Junior technician (Jnr Tech or formerly J/T) is a junior non-commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force, the Pakistan Air Force and the Royal Danish Air Force. In the RAF it ranks equivalent to senior aircraftman technician (AS1 (T)), equivalent to senior aircraftman (AS1) and below corporal and has a NATO rank code of OR-2. [1] Since 2005, the RAF has ceased promoting to and therefore phasing out of this rank, to be replaced by AS1(T).
The rank of junior technician is only held by airmen in technical trades, and by those who joined as Apprentices (both technical and administrative) and by musicians. Airmen in non-technical trades always progressed directly from senior aircraftman to corporal. Junior technicians are qualified to work alone and supervise untrained airmen working within their area of responsibility. The rank was introduced in 1950 as part of a new grading system for technicians, wearing a single point up chevron. In 1964, when the grading system was abolished, Jnr Tech’s were retained, their badge changing to a four-bladed propeller. The last Administrative Apprentices (the 46th Entry) passed out from RAF Hereford in 1963.
In 2000 the Royal Air Force changed the rank to Senior Aircraftman (Technician), (SAC(T)). In 2005 promotions to the rank of junior technician ceased. However, those previously promoted continue to be at JT rank until they are promoted to Corporal or leave the service. JT is considered to be equivalent to Lance Corporal in the Army but without the power to discipline junior ranks.
It is believed that the Royal Air Force has one JT still serving. He insists on keeping his rank until his service is complete, due to his belief that “JT mate, best rank in RAF” even if he is the only one.
Junior technician is also a rank in the Pakistan Air Force, where it ranks between corporal technician and senior aircraftman. Since 2006 it has been represented by single chevron beneath an eagle with outstretched wings. [2]
Junior technician is the title for personnel working in the Royal Danish Air Force after two years' seniority as an aircraftman (OR-1) and until the age of 35. If still fit for duty at the age of 35, personnel are promoted to lance corporal (OR-3). [3]
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who does not hold a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. In contrast, commissioned officers usually enter directly from a military academy, officer training corps (OTC) or reserve officer training corps (ROTC), or officer candidate school (OCS) or officer training school (OTS), after receiving a post-secondary degree.
Sergeant is a rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, serjeant, is used in The Rifles and other units that draw their heritage from the British light infantry. Its origin is the Latin serviens, 'one who serves', through the French term sergeant.
Corporal is a military rank in use in some form by the armed forces of many countries. It is also in use by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. The word is derived from the medieval Italian phrase capo corporale. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer.
Lance Corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organisations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer (NCO), usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.
The chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Air Force.
Flight sergeant is a senior non-commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and several other air forces which have adopted all or part of the RAF rank structure. It is equivalent to a staff sergeant or colour sergeant in the British Army, a colour sergeant in the Royal Marines, and a chief petty officer in the Royal Navy, and has a NATO rank code of OR-7. In the RAF, flight sergeant ranks above chief technician and below warrant officer.
Chief technician is a senior non-commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force which is only held by aviators in technical trades and by musicians. It is between sergeant and flight sergeant and, like the latter has a NATO code of OR-7. Aviators in non-technical trades progress directly from sergeant to flight sergeant. Along with junior technician this is a survivor of a separate ranking system for technicians introduced in 1950 and abolished in 1964. During that period it was equivalent to flight sergeant, but was made junior to that rank in 1964. Chief technicians are usually addressed as "Chief".
Senior aircraftman (SAC) or senior aircraftwoman (SACW) was a rank in the Royal Air Force, ranking between leading aircraftman and senior aircraftman technician and having a NATO rank code of OR-2. The rank, which is non-supervisory, was introduced on 1 January 1951. The rank badge is a three-bladed propeller. The rank was renamed Air Specialist (AS1) in the Royal Air Force in July 2022.
Leading aircraftman (LAC) or leading aircraftwoman (LACW) is a junior rank in some air forces. It sits between aircraftman and senior aircraftman, and has a NATO rank code of OR-2. The rank badge is a horizontal two-bladed propeller. The rank was renamed air specialist (AS2) in the Royal Air Force in July 2022.
Master corporal (MCpl) is a military rank used by a number of countries including the Canadian Armed Forces.
The term used in the Royal Air Force (RAF) to refer to all ranks below commissioned officer level is other ranks (ORs). It includes warrant officers (WOs), non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and airmen.
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.
Specialist is a military rank in some countries’ armed forces. Two branches of the United States Armed Forces use the rank. It is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the United States Army, above private (PVT), private (PV2), and private first class and is equivalent in pay grade to corporal; in the United States Space Force, four grades of specialist comprise the four junior enlisted ranks below the rank of sergeant.
The rank structure of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been inherited from the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF based its officer ranks on the Royal Navy, and its airmen ranks on the British Army.
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has five rank schemes for active and reservist personnel, with a sixth for the auxiliaries of the SAF Volunteer Corps. The SAF has a unique rank structure as an integrated force, ranks are the same in the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS).
Corporal technician is a rank in the Pakistan Air Force and a former rank in the British Royal Air Force, below senior technician and above junior technician. It is equivalent to the Pakistan Army's naik and the Pakistan Navy's leading rate. The British rank, which was only held by airmen in technical trades, existed between 1950 and 1964. British corporal technicians wore two inverted chevrons to distinguish their trade rank.
Senior technician is a rank in the Pakistan Air Force and a former rank in the British Royal Air Force, above corporal technician and below chief technician. It is equivalent to the Pakistan Army's Havildar and Petty Officer is equivalent in the Pakistan Navy. The British rank, which was only held by airmen in technical trades, existed between 1950 and 1964. British senior technicians wore three point-up chevrons.
Pakistan Air Force Airmen Academy Korangi Creek is "Home of Airmen". It was PAF Base which imparts only technical training to Aero Apprentices and training of non-technical trades was going on another PAF Bases, so PAF needed to train all Airmen at one place. In 2019, It was established as an Academy in which training of all trades is planned. It was a momentous occasion in the history of Pakistan Air Force, as the Air Chief laid the foundation stone of PAF Airmen Academy at PAF Base Korangi Creek Monday.
Senior aircraftman technician (SAC Tech or formerly SAC(T)) is a rank in the Royal Air Force, ranking between senior aircraftman and corporal and having a NATO rank code of OR-2. SAC Technicians are not NCOs and cannot administratively discipline other personnel.