NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Officer Cadet

Officer Cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. The term Officer Trainee is used interchangeably in some countries. Some countries refer to naval officer cadets as midshipmen, although in other countries this means something slightly different. rank. ... A cadet is a future officer in the military. ... In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ... For the fishes called midshipman, see Midshipman fish In the navies of English-speaking countries, a midshipman is a low-ranking commissioned officer, usually the lowest rank. ...

Australia

The Australian Defence Force follows the same usage as the British military system, using the rank of Officer Cadet for Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force cadets who are officers undergoing initial training. Officer Cadets in the Australian Army, unlike Officer Cadets in the Royal Australian Air Force and Midshipmen in the Royal Australian Navy do not hold a commission, and are not saluted. Officer Cadets in the Australian Army refer to those with rank Warrant Officers and above as Sir and Ma'am. The Australian Defence Force numbers about 53,000 full-time active duty personnel plus another 20,700 reservists. ... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... An officer is a member of a military or naval service who holds a position of responsibility. ...

Initial officer training can occur through either single-service institutions, such as the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Royal Australian Naval College, or the Officer Training School RAAF, or through the tri-service Australian Defence Force Academy. The ranks of Officer Cadet, Staff Cadet, or Midshipman are primary found at these establishments. However, RAAF Officer trainees are often appointed at higher rank while undergoing their initial training course at OTS, if they have prior military experience, either as Officer Cadets prior to their initial officer course, or at Airman rank. Officer Cadets are also appointed in the Australian Army Reserve where training is conducted on a part-time basis at various University Regiments around the country. Royal Military College The Royal Military College, Duntroon is Australias military academy where Staff Cadets train for commissioning into the Australian Army as a part of the Australian Defence Force There are two streams of Cadets: from the Australian Defence Force Academy, and by direct entry. ... The RANC clock tower The Royal Australian Naval College (RANC) is Australias Military academy where staff cadets train for commissioning into the Royal Australian Navy as a part of the Australian Defence Force. ... The Officer Training School of the RAAF was formed in 1950 under the command of P.J. McMahon. ... The ADFA Shield The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) is a tri-service military Academy that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Defence Force in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Regular Army (ARA) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Australian Army Reserve Officer Cadets must pass various training courses (conducted at different barracks around Australia) throughout their training with the final module completed at the Royal Military College, Duntroon before being commissioned. Royal Military College The Royal Military College, Duntroon is Australias military academy where Staff Cadets train for commissioning into the Australian Army as a part of the Australian Defence Force There are two streams of Cadets: from the Australian Defence Force Academy, and by direct entry. ...

At the Royal Military College, Duntroon and University Regiments, the title of 'Staff Cadet' is often used to address Officer Cadets although this is not an official rank. Royal Military College The Royal Military College, Duntroon is Australias military academy where Staff Cadets train for commissioning into the Australian Army as a part of the Australian Defence Force There are two streams of Cadets: from the Australian Defence Force Academy, and by direct entry. ...

At ADFA, upon completion of all academic training through the University of New South Wales-ADFA, military training and subsequent training at other military establishments, Officer Cadets from the Australian Defence Force are promoted as commissioned officers. The University of New South Wales or UNSW is a university situated in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ... The Australian Defence Force numbers about 53,000 full-time active duty personnel plus another 20,700 reservists. ...

Pilots, Navigators, Air Traffic Controllers and Air Defence Officers joining the RAAF directly through the Officers' Training School (without going to ADFA) also start their career as an Officer Cadet. Once they have completed their employment training (2FTS, SAN, SATC and SACTU respectively), they are promoted.

Canada

British usage also holds true in the Canadian Forces. In Canada the rank of Officer Cadet (OCdt) is held by any beginning officer, as well as students attending the Royal Military College of Canada. For Canadian Naval members of the same rank, Naval Cadet (NCdt) is used in lieu of Officer Cadet. The Canadian Forces (French: Forces canadiennes), abbreviated as CF (French: FC), are the combined armed forces of Canada. ... The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), is the military academy of the Canadian Forces and is a full degree-granting university. ...

Officer Cadets may sometimes hold a staff or even line appointment within a unit, such as second-in-command of a platoon within a company-sized or larger unit; this is usually done for training purposes, but may also be done to fill holes in an establishment due to manpower shortages within the officer cadre.

Officer Cadets in the CF are subordinate officers, and billet and mess with other officers, but do not carry the Queen's commission and are not required to be saluted. Also, they are generally addressed as "Mister" or "Miss" by non-commissioned members. In many navies in the English-speaking world, a subordinate officer is an officer who has not finished his initial training. ... A non-commissioned member (NCM), in the Canadian Forces, is defined in the Queens Regulations and Orders as: â€¦ any person, other than an officer, who is enrolled in, or who pursuant to law is attached or seconded otherwise than as an officer to, the Canadian Forcesâ€¦ Thus, an NCM...

The rank insignia is a narrow (1/4-inch) gold braid on the cuff of the Service Dress jacket, and on the epaulet of all other uniforms. The peak of the service cap (if worn) is plain. Gen. ...

In French, the titles are Aspirant de marine (aspm) for Naval Cadets, and Élève-officier (élof) for Officer Cadets.

Singapore

In the Singapore Armed Forces, potential servicemen training to be officers are known as Officer Cadets in the Army and Air Force, while those in the Navy are known as Midshipmen. All Officer Cadets and Midshipmen receive tri-service initial training in Officer Cadet School before being sent to the appropriate training schools. They return to OCS for their commissioning parade. Officer Cadet School (OCS) is one of the several training establishments within the SAFTI Military Institute camp complex. ... The Singapore Armed Forces (abbreviation: SAF, Malay: Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura, Simplified Chinese: ) comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). ... Singapore Armed Forces Crest The Singapore Army (Chinese: æ–°åŠ å¡é™†å†›éƒ¨é˜Ÿ, Malay: Tentera Singapura) is the land forces and one of the three services of the Singapore Armed Forces. ... The Republic of Singapore Navy (Abbreviation: RSN; Chinese: æ–°åŠ å¡å…±å’Œå›½æµ·å†›éƒ¨é˜Ÿ; Malay: Angkatan Laut Republik Singapura) is the navy of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. ... For the fishes called midshipman, see Midshipman fish In the navies of English-speaking countries, a midshipman is a low-ranking commissioned officer, usually the lowest rank. ... Officer Cadet School (OCS) is one of the several training establishments within the SAFTI Military Institute camp complex. ...

Officer Cadets and Midshipmen wear one, two, or three white bars on their shoulderboards to denote their seniority. The graduating class of Officer Cadets wear peaked caps instead of berets, and are accorded the privilege of being addressed "Sir" by junior Officer Cadets. At this point, they are given more privileges and responsibilities commensurate with their seniority. Basque style Beret Black beret with military emblem A beret (pronounced in English, except in American English in which it is pronounced ) is a soft round cap, usually of wool felt, with a flat crown, which is worn by both men and women. ...

Officer Cadets take turns to hold various administrative and exercise appointments. Administrative appointment-holders' shoulderboards have additional loops and whorls known as "fishes" in addition to their existing one, two or three bars. Exercise appointment-holders wear yellow rank insignia appropriate to the appointment of the Officer Cadet. For example, an exercise Platoon Commander will wear two bars of a Lieutenant, and his exercise Platoon Sergeant will wear a brassard with First Sergeant's chevrons. Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... In most armies, a Platoon Sergeant is the title and position given to the senior enlisted member of a platoon, who advises and supports the platoons commanding officer in leading the unit. ... A brassard is an approximate triangular shaped piece of fabric designed to be worn around the upper arm, held in place by a shoulder strap on the clothing underneath. ... First Sergeant is the name of a military rank used in some countries. ...

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom the rank of Officer Cadet is held by students in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell. In Britannia Royal Naval College, the rank is non-substantive and only used in the initial phases of training, after which officers use their substantive ranks of Midshipman or Sub-Lieutenant depending on age, or occasionally Lieutenant for certain specialisations. Image File history File links UK-Army-OF1d. ... Image File history File links UK-Army-OF1d. ... New College, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst New Colours are presented to RMAS, June 2005. ... RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire near the village of Cranwell. ... Cranwell (The name means the spring where the cranes are found) is a village with a population of approximately 3,000 inhabitants (part of the Civil Parish of Cranwell and Byards Leap), situated in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England, on the B1429 road approximately 7km north-west... Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth, is the location of initial officer training in the Royal Navy, and is located on a hill overlooking the town of Dartmouth in the county of Devon, England. ... A midshipman is a subordinate officer, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the navies of several English-speaking countries. ... A Lieutenant, Junior Grade, is a division officer in the United States Navy. ... Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ...

The rank is also held by members of the Officers Training Corps and University Air Squadrons, and in the first year of training in University Royal Naval Units (after which, they use the rank of midshipman). The Officer Training Corps (OTC) is a part of the British Army that provides military leadership training to students at UK universities. ... University Air Squadrons are training units of the Royal Air Force which provide basic flying training to students at British universities. ... A University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) is a Royal Navy training establishment connected to a University, or a number of universities concentrated in one geographical area. ...

Officer Cadets in the British Armed Forces are treated in most respects as commissioned officers, except that Officer Cadets are not saluted. They are referred to and addressed as, for example, "Mr Smith" or "Miss Smith", or more formally as "Officer Cadet Smith". The armed forces of the United Kingdom are known as the British Armed Forces or Her Majestys Armed Forces, officially the Armed Forces of the Crown. ... In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

In the Royal Navy the abbreviation for Officer Cadet is O/C. In the Army, the abbreviation for Officer Cadet is OCdt. In the RAF, it is OC.

Rank insignia

Royal Navy Officer Cadets wear shoulder flashes with a white square after they complete the first phase of training (7 weeks). Formerly, the insignia was a navy blue patch on both sides of the coat collar, with a white buttonhole and gold button, similar to a midshipman's patch. They continue to wear these tabs below their rank insignia when wearing rank in later phases until they pass out of BRNC at the end of their initial training. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Britannia Royal Naval College Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth, is the location of initial officer training in the Royal Navy, and is located on a hill overlooking the town of Dartmouth in the county of Devon, England. ...

As an OC, the Number 1 Uniform bears a white rainbow-shaped device just below the shoulder on each arm of the jacket. This is worn by the same class of people as the shoulder patch on no. 3 and 4 uniforms, with their substantive rank shown on the jacket cuff (or lapel, in the case of Officer Cadets with the substantive rank of Midshipman). There are no other qualifying marks or insignias to denote junior status.

British Army Officer Cadets in the Officers Training Corps initially wear a blank rank slide emblazoned with their particular unit (e.g. ULOTC for University of London OTC). After passing basic training (Military Training Qualification 1), a single horizontal bar is worn on the rank slide; after passing the second phase of training (MTQ2), two bars are worn. A Staff wears three bars, a Junior Under Officer (JUO) wears an Austrian Knot above a single bar, and a Senior Under Officer (SUO) wears an Austrian Knot above two bars. All ranks are considered Officer Cadets except within the OTC itself. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Officer Training Corps (OTC) is a part of the British Army that provides military leadership training to students at UK universities. ... Under Officer is a rank held by Officer Cadets at the British military academies, in the Officers Training Corps and sometimes in the Combined Cadet Force. ... An Austrian Knot (or Tyrolean Knot) is an elaborate design of twisted cord or lace worn as part of a dress uniform, usually on the lower sleeve. ... Under Officer is a rank held by Officer Cadets at the British military academies, in the Officers Training Corps and sometimes in the Combined Cadet Force. ...

Royal Air Force Officer Cadets wear a one inch wide white band on all non-ceremonial uniforms. This white band can have a narrower coloured band across its width indicating which of the training squadrons at the RAF College the cadet belongs to: yellow for 'B' Squadron, blue for 'C' Squadron, and green for 'D' Squadron. A thin white band is worn throughout the Basic phase with the Regiment Training Flight. 'A' Squadron is currently an NCO aircrew squadron. Members of 'A' Squadron are known as Aircrew Cadets and graduate as Sergeant Aircrew, not officers; this status is denoted by a red band on the white background and the RAF airman's cap badge with a white patch behind. Members of all squadrons who are injured are moved to the Development (formerly Holding) Flight and wear a purple band on the white background. Image File history File links RAF_Off_Cdt. ... Image File history File links RAF_Off_Cdt. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organisations around the world. ... A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearers organisation. ...

On the service dress and mess dress uniforms, cadets wears the braid of the rank they will hold on graduation. However, gorget patches (rectangular white tabs with one triangular end) are worn on both lapels. The only exception for this is the female mess dress, where they are worn on the sleeve. The only other distinctive identifiers are on headdress - a white patch on the beret behind the badge. The cap badge is the same as that worn by a commissioned officer (between the ranks of Pilot Officer and Group Captain), but with a white band around the cap. This band is removed on graduation. Sir Philip Sidney wears a gorget for a portrait A gorget is a type of armor designed to protect the neck. ... A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearers organisation. ... 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 blue band on the white background is also used to denote Officer Cadets of the University Air Squadrons (UASs) who are receiving Scholarships or Bursaries from the Royal Air Force. UAS cadets who are not in receipt of Scholarships wear just the 1 inch white band with no coloured band. UAS Officer Cadets wear the airmen's headdress with a white band. University Air Squadrons are training units of the Royal Air Force which provide basic flying training to students at British universities. ...

United States

The United States Army, United States Coast Guard and Air Force use the term "Cadet" for officer candidates in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and for students at the United States Military Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy and at the United States Air Force Academy. The term "Officer Trainee" is generally used for officer candidates who are seeking their commission by means other than ROTC or a military academy, such as through Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Air Force Officer Training School (OTS). The United States Navy (along with the United States Marine Corps) uses the term "Midshipman" for officer candidates in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, United States Merchant Marine Academy or at the United States Naval Academy, and the term "Officer Candidate" for others seeking a commission as an officer. The term "cadet" may also be used generally to refer to students at a private military academy, or members of a youth group associated with the military who are receiving preliminary training with the intention of joining the military, sometimes at a younger age than they would be able to do otherwise. The United States Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... USCG HH-65 Dolphin The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States armed forces and is involved in maritime law enforcement, mariner assistance, search and rescue, and national defense. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... A Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. ... USMA redirects here. ... The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), located in New London, Connecticut is a U.S. military academy that provides education to future officers of the United States Coast Guard. ... The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, (), is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Air Force. ... A Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. ... It has been suggested that Officer Training School be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... A midshipman is a subordinate officer, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the navies of several English-speaking countries. ... A Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. ... The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States service academies. ... The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is in Annapolis, Maryland, near Washington D.C. The Academy often is referred to simply as Annapolis although naval officers normally refer to it in conversation... USN Officer Candidate insignia Officer Candidate is a rank in some militaries of the world that is an appointed position while a person is in training to become an officer. ...

Officer Cadets are generally paid below the standard pay rates for junior officers but receive some of the rights and responsibilities of a junior officer during their training. Officer Cadets are nominally in the chain of command and have, in certain battles, been the surviving officer in a unit and thus in command.

Cadets and Midshipmen in the ROTC program hold training ranks equivalent to enlisted soldiers during their first three years of training and officer-equivalent ranks during their senior year, except in the Air Force where they hold officer-equivalent rank during their junior and senior years. Cadets or Midshipmen holding cadet-enlisted rank must salute cadet or Midshipman officers within their own branch of the service. At the service academies, they hold similar ranks (generally for the first two years, they hold simulated low enlisted ranks, then in the third year, senior enlisted ranks, and in the final year, officer ranks). However, at the academies, it is not customary for Cadets or Midshipmen to salute each other regardless of rank, nor will they salute ROTC cadets senior to them. All Cadets and Midshipmen are required to salute commissioned officers.

Cadet officer ranks in US Army ROTC are denoted by "pips" - one to three circular insignia denoting the company-grade equivalents, one to three diamond-shaped insignia denoting the field-grade equivalents [1]. For Midshipman ranks, both junior and senior officer equivalencies wear from one to six 1/4" gold stripes or bars. US Air Force cadets wear stripes much like US Navy officers' sleeve stripes. A midshipman is a subordinate officer, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the navies of several English-speaking countries. ...

Each U.S. service academy has its own unique set of insignia, different from that of its service's ROTC program.

Distinctive United States Military Academy (Army--West Point) class insignia are worn on the collar and epaulets of certain uniforms. An enameled shield bearing a Greek sword surmounted by the helmet of Pallas, worn on the left collar or above cadet rank stripes/bars on epaulets, is the standard class insignia for third- (yellow shield), second- (grey shield), or first-class (black shield) cadets. On traditional Dress Grey and Full Dress Grey uniforms and overcoats, the class insignia is found in the number of service stripes (one to three) denoting completed years of service at the Academy. These stripes are found on the lower sleeve. Fourth class cadets, or plebes, wear no insignia. "Recognized" fourth class cadets (cadets who completed plebe year but remained behind with the next class for any of a number of reasons) wear "US" insignia on both collars of certain uniforms or on the epaulets of others; they wear one service stripe on the right sleeve of Dress Grey, Full Dress Grey, and overcoats. Rank within the Corps of Cadets is denoted by collar insignia "railroad tracks," a number of black enamel bars with silver outline, or epaulet stripes from one (CDT Corporal) to six (CDT Captain in certain command and staff roles) on certain uniforms. On the traditional Dress-Grey-based uniforms and overcoats, chevrons denote rank in the Corps. A Cadet Corporal wears two chevrons on the lower sleeve. A cadet sergeant wears two chevrons on the upper sleeve, a cadet lieutenant three, and a cadet captain from four to six chevrons. For cadets in the rank of cadet sergeant and up, various combinations of stars, diamonds, rockers or arcs, and other devices are used on the sleeves to denote specific positions/jobs. The title of Cadet Captain is used for all cadets wearing four or more stripes/bars. The Brigade Commander, also called the First Captain, wears six stripes/bars/sleeve chevrons with a gold star.

The rank insignia of the United States Naval Academy is a combination of sleeve, shoulder and collar insignia, similar to that used by the Navy ROTC units. A midshipman is a subordinate officer, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the navies of several English-speaking countries. ...

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