Australian Defence Force ranks

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) utilises ranks for the officers and non-commissioned personnel of its three service branches: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Each of the branches largely inherited the rank structure and rank insignia from their counterparts in the British Armed Forces.

The following tables show the "equivalent rank and classifications" for the three services, as defined in the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual. ^[1] "Equivalent rank" means the corresponding rank set out under Regulation 8 of the Defence Force Regulations 1952. ^[2]

Commissioned officer ranks

NATO code	Aus code	Navy	Army	RAAF
Flag/General/Air officers [1] [3]
OF-10	O-11 [a]	Admiral of the Fleet	Field Marshal	Marshal of the RAAF
OF-9	O-10 [b]	Admiral	General	Air Chief Marshal
OF-8	O-9 [c]	Vice Admiral	Lieutenant general	Air Marshal
OF-7	O-8	Rear Admiral	Major General	Air Vice Marshal
OF-6	O-7 [d]			Air Commodore
Senior officers
OF-6	O-7 [d]	Commodore Principal Chaplain Principal MSWO	Brigadier	—
OF-5	O-6 [d]	Captain (RAN) Senior Chaplain (Class 4) Principal MSWO (Class 4)	Colonel	Group Captain
OF-4	O-5 [d]	Commander Chaplain/MSWO (Div/Class 1-3)	Lieutenant Colonel	Wing Commander
OF-3	O-4 [d]	Lieutenant Commander	Major	Squadron Leader
Junior officers
OF-2	O-3 [d]	Lieutenant	Captain (Army)	Flight Lieutenant
OF-1	O-2	Sub Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Flying Officer
OF-1	O-1	Acting Sub Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Pilot Officer
—	O-0	Midshipman	—	Officer Cadet
Cadets
—	—	—	Officer Cadet/Staff Cadet(RMC)	-

Warrant Officer ranks

NATO code	Aus/ code	Navy	Army	RAAF
Warrant officers
OR-10	E-10	WO-N	RSM-A	WOFF-AF
OR-9	E-9	Warrant Officer	Warrant Officer Class 1	Warrant officer
OR-8	E-8	—	Warrant Officer Class 2	—

Note that the most senior Warrant Officer in each of the three services is appointed and promoted to either Warrant Officer of the Navy WO-N, Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army RSM-A, or Warrant Officer of the Air Force WOFF-AF, as appropriate. Although these are positional appointments, these three members hold the rank of Warrant Officer in their respective services and each wear special insignia, different from the rank insignia worn by other warrant officers. The RAN and the RAAF have two warrant officer ranks, the army has three. The soldier appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A) holds the unique Army rank of Warrant Officer (introduced in 1991 and senior to WO1). The Army rank of WO2 is the equivalent of the RAN and the RAAF's most senior NCOs, (i.e. Chief Petty Officer and Flight Sergeant). ^[1] As Army WO2s hold a Warrant, while the RAN CPO and RAAF FSGT do not, WO2s are addressed as "Sir" or "Ma'am" by junior ranks, which extends to OCDTs and SCDTs.

Non-Commissioned Officer ranks

NATO code	Aus code	Navy	Army	RAAF
Senior non-commissioned officers
OR-8	E-8	Chief Petty Officer	—	Flight Sergeant
OR-7	E-7	—	Staff Sergeant [1] [e]	—
OR-6	E-6	Petty Officer	Sergeant	Sergeant
Junior non-commissioned officers
OR-5	E-5	Leading Seaman	Corporal/Bombardier	Corporal
OR-4	E-4	—	Lance Corporal/Bombardier	—

Other ranks

For ranks used by some corps in place of private, see Australian Army enlisted rank insignia.

NATO Code	Aus Code	Navy	Army	RAAF
Enlisted
OR-3	E-3	Able Seaman	Private proficient [f]	Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman
OR-2	E-2	Seaman	Private	Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman

Insignia

See also: Royal Australian Navy ranks and uniforms, Australian Army officer rank insignia, Australian Army enlisted rank insignia, and Ranks of the Royal Australian Air Force

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Australian Navy [7] v t e
	Admiral of the fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Acting sub lieutenant
Australian Army [8] v t e
	Field marshal		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Royal Australian Air Force [9] v t e
	Marshal of the RAAF		Air chief marshal		Air marshal		Air vice-marshal		Air commodore		Group captain		Wing commander		Squadron leader		Flight lieutenant		Flying officer			Pilot officer
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers

Student officer ranks

Rank group	Student officer
Royal Australian Navy [9] [10]
	Midshipman
Australian Army
	Officer cadet	Staff cadet
Royal Australian Air Force [9]
	Officer cadet

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Australian Navy [9] v t e
	Warrant officer						Chief petty officer				Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman						Seaman
Australian Army [9] v t e																													No insignia
	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2				Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private (or equivalent)
Royal Australian Air Force [11] [9] v t e
	Warrant officer						Flight sergeant				Sergeant												Corporal						Leading aircraftman/ aircraftwoman						Aircraftman/ aircraftwoman
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted

Appointments

Rank group	Senior appointments
Royal Australian Navy [9]
	Warrant Officer of the Navy
Australian Army [9]
	Regimental sergeant major of the army
Royal Australian Air Force [11]
	Warrant Officer of the Air Force

History of Royal Australian Navy ranks

The historical changes to rank insignia for enlisted personnel of the navy. ^[12]

Rank group	General/flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Australian Navy (1995–2025) [9]
	Admiral of the fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Acting sub lieutenant

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Navy (1827–1853)																													No insignia
											Petty officer 1st class						Petty officer 2nd class												Able seaman						Ordinary seaman
Royal Navy (1853–1890)																													No insignia
							Chief petty officer				Petty officer 1st class						Petty officer 2nd class						Leading seaman						Able seaman						Ordinary seaman
Royal Navy (1890–1901)							Arm badge replaced by lapel badges																						No insignia
							Chief petty officer				Petty officer 1st class						Petty officer 2nd class						Leading seaman						Able seaman						Ordinary seaman
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Australian Navy (1901–1907)							Arm badge replaced by lapel badges																						No insignia
							Chief petty officer				Petty officer 1st class						Petty officer 2nd class						Leading seaman						Able seaman						Ordinary seaman
Royal Australian Navy (1907–1925)							Arm badge replaced by lapel badges																						No insignia
							Chief petty officer				Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman						Ordinary seaman
Royal Australian Navy (1925–1953)							Three cuff buttons																						No insignia
							Chief petty officer				Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman						Ordinary seaman
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Australian Navy (1953–1966)																													No insignia
							Chief petty officer				Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman						Ordinary seaman
Royal Australian Navy (1966–1971)																													No insignia
							Chief petty officer				Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman						Ordinary seaman
Royal Australian Navy (1971–1974)																													No insignia
	Warrant officer						Chief petty officer				Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman						Ordinary seaman
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Australian Navy (1974–1991)																													No insignia
	Warrant officer						Chief petty officer				Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman						Seaman
Royal Australian Navy (1991–1993)
	Warrant officer						Chief petty officer				Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman						Seaman
Royal Australian Navy (1993–2025)
	Warrant Officer of the Navy			Warrant officer			Chief petty officer				Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman						Seaman
Royal Australian Navy (2025–present)							TBU				TBU
	Warrant Officer of the Navy			Warrant officer			Chief petty officer				Petty officer												Leading seaman						Able seaman						Seaman
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted

History of Australian Army ranks

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Australian Army (1953–2025) [9]
	Field marshal		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Australian Army (–2019)																													No insignia
	Regimental sergeant major of the army			Warrant officer class 1			Warrant officer class 2		Staff sergeant [g]		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private (or equivalent)
Australian Army (2019–Present)																													No insignia
	Regimental sergeant major of the army			Warrant officer class 1			Warrant officer class 2				Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private (or equivalent)

See also

• Ranks and insignia of NATO
• British Army officer rank insignia
• New Zealand military ranks

Notes

1. O-11 ranks - admiral of the fleet, field marshal and marshal of the RAAF - may only be used in wartime and for honorary appointments.
2. O-10 ranks - The Chief of the Defence Force is the sole O-10 ranked appointment.
3. O-9 ranks - The Vice chief of the Defence Force, chief of joint operations, chief of the capability development executive and chiefs of the Navy, Army and Air Force comprise the six O-9 ranked appointments.
4. Chaplains:
   
   • In the Royal Australian Air Force and Australian Army, Chaplains wear normal rank insignia.
   • O5 ranks - In the Royal Australian Navy, Chaplains and MSWOs are commissioned officers without rank. For reasons of protocol, ceremonial occasions and for saluting purposes, they are, where appropriate, normally grouped with Commanders (O-5). ^[4]
   • O6-O7 ranks - The more senior Division 4 Senior Chaplains are grouped with Captains (O-6) and Division 5 Principal Chaplains are grouped with Commodores (O-7).
   • O8 ranks - The heads of the various churches and religions officially associated to the ADF's Religious Advisory Committee, such as the Anglican and Catholic bishops of the military, are equivalent to a brigadier, air vice marshall, or rear admiral (O-8). ^[5]
5. Without prejudice to existing holders of the rank, the Army has ceased to promote soldiers to the rank of staff sergeant. ^[6]
6. Private proficient is not an ADF rank. It is a proficiency point for which a higher rate of salary is provided.
7. Staff sergeants still exist, but no one is promoted into the role.

References

1. "ADF Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN)". People Strategies and Policy (AL13 ed.). Department of Defence, Australian Government. November 2009. p. 1.
2. Defence Force Regulations 1952.
3. Badges of Rank and Special Insignia. Commonwealth of Australia - Department of Defence. September 2003. pp. 2–3.
4. "Ranks - Royal Australian Navy". navy.gov.au. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 2024-01-01. ... Chaplains and MSWOs are commissioned officers without rank. However, for ceremonial and protocol purposes they are, where appropriate, normally grouped with Commanders (O-5). ...
5. "Inquiry into Recruitment and Retention of ADF Personnel". aph.gov.au. Australian Parliament House. Retrieved 2024-01-01. ... RACS members have two-star status in Defence. ...
6. "Australian Army Rank Structure, Other Ranks". army.gov.au. Australian Army. 25 October 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
7. "Ranks". Royal Australian Navy . Retrieved 2025-08-04.
8. "Ranks". Australian Army . Retrieved 2025-08-04.
9. "Badges of rank" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Department of Defence (Australia). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
10. "Ranks - Royal Australian Navy". navy.gov.au. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
11. "Ranks | Air Force". airforce.gov.au. Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 25 Oct 2023. Retrieved 10 Nov 2023.
12. "A History of Australian Navy Health Sailor Uniforms and Ranks (Part 3)" . Retrieved 23 February 2021.

External links

• ADF Badges of rank (2020)
• ADF Pay & Conditions Manual - Equivalent ranks and classifications