RAFAC Rank Abbreviation Glossary

Sorted the SI below LCpl one but I think the CWO and saluting rtd officers will most likely be explained/informed about by local NCOs/staff

Also I have tried making this post a wiki however not sure if it will have the same issue as the original post - people not being able to edit it

Fixed that thanks :+1:

I now reads to me like all SIs are below NCO rank and addressed as ‘staff’ (or am I missing something?)

There are SI with all sorts of ranks, up to at least Air Cdre.

I was under the impression this accounted for all SIs?

1 Like

It does. Sorry, I must’ve misread it previously.

1 Like

Where do CCF Under Officers (U/O) fit in? :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye::smiling_imp:

In the army, where that Appointment is stolen from

1 Like

Spoil sport - I was going to suggest it as the next stage of over 18 policy ( appointed as U/Os rather than staff cadets) :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Maybe JUOs get commissioned as Plt Off, and SUO as Fg Off…

NO WAIT DON’T TEMPT ME

Perhaps we could roll that in at the same time as Cpl (RAFAC)…

1 Like

Out of curiosity, is there any abbreviation for Staff Cadet ranks? Like would a Staff Cadet Corporal be abbreviated to S/Cdt Cpl? or would it be abbreviated to SC Cpl?

One of my cadets mentioned this last week when we were revising the ranks and my mind went completely blank :sweat_smile:

1 Like

Happens to us all :grin:

There’s no separate rank abbreviation for staff cadets as it’s a status & not a rank.

Strictly speaking the use of “cadet” in front of ranks is also not needed but it stems from CWO & the abbreviation AWO.

Adult ranks on lists should be WO(RAFAC) or FS (RAuxF) rather than a prefix.

Not convinced this is correct, I think there is a reference in ACP 20 but not in a position to check now.

In the old days the rank was WO(ATC), however the rank is now WO and if detailing the person on a nominal roll for example it would be WO J Bloggs RAFAC, in the same way as it is for officers.

I think it says (RAFAC) only to be used where there is a chance of confusion?

Might have been the transition period when everyone went RAFAC, officers swapped the VRT at the end after the name, WO & SNCOs swapped the bit in brackets.

Having it all quietly become the same as a post nominal makes sense

It would make more sense to all have it in brackets after the rank and then have RAFVR as the post-nominal. This is exactly what SCC and RMC officers, WOs and SNCOs get and so there is a post-CFC precedent for it.

1 Like

“Cadet” in front is necessary as that’s the rank.

It’s when you’re addressing them that you don’t use it. Really annoys me when everyone says “cadet warrant”.

It’s “warrant officer”.

2 Likes

That was changed IIRC, I believe now required in all written communication

I’ve seen use of “Wg Cdr RAFAC Bloggs”.

It’s not correct.

They’re post nominals, to be used always in cases where there could be confusion (otherwise optionally).

Most of the time, when it’s on an email signature with your role, or on a RAFAC document, it is no more necessary than including RAF or RAuxAF.

Interestingly, they’re post nominal for officers, but not for SNCO, as I understand.

So:

Fg Off Bloggs RAFAC
FS RAFAC Bloggs