Air forces of most of the countries use ranking system simular to Armies. However, the RAF and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries, or those formerly under a British influence, use a different set of ranks loosely based on naval equivalents; Lieutenant, Commander, Captain and Commodore are prefixed for air force use with Flight, Wing, Group and Air, respectively (the first three being the units that they used to command). An air force is a military organization that primarily operates in aerial warfare. ... Army (from French armée) can, in some countries, refer to any armed force. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... // Definition and linguistics The original phrase common wealth or the common weal is a calque translation of the Latin term res publica (public thing), from which the word republic comes, which was itself used as a synonym for the Greek politeia as well as for the republican (i. ... A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. ... Wing is a term used by different air forces for a unit of command. ... For some other uses of the word group please see Group Group is a term used by different air forces for a unit of command. ...

NATO Rank Codes

To assist in the comparison of ranks in the armed forces of different countries, established NATO rank codes are used. These are established codes for determining the seniority of officer and other ranks in NATO countries for a particular joint task group or command structure, although specific appointments designate a higher level of seniority over other equivalent rank codes in a given situation. Officer ranks go from OF-1 (applying to all subaltern officers below captain) up to OF-10; OF(D) being a special category for trainee officers awaiting a commission. Other Ranks (those considered enlisted men in the United States forces) are classified from OR-1 to OR-9. The system should not be confused with the pay grades used in the US military. While countries outside the NATO command structure (including some NATO member countries such as France) do not strictly fall into this classification structure and there may be incidences of overlap (particularly in OR ranks between countries) the codes still provide a useful gauge in determining what ranks are broadly equivalent. The NATO flag NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4...

Generals/Marshals/Air Officers

These are the highest ranks. Promotion to a rank above OF-9 is now rare and usually reserved for wartime. General of the Air Force is an example of such a rank. This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

¹ No officer of the French Air Force has ever been created a Maréchal. Marshal of the RAF sleeve/shoulder insignia Marshal of the Royal Air Force was the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. ... An Air Chief Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Chief Marshal is the most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force (RAF) today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... An air marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Marshal is the second most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... An Air Vice Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Vice Marshal is the third most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... An Air Commodoress sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Commodore is the fourth most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the deactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

Other officers

A Group Captains sleeve/shoulder insignia A Group Captains command flag Group Captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. ... A Wing Commanders sleeve/shoulder insignia A Wing Commanders command flag Wing Commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. ... A Squadron Leaders sleeve/shoulder insignia Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in some air forces. ... A Flight Lieutenants sleeve/shoulder insignia Flight Lieutenant (abbreviated as Flt Lt and pronounced as flight lef-tenant, see Lieutenant) is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. ... A Flying Officers sleeve/shoulder insignia Flying Officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. ... A Pilot Officers sleeve/shoulder insignia Pilot Officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries, ranking only above Acting Pilot Officer (or APO) and Officer Cadet. ... A Pilot Officers sleeve/shoulder insignia Pilot Officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries, ranking only above Acting Pilot Officer (or APO) and Officer Cadet. ...

See also

• Army officer ranks
• Naval officer ranks
• Comparative military ranks
• RAF officer rank insignia