The Cadet rank structure is as follows:
Corporal is the first NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) rank Cadets are able to Obtain. Promotion to Corporal takes an average of two years but it can be much more or much less. A Corporal is referred to as a Junior NCO (JNCO) and acts as a liaison between the Cadets and the Senior NCOs (SNCO's). Promotion to Corporal is made by the Squadron commander, in consultation with the other members of adult staff. Selection for Corporal is made totally on merit and not on classification.
A Sergeant is a Senior NCO (SNCO) and is promoted to this position after he or she has reached the rank of Corporal. Appointment to this rank is made by the Squadron Commander and Staff.
This is as high as the Squadron Commander can send a Cadet. The emblem is the same as the Sergeant but it has a silver crown above it. Cadet Flight Sergeants should possess in greater measure and depth all the general knowledge service qualifications of a Cadet Sergeant. Further they should possess a wider knowledge of the organization of the RAF and the role and nature of its various formations. Their powers of command, leadership and ability to manage Cadets and inspire confidence should be more fully developed.
Promotion to Cadet Warrant Officer (CWO) can only be made by the Commanding Officer of a Wing. There are set number of CWO's a Wing can have - one per Squadron plus two thirds. The emblem for a CWO is a crown surrounded by laurel leaves. To be a CWO you must be over 18. If a Cadet is able to obtain CWO, they will be able to stay in the ATC until they are 22, rather than 20 for any other rank.
Officer Ranks
Officer Ranks in the ATC are exactly the same as they are in the RAF. The Officers are properly commissioned officers (unlike the Army Cadet Force and Sea Cadet Corps), as they hold the Queens Commission. They are part of the Voluntary Reserve of the RAF (RAF VR(T)). Therefore they are to be paid the same respects as any other Officer. This means that they are to be saluted by anyone junior to them.
Pilot Officer (Plt/Off) is the rank that a newly commissioned officer will hold after a successful interview with Wing Staff. This is the rank that is usually held by the second in command (2IC) of a squadron.
186 currently has one Pilot Officer, Pilot Officer Llewellyn.
Promotion to Flying Officer (Flg/Off) is usually made after about two years service as a Pilot Officer. Officers of this rank may be a Squadron Commanding Officer (CO).
After another two years, a Flying Officer will be promoted to a Flight Lieutenant (Flt/Lt). Most Squadrons will have a Flight Lieutenant as their CO.
A Squadron Leader (Sqn/Ldr) is not usually a Squadron CO, but plays a part at Wing level.
Wing Commander (Wg/Cdr) is the higest rank in the Air Training Corps and is generally in command of a whole Wing. All subsequent ranks are taken by normal RAF Officers.
Every Squadron has an Adult Warrant Officers (or WOs) who is in charge of discipline and uniform etc. As an WO does not hold a commission, so they are not saluted, but watch out if you don't call them Sir or Ma’am!
Those Warrant Officers that were serving Warrant Officers in any of the three services, who are now in the ATC are permitted to wear the Warrant Officer insignia of the RAF which is different to that of the ATC insignia, shown above.