The ACF here in the UK use this rank and the Australian Air Cadets do also, it ranks above CWO and they wear an officer cap-badge and rank slides with a plain white stripe. CUOs have ‘Officer privileges’ (?) and are called sir/ma’am by cadets, the rank is given to senior CWOs who show an ambition to become a Commissioned Officer in the Armed Forces. I’ve heard it mentioned once or twice but, what do you think abou the rank being introduced in the ATC here in the UK?
No thank you.
Too many Inexperienced youngster with RAFVR(T) commissions as it is without making cadets think they are officers.
I don’t know, it might prove valuable experience for those who do go on to become regular officers, it seems to work okay for the ACF.
I’ve never seen an ACF CUO. Don’t really see any value in adding to the rank structure. If all the difference is is a different hat, as it seems it is, then what is the point. As a cadet you still couldn’t do any more than a CWO could.
EDIT: Having done some light Googling it appears that the ACF have both adult UOs, somewhat like Offr Cdts?, and CUOs. I read an article about a CUO and the insignia appears to be a blue band, as she was also a LLC how does that insignia work on No.1s?
EDIT 2: It appears I’ve found my answer but having dramas inserting the picture: http://www.surreyarmycadets.com/Surrey%20Army%20Cadet%20Force%20honours_files/tresmanllt.jpg
Interestingly, the CCF are already allowed a cadet under-officer, as per JSP313 below:
3.15. A contingent may have a Contingent Commander, section officers, an SSI or SSIs and, if required, civilian instructors. A cadet senior under-officer may be appointed with a small staff of cadet WOs/SNCOs, depending on the size of the contingent and provided the cadets can be given duties corresponding to these ranks.
In our CCF contingent, we have Under-Officers from time to time, but only if they are Army or Navy. I guess we could just ignore single service guidelines and appoint an RAF under-officer if we really wanted to. Does a JSP take precedence over single-service guidelines? I have heard this said before, but I don’t know if it is true…
Who does the ‘appointing’? Is it the Contingent Commander or the Headmaster in association with the CC?
To be honest, the rank of Cadet Under Officer is only really used to give a cadet RSM somewhere to go once they have been RSM for a while (usually around a year) during their final few months as a cadet. It can also be used if you have two cadets up for RSM and both worthy of promotion. One gets RSM and the other CUO. Re the insignia, while it is officially a blue stripe I have never seen one. They usually get a white stripe like Adult Under Officers.
Cadet CSMs and RSMs at my unit also wear an officer’s cap badge due to regimental tradition.
If we decide to lose cadets at age 18, will we even have CWOs, let alone CUOs…?
…and would there be any need for either?
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[quote=“thetopcat69” post=23517]No thank you.
Too many Inexperienced youngster with RAFVR(T) commissions as it is without making cadets think they are officers.[/quote]
This. A million times. This.
[quote=“bti” post=23534]If we decide to lose cadets at age 18, will we even have CWOs, let alone CUOs…?
…and would there be any need for either?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/quote]The CCF lose cadets much earlier than we do and still have CWOs… although I imagine that they may be a bit rarer if we lost O18s.
I only know one CCF Under Officer. He’s a bit of a tool.
I know the lad who was the Cadet RSM at the same time (now a 2nd Lt). He’s a tool as well.
I’m not overly convinced of the merits. 
[quote=“wdimagineer2b” post=23557]I only know one CCF Under Officer. He’s a bit of a tool.
I know the lad who was the Cadet RSM at the same time (now a 2nd Lt). He’s a tool as well.
I’m not overly convinced of the merits. ;)[/quote]
Are you suggesting that getting promoted to RSM or CUO made suddenly made them a tool?
[quote=“talon” post=23560][quote=“wdimagineer2b” post=23557]I only know one CCF Under Officer. He’s a bit of a tool.
I know the lad who was the Cadet RSM at the same time (now a 2nd Lt). He’s a tool as well.
I’m not overly convinced of the merits. ;)[/quote]
Are you suggesting that getting promoted to RSM or CUO made suddenly made them a tool?[/quote]
I have only ever met 1 CWO that wasnt a stuck up, egotistical, power hungry, up themselves toilet with a God complex and an holier than thou attitude.
I’ve met a few of each.
[quote=“RearAdmiralScrinson” post=23562]
I have only ever met 1 CWO that wasnt a stuck up, egotistical, power hungry, up themselves toilet with a God complex and an holier than thou attitude.[/quote]
I’d like to think my cadet RSM is not like that. They are obviously quite rare though so it isn’t a theory I can really test!
[quote=“talon” post=23560]
Are you suggesting that getting promoted to RSM or CUO made suddenly made them a tool?[/quote]
No. I suspect that they’ve both long been tools, but that the promotion/appoint to Cadet RSM or Cadet Under Officer in this particular CCF did nothing to ‘develop’ it out of them. Pity.
Probably find they never expected to be a CWO.
As for the traits you describe you can only blame rtheir Sqn and Wing Staff who almost worship them and allow them to get away with murder. I find it quite sickening when they are fawned over by adult staff who IMO should know better.
Far too many as you say think far too highly of themselves, I personally don’t see that the rank has had much relevance since 30 SEP 03.
There is: Officer Cadet. If you’re an 18 year old Air Cadet aiming for a commission in the forces you’ll either be doing just that at 18/19 or heading to uni, where you can join the URNU/OTC/UAS. No need for such a rank in the ACO.