | Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe | Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe | Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe | Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe | Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe | Recruit Recrue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maritime Command (1968–1973) | | | | | |  |  | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maritime Command (1973–1985) | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1968–1985) [13] | Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe | Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe | Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe | Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe | Master seaman Matelot-chef | Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe | Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe | Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe | Seaman recruit Matelot recrue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maritime Command (1985–2010) | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe | Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe | Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe | Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe | Master seaman Matelot-chef | Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe | Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe | Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe | Seaman recruit Matelot recrue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Navy (2011–present) | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (2011–2020) [14] | Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe | Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe | Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe | Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe | Master seaman Matelot-chef | Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe | Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe | Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (2020–present) | Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe or Première maître de 1re classe | Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe or Première maître de 2e classe | Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe | Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe | Master sailor Matelot-chef | Sailor 1st class Matelot de 1re classe | Sailor 2nd class Matelot de 2e classe | Sailor 3rd class Matelot de 3e classe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prior to unification in 1968, the Canadian Army used rank insignia identical to the British Army. When the universal CF green uniform was adopted at unification, Land Command, like the other services, used gold braid sleeve stripes as rank insignia. When distinctive environmental uniforms were adopted in the mid-1980s, the army retained the green uniform with gold stripes.
On 8 July 2013, Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay announced the intention to reintroduce a more traditional style Canadian Army officers' rank insignia. [15] Instead of the sleeve stripe rank insignia used since unification, officers would use the older St Edward's Crown and Star of the Order of the Bath insignia, commonly called "pips and crowns". [16] Gorget patches were also restored for officers of the rank of colonel or higher. [17] The new insignia for officers, instead of using the current British rank insignia for brigadier (used in the Canadian Army until 1968), had the pre-1920 brigadier-general insignia (crossed sabre and baton) instead.
On 2 April 2016, the Commander of the Canadian Army announced that general officers would revert to the unification-era rank insignia worn between 1968 and 2013. This rank insignia is based on the shoulder board rank insignia of Royal Canadian Navy flag officers. The rank insignia of general officers now consists of a crown, crossed sabre and baton, and a series of maple leaves on shoulder straps. Additionally, general officers wear one broad gold band on each of the lower sleeves of the service dress tunic. [18]
On the centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 9 April 2017, the Bath Star pip was replaced by the "Vimy Star". It depicts a maple leaf and is surrounded by the Latin motto vigilamus pro te ("we stand on guard for thee"). Commissioned officers of the household guard regiments (Governor General's Foot Guards, Canadian Grenadier Guards, and Governor General's Horse Guards), plus Army personnel stationed to the seasonal Ceremonial Guard, use the Guards Star in place of the Vimy Star on their shoulder boards.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Militia (1902–1920) Canadian Expeditionary Force (1914–1920) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Militia (1921–1940) Canadian Army (1940–1953) | | | |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Colonel commandant | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (1953–1968) [19] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile Command & Land Force Command (1968–2013) | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (2013–2016) |  |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (2016–2017) | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (Present) | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles | General Général or Générale | Lieutenant-general Lieutenant-général or Lieutenante-générale | Major-general Major-général or Majore-générale | Brigadier-general Brigadier-général or Brigadière-générale | Colonel Colonel or Colonelle | Lieutenant-colonel Lieutenant-colonel or Lieutenante-colonelle | Major Major or Majore | Captain Capitaine | Lieutenant Lieutenant or Lieutenante | Second lieutenant Sous-lieutenant or Sous-lieutenante | Officer cadet Élève-officier or Élève-officière | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1920–1953) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer class I | Warrant officer class II | Staff/Colour sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (1953–1966) [19] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer class I/1 | Warrant officer class II/2 | Staff/Colour sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (1966–1968) | | | | | |  | | | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer class I/1 | Warrant officer class II/2 | Staff/Colour sergeant | Sergeant | Master corporal | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land Force Command (1968–1973) | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land Force Command (1973–2010) | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1968–2010) [13] | Chief warrant officer Adjudant-chef | Master warrant officer Adjudant-maître | Warrant officer Adjudant | Sergeant Sergent | Master corporal Caporal-chef | Corporal Caporal | Private Soldat | Private (basic) Soldat (Confirmé) | Private (recruit) Soldat (Recrue) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land Force Command (2011–Present) | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (2011–present) [14] | Chief warrant officer Adjudant-chef or Adjudante-chef | Master warrant officer Adjudant-maître or Adjudante-maître | Warrant officer Adjudant or Adjudante | Sergeant Sergent or Sergente | Master corporal Caporal-chef or Caporale-chef | Corporal Caporal or Caporale | Private Soldat or Soldate | Private (basic) Soldat (Confirmé) or Soldate (Confirmée) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Air Force ranks and insignia originally were taken from the Royal Air Force practice. Upon unification, the Air Command used identical ranks and insignia as the Land Command. When Air-specific blue DEUs were introduced, the gold rank insignia were retained.
In April 2015, [20] the Royal Canadian Air Force adopted new rank insignia reminiscent of the pre-unification RCAF system. The new officer rank insignia uses pearl-grey-on-black rank stripes instead of gold. Non-commissioned members (NCMs) rank insignia is pearl grey instead of gold. The colour gold found elsewhere on the uniform was also changed to pearl-grey. The air force rank of private, formerly indicated by one chevron, became aviator (Fr: aviateur), and is indicated by a horizontally-aligned two-bladed propeller. All other ranks titles remain as they were. [21]
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Air Force (1924–1968) [19] [22] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1924–1968) [23] [24] | Marshal of the Royal Canadian Air Force [lower-alpha 1] | Air chief marshal Maréchal en chef de l’Air | Air marshal Maréchal de l’Air | Air vice-marshal Vice-maréchal de l’Air | Air commodore Commodore de l’Air | Group captain Colonel d’aviation | Wing commander Lieutenant-colonel d’aviation | Squadron leader Commandant d’aviation | Flight lieutenant Capitaine d’aviation | Flying officer Lieutenant d’aviation | Pilot officer Sous-lieutenant d’aviation | Flight cadet/ officer cadet (post-1962) Élève-officier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (1968–1984) | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (1984–2014) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Air Force (2014–present) [24] | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1968–present) | General Général or Générale | Lieutenant-general Lieutenant-général or Lieutenante-générale | Major-general Major-général or Majore-générale | Brigadier-general Brigadier-général or Brigadière-générale | Colonel Colonel or Colonelle | Lieutenant-colonel Lieutenant-colonel or Lieutenante-colonelle | Major Major or Majore | Captain Capitaine | Lieutenant Lieutenant or Lieutenante | Second lieutenant Sous-lieutenant or Sous-lieutenante | Officer cadet Élève-officier or Élève-officière | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force (1948–1953) |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Force (1953–1968) [19] |  |  |  | | | | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1948–1968) [23] | Warrant officer first class Adjudant de 1re classe | Warrant officer second class Adjudant de 2e classe | Flight sergeant Sergent de section | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal | Leading aircraftman/aircraftwoman Aviateur-chef | Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman first class Aviateur 1re classe | Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman second class Aviateur 2e classe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (1968–1973) | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (1973–1984) | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (1984–2010) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1968–2010) [13] | Chief warrant officer Adjudant-chef | Master warrant officer Adjudant-maître | Warrant officer Adjudant | Sergeant Sergent | Master corporal Caporal-chef | Corporal Caporal | Private Soldat | Private (basic) Soldat (confirmé) | Private (recruit) Soldat (recrue) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (2010–2014) | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (2010–2014) [14] | Chief warrant officer Adjudant-chef | Master warrant officer Adjudant-maître | Warrant officer Adjudant | Sergeant Sergent | Master corporal Caporal-chef | Corporal Caporal | Private Soldat | Private (basic) Soldat (confirmé) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Air Force (2014–present) [24] | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (2014–present) | Chief warrant officer Adjudant-chef or Adjudante-chef | Master warrant officer Adjudant-maître or Adjudante-maître | Warrant officer Adjudant or Adjudante | Sergeant Sergent or Sergente | Master corporal Caporal-chef or Caporale-chef | Corporal Caporal or Caporale | Aviator Aviateur or Aviatrice | Aviator (basic) Aviateur (confirmé) or Aviatrice (confirmée) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contrary to the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army, mess dress uniform ranks for officers of the Royal Canadian Air Force follow the naval pattern, without the executive curl. General officers do not wear shoulder straps with this order of dress.
| NATO Code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Air Force Mess dress and full dress [lower-alpha 2] ranks 1925-1968 [26] [lower-alpha 1] |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | ||
| Air Command Mess ranks 1968-2014 | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
| Royal Canadian Air Force Mess ranks since 2015 | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Flying officer is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence.
Squadron leader is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence.
Air commodore is a air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure.
Pilot officer is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence.
Officer Cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. In the United Kingdom, the rank is also used by members of University Royal Naval Units, University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron; however, these are not trainee officers with many not choosing a career in the armed forces.
Mess dress uniform is the most formal type of evening-wear uniform used by military personnel, police personnel, and other uniformed services members. It frequently consists of a mess jacket, trousers, white dress shirt and a black bow tie, along with orders and medals insignia. Design may depend on regiment or service branch, e.g. army, navy, air force, marines, etc. In modern Western dress codes, mess dress uniform is the supplementary alternative equivalent to the civilian black tie for evening wear. Mess dress uniforms are typically less formal than full dress uniform, but more formal than service dress uniform.
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark the position from which the officer exercises command.
Subordinate officer is a term used in some armed forces for a grade of officer above a non-commissioned officer but still not actually commissioned, usually still in training. Such officers are treated for most intents and purposes as commissioned officers.
Before Unification as the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, the Canadian military had three distinct services: the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Canadian Army. All three services had a Regular (full-time) component and a reserve (part-time) component. The rank structure for these services were based on the services of the British military, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, and the British Army. The change to a "Canadian" rank structure meant that many of the traditional (British) rank titles and insignia were removed or changed.
The uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces are the official dress worn by members of Canada's military while on duty.
Lieutenant-general is a Canadian Forces rank used by commissioned officers of the Canadian Army or Royal Canadian Air Force. Vice-admiral is the equivalent rank in the Royal Canadian Navy.
These are the official Royal Navy Officer ranks ordered by rank. These ranks are part of the NATO/United Kingdom ranks, including modern and past. Past insignia is in italic.
A shoulder mark, also called rank slide, or slip-on, is a flat cloth sleeve worn on the shoulder strap of a uniform. It may bear rank or other insignia. A shoulder mark should not be confused with a shoulder board, shoulder knot or epaulette, although these terms are often used interchangeably.
The Royal Air Force uniform is the standardised military dress worn by members of the Royal Air Force. The predominant colours of Royal Air Force uniforms are blue-grey and Wedgwood blue. Many Commonwealth air forces' uniforms are also based on the RAF pattern, but with nationality shoulder flashes. The Royal Air Force Air Cadets wear similar uniforms.
General is a military rank used by the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force typically held by the officer who is serving as the chief of the Defence Staff – the senior uniformed officer of the Canadian Forces – if they belong to those elements. Admiral is the equivalent rank in the Royal Canadian Navy.
The rank of admiral in Canada is typically held by only one officer whose position is Chief of the Defence Staff and the senior uniformed officer of the Canadian Forces. It is equivalent to the army and air force rank of general.
In the Royal Canadian Navy, the rank of lieutenant-commander (LCdr) is the naval rank equal to major in the army or air force and is the first rank of senior officer. Lieutenant-commanders are senior to lieutenants (N) and to army and air force captains, and are junior to commanders and lieutenant colonels.
The executive curl, or the "Elliot's Eye", is the name given to the ring above a naval officer's gold lace or braid insignia. It originated with the Royal Navy.
The unification of the Canadian Armed Forces took place on 1 February 1968, when the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force were merged to form the Canadian Armed Forces.
In the Royal Canadian Navy, the rank of lieutenant(N) (Lt(N)) (French: Lieutenant de vaisseau) is the naval rank equal to captain in the army or air force. When the naval rank lieutenant is written or typed, it is followed by the letter N to indicate that it is a naval rank to distinguish it from army and air force lieutenants (and therefore, the (N) remains silent as it must not be pronounced or replaced by the word (Navy)). Lieutenants(N) are senior to sub-lieutenants and to army and air force lieutenants, and are junior to lieutenant-commanders and majors.
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