This is a table of theranks and insignia of the Canadian Armed Forces. As theCanadian Armed Forces is officially bilingual, the French language ranks are presented following the English (in italics).
According toCanadian Forces Dress Instructions, the king's representative (the governor general) may wear the uniform and corresponding cap/hat badge of a flag/general officer, with a special flag/general officer sleeve braid embellished with the governor general's badge, and a large embroidered governor general's badge on theshoulder straps or boards, facing forward.[1]
| Service | Board | Sleeve |
|---|---|---|
 Royal Canadian Navy | .svg) | .svg) |
 Canadian Army | .svg) | .svg) |
 Royal Canadian Air Force | .svg) | .svg) |
The rank insignia ofcommissioned officers.
Officers in the CAF hold positions of authority and respect. They are responsible for the safety, well-being and morale of a group of soldiers, sailors, air men or air women. Analyzing, planning, making decisions and providing advice are a few aspects of an Officer’s role.
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Navy[2][3] | _OF-9.svg) |  | _OF-8.svg) |  | _OF-7.svg) |  | _OF-6.svg) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||
| Admiral | Vice-admiral | Rear-admiral | Commodore | Captain (N) | Commander | Lieutenant-commander | Lieutenant (N) | Sub-lieutenant | Acting sub-lieutenant | |||||||||||||||
| Amiral(e) | Vice-amiral(e) | Contre-amiral(e) | Commodore | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant(e) de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe | Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe | |||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army[2][3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | |||||||||||||||
| Général(e) | Lieutenant(e)-général(e) | Major(e)-général(e) | Brigadier(ère)-général(e) | Colonel(le) | Lieutenant(e)-colonel(le) | Major(e) | Capitaine | Lieutenant(e) | Sous-lieutenant(e) | |||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Air Force[2][3] | _OF-9.svg)  | _OF-8.svg)  | _OF-7.svg)  | _OF-6.svg)  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | |||||||||||||||
| Général(e) | Lieutenant(e)-général(e) | Major(e)-général(e) | Brigadier(ère)-général(e) | Colonel(le) | Lieutenant(e)-colonel(le) | Major(e) | Capitaine | Lieutenant(e) | Sous-lieutenant(e) | |||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
| Branch | Navy | Army | Air force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia[2] |  | .svg) | _Sleeve.svg) |
| English | Naval cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet |
| French | Aspirant(e) de marine | Élève-officier(ère) | Élève-officier(ère) |
The following are the rank insignia for non-commissioned members for the navy, army and air force respectively.
Non-commissioned members are skilled personnel who provide operational and support services in the CAF. Non-Commissioned Members start out as recruits and are trained to do specific jobs.
NCM rank insignia for the rank of petty officer 1st class/warrant officer and above are worn on the lower sleeve, while those for the rank of petty officer 2nd class/sergeant and below are worn on the upper sleeve. The Royal Canadian Navy has directed its personnel to use the English rank titles for OR-1 through OR-5, but they are not yet legally in force pursuant to theNational Defence Act, as they are not yet updated in theKing's Regulations and Orders issued by the governor-in-council.[4]
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Navy[2][3] | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief petty officer 1st class | Chief petty officer 2nd class | Petty officer 1st class | Petty officer 2nd class | Master sailor | Sailor 1st class | Sailor 2nd class | Sailor 3rd class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Premier(ère) maître de 1re classe | Premier(ère) maître de 2e classe | Maître de 1re classe | Maître de 2e classe | Matelot-chef | Matelot de 1re classe | Matelot de 2e classe | Matelot de 3e classe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army[2][3] | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief warrant officer | Master warrant officer | Warrant officer | Sergeant | Master corporal | Corporal | Private (trained) | Private (basic) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjudant(e)-chef | Adjudant(e)-maître | Adjudant(e) | Sergent(e) | Caporal(e)-chef | Caporal(e) | Soldat(e) (formé(e)) | Soldat(e) (confirmé(e)) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Air Force[2][3] | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief warrant officer | Master warrant officer | Warrant officer | Sergeant | Master corporal | Corporal | Aviator (trained) | Aviator (basic) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjudant(e)-chef | Adjudant(e)-maître | Adjudant(e) | Sergent(e) | Caporal(e)-chef | Caporal(e) | Aviateur (formé)/ Aviatrice (formée) | Aviateur (confirmé)/ Aviatrice (confirmée) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The rank insignia for NCM appointments.
| Rank group | Senior appointments | Appointments | ||||
| Royal Canadian Navy[2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Canadian forces chief warrant officer | Command chief petty officer | Senior appointmentChief petty officer, 1st class | Drum major | Pipe major | Trumpet / bugle major | |
| Adjudant(e)-chef des Forces canadiennes | Premier(ère) maître de 1re classe du commandement | Premier(ère) maître de 1re classe | Tambour-major | Cornemuseur-major | Trompette / clairon-major | |
| Canadian Army[2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Canadian forces chief warrant officer | Command chief warrant officer | Senior appointment chief warrant officer | Drum major | Pipe major | Trumpet / bugle major | |
| Adjudant(e)-chef des Forces canadiennes | Adjudant(e)-chef du commandement | Adjudant(e)-chef nomination supérieure | Tambour-major | Cornemuseur-major | Trompette / clairon-major | |
| Royal Canadian Air Force[2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Canadian forces chief warrant officer | Command chief warrant officer | Senior Appointment Chief warrant officer | Drum major | Pipe major | Trumpet / bugle major | |
| Adjudant(e)-chef des Forces canadiennes | Adjudant(e)-chef du commandement | Adjudant(e)-chef nomination supérieure | Tambour-major | Cornemuseur-major | Trompette / clairon-major | |
| Rank group | Senior appointments | Appointments | ||||
The tables above describe the rank insignia worn on the service dress jacket. OnDEU shirts, sweaters, and outerwear; andoperational dress shirts and jackets, rank insignia are worn onslip-ons with the word "Canada" or a regimental/branch title embroidered underneath. Flag/general officers' slip-ons include only the crown, crossed sabre and baton, and maple leaves worn on the shoulder straps; they do not include the braid worn on the sleeve. Army NCM slip-ons for DEU shirts, sweaters, and outerwear display only the word "Canada" or a regimental/branch title, rank insignia being worn instead as enamelled metal pins on collar points or lapels.
From 1955 to 1968, Militia personnel were permitted to wear service insignia on the right jacket sleeve.[5][6] There were one to five silver chevrons on drab backing for every two years of service or a maple leaf in silver thread on a drab cloth circle to represent 10 years of service. Chevron points were worn either up or down; even official documents and photos were confused on the matter. Further awards after 10 years were believed covered by theCanadian Forces' Decoration, which was awarded after 12 years and a clasp added for every 10 years afterwards.
Qualifying service could include prior active service in the active reserves of the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force or the regular or territorial forces of a fellow Commonwealth member nation. Service in Canadian Army reserve forces units (like the regular reserve, supplementary reserve and reserve militia) did not count. The awarding of Service Stripes ceased in 1968 after theunification of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Every branch or corps of the Canadian Army uses a distinctive colour. Applicable only to officers, they are indicated by coloured borders of rank insignia on DEU shirt and sweater slip-ons and onmess dress.[7][8][9]
| Branch | Colour | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Armoured Corps | Yellow |  |
| Red |  | |
| Blue |  | |
| Scarlet |  |
| Royal Canadian Medical Service | Dull cherry |  |
| Canadian Intelligence Corps | Forest green (silver rank) |  |
| Royal Canadian Dental Corps | Emerald green |  |
| Royal Canadian Chaplain Service | Purple |  |
| RCIC members ofLes Voltigeurs de Québec | Black |  |
Some branches and regiments use distinctive job titles for privates (trained) in those regiments:
| Branch | Distinct title |
|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Armoured Corps | Trooper (cavalier orcavalière) |
| Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery | Gunner (artilleur orartilleuse) |
| Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers | Sapper (sapeur orsapeuse) |
| Royal Canadian Corps of Signals | Signaller (signaleur orsignaleuse) |
| Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Craftsman (artisan orartisane) |
| Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (RCIC) members of guards regiments | Guardsman (garde) |
| RCIC members of rifle regiments | Rifleman (carabinier orcarabinière) |
| RCIC members of fusilier regiments | Fusilier (fusilier orfusilière) |
| RCIC members of voltigeur regiment | Voltigeur (voltigeur orvoltigeuse) |
| Musicians of theMusic Branch | Musician (musicien ormusicienne) |
| Pipers of the Music Branch | Piper (cornemuseur orcornemuseuse) |
| Drummers of the Music Branch | Drummer (batteur orbatteuse) |
| Canadian Rangers | Ranger (ranger) |
Additionally, the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery uses "bombardier" (bombardier orbombardière) for corporal and "master bombardier" (bombardier-chef orbombardière-chef) for master corporal. In the guards regiments, warrant officers are known as "colour sergeants" (sergents fourriers) and second-lieutenants are known as "ensigns" (enseignes).[4]
When theRoyal Canadian Navy was established in 1910, it kept withRoyal Navy traditions and adopted sleeve braid with anexecutive curl for rank insignia. "Wavy" sleeve braid was adopted for theRoyal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) and rings of narrow interwoven gold lace for theRoyal Canadian Navy Reserve (RCNR). Other variations in rank insignia included sky blue lace with a diamond shaped loop for officers of theWomen's Royal Canadian Naval Service, and warrantedRoyal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps officers, who had a small anchor in place of the executive curl.
Following the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy was reorganized with a single reserve component. In 1946, the distinctive wavy gold braid of the reserves gave way to the straight braided executive curl of the regular force until 1968. With the integration of theCanadian Forces the sea element was designated as Canadian Forces Maritime Command. Unembellished straight braid became the common rank insignia for officers of both the regular and reserve forces. The executive curl appeared only on navy mess dress.
On 5 March 2010, the Canadian House of Commons passed a motion (moved byGuy Lauzon[10]) recommending the executive curl be reinstated on the Canadian navy uniform. Subsequently, in recognition of the Canadian Naval centennial,Peter MacKay,Minister of National Defence, authorized the use of the executive curl for the Canadian Navy on 2 May 2010. The insignia became effective on 11 June 2010, on the occasion of the Pacific Canadian Naval International Fleet Review parade of nations in Victoria, B.C.[11][12]
More than 54 countries, including Canada and 18 other of the 22 Commonwealth navies, use the insignia. Most navies that do not use the executive curl insignia, such as the United States Navy and the French Navy, substitute a star or other national device above the top row of lace.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Navy (1910–1968) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maritime Command (1968–1985) |  |  |  |  | _OF-5.svg) | _OF-4.svg) | _OF-3.svg) | _OF-2.svg) | _OF-1b.svg) | _OF-1a.svg) | _OF_(D).svg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maritime Command (1985–2010) |  |  |  |  | _OF-5.svg) | _OF-4.svg) | _OF-3.svg) | _OF-2.svg) | _OF-1b.svg) | _OF-1a.svg) | _OF_(D).svg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Navy (2011–Present) | | | | | | | | |  | | .svg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles | Admiral | Vice-admiral | Rear-admiral | Commodore | Captain(N) | Commander | Lieutenant-commander | Lieutenant(N) | Sub-lieutenant | Acting sub-lieutenant | Naval cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amiral orAmirale | Vice-amiral orVice-amirale | Contre-amiral orContre-amirale | Commodore | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant de vaisseau orLieutenante de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de première classe | Enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe | Aspirant de marine orAspirante de marine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Navy (1953–1968) |  |  |  |  |  | Trade badge | No insignia | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe | Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe | Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe | Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe | Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe | Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe | Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe | Recruit Recrue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maritime Command (1968–1973) |  |  |  |  |  | .svg) | .svg) |  | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maritime Command (1973–1985) | | | | | |  |  | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1968–1985)[13] | Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe | Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe | Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe | Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe | Master seaman Matelot-chef | Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe | Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe | Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe | Seaman recruit Matelot recrue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maritime Command (1985–2010) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe | Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe | Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe | Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe | Master seaman Matelot-chef | Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe | Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe | Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe | Seaman recruit Matelot recrue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Navy (2011–present) | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (2011–2020)[14] | Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe | Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe | Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe | Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe | Master seaman Matelot-chef | Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe | Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe | Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (2020–present) | Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe orPremière maître de 1re classe | Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe orPremière maître de 2e classe | Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe | Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe | Master sailor Matelot-chef | Sailor 1st class Matelot de 1re classe | Sailor 2nd class Matelot de 2e classe | Sailor 3rd class Matelot de 3e classe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prior to unification in 1968, theCanadian Army used rank insignia identical to theBritish Army. When the universal CF green uniform was adopted at unification, Mobile Command, like the other services, used gold braid sleeve stripes as rank insignia. When distinctive environmental uniforms were adopted in the mid-1980s, the army retained the green uniform with gold stripes.
On 8 July 2013, Minister of National DefencePeter MacKay announced the intention to reintroduce a more traditional style Canadian Army officers' rank insignia.[15] Instead of the sleeve stripe rank insignia used since unification, officers would use the older St Edward's Crown and Star of the Order of the Bath insignia, commonly called "pips and crowns".[16] Gorget patches were also restored for officers of the rank of colonel or higher.[17] The new insignia for officers, instead of using the current British rank insignia for brigadier (used in the Canadian Army until 1968), had the pre-1920 brigadier-general insignia (crossed sabre and baton) instead.
On 2 April 2016, theCommander of the Canadian Army announced that general officers would revert to the unification-era rank insignia worn between 1968 and 2013. This rank insignia is based on the shoulder board rank insignia of Royal Canadian Navy flag officers. The rank insignia of general officers now consists of a crown, crossed sabre and baton, and a series of maple leaves on shoulder straps. Additionally, general officers wear one broad gold band on each of the lower sleeves of the service dress tunic.[18]
On the centenary of theBattle of Vimy Ridge, 9 April 2017, the Bath Star pip with mottotria juncta in uno (Latin for 'three joined in one') was replaced by the "Vimy Star". It depicts a maple leaf and is surrounded by the mottovigilamus pro te (Latin for 'we stand on guard for thee'). Commissioned officers of the household guard regiments (Governor General's Foot Guards, Canadian Grenadier Guards, and Governor General's Horse Guards), plus army personnel stationed to the seasonal Ceremonial Guard, use the Guards Star in place of the Vimy Star on their shoulder boards.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Militia (1902–1920) Canadian Expeditionary Force (1914–1920) | _OF-9.svg) | _OF-8.svg) | _OF-7.svg) | _OF-6.svg) | _OF-5.svg) | _OF-4.svg) | _OF-3.svg) | _OF-2.svg) | _OF-1b.svg) | _OF-1a.svg) | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier-general | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Militia (1921–1940) Canadian Army (1940–1953) | _OF-9_(rounded).svg) | _OF-8_(rounded).svg) | _OF-7_(rounded).svg) | _OF-6_(rounded).svg) | _OF-5.svg) | _OF-4.svg) | _OF-3.svg) | _OF-2.svg) | _OF-1b.svg) | _OF-1a.svg) | _OF_(D).svg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Colonel commandant | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (1953–1968)[19] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | _(1953%25E2%2580%25931968).svg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile Command & Land Force Command (1968–2013) | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (2013–2016) | _OF-9.svg) | _OF-8.svg) | _OF-7.svg) | _OF-6.svg) | .svg) | .svg) | | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | _(2016-2017).svg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (2016–2017) | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (2017–Present) | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles | General Général orGénérale | Lieutenant-general Lieutenant-général orLieutenante-générale | Major-general Major-général orMajore-générale | Brigadier-general Brigadier-général orBrigadière-générale | Colonel Colonel orColonelle | Lieutenant-colonel Lieutenant-colonel orLieutenante-colonelle | Major Major orMajore | Captain Capitaine | Lieutenant Lieutenant orLieutenante | Second lieutenant Sous-lieutenant orSous-lieutenante | Officer cadet Élève-officier orÉlève-officière | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1920–1953) | %2c_OR-9a.svg) | %2c_OR-8.svg) | %2c_OR-7.svg) | %2c_OR-6.svg) | %2c_OR-4.svg) | %2c_OR-3.svg) | %2c_OR-2.svg) | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer class I | Warrant officer class II | Staff/Colour sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (1953–1966)[19] | .svg) |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer class I/1 | Warrant officer class II/2 | Staff/Colour sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian Army (1966–1968) | | | | | | .svg) | | | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer class I/1 | Warrant officer class II/2 | Staff/Colour sergeant | Sergeant | Master corporal | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land Force Command (1968–1973) | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land Force Command (1973–2010) | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1968–2010)[13] | Chief warrant officer Adjudant-chef | Master warrant officer Adjudant-maître | Warrant officer Adjudant | Sergeant Sergent | Master corporal Caporal-chef | Corporal Caporal | Private Soldat | Private (basic) Soldat (Confirmé) | Private (recruit) Soldat (Recrue) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land Force Command (2011–Present) | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (2011–Present)[14] | Chief warrant officer Adjudant-chef orAdjudante-chef | Master warrant officer Adjudant-maître orAdjudante-maître | Warrant officer Adjudant orAdjudante | Sergeant Sergent orSergente | Master corporal Caporal-chef orCaporale-chef | Corporal Caporal orCaporale | Private Soldat orSoldate | Private (basic) Soldat (Confirmé) orSoldate (Confirmée) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Air Force ranks and insignia originally were taken from theRoyal Air Force practice. Upon unification, the Air Command used identical ranks and insignia as the Land Command. When Air-specific blue DEUs were introduced, the gold rank insignia were retained.
In April 2015,[20] the Royal Canadian Air Force adopted new rank insignia reminiscent of the pre-unification RCAF system. The new officer rank insignia uses pearl-grey-on-black rank stripes instead of gold.Non-commissioned members (NCMs) rank insignia is pearl grey instead of gold. The colour gold found elsewhere on the uniform was also changed to pearl-grey. The air force rank of private, formerly indicated by one chevron, became aviator (aviateur), and is indicated by a horizontally-aligned two-bladed propeller. All other ranks titles remain as they were.[21]
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Air Force (1924–1968)[19][22] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1924–1968)[23][24] | Marshal of the Royal Canadian Air Force[a] | Air chief marshal Maréchal en chef de l’Air | Air marshal Maréchal de l’Air | Air vice-marshal Vice-maréchal de l’Air | Air commodore Commodore de l’Air | Group captain Colonel d’aviation | Wing commander Lieutenant-colonel d’aviation | Squadron leader Commandant d’aviation | Flight lieutenant Capitaine d’aviation | Flying officer Lieutenant d’aviation | Pilot officer Sous-lieutenant d’aviation | Flight cadet/ officer cadet (post-1962) Élève-officier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (1968–1984) | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (1984–2014) | _OF-9.svg) | _OF-8.svg) | _OF-7.svg) | _OF-6.svg) | _OF-5.svg) | _OF-4.svg) | _OF-3.svg) | _OF-2.svg) | _OF-1b.svg) | _OF-1a.svg) | _OF_(D).svg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Air Force (2014–present)[24] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | .svg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1968–present) | General Général orGénérale | Lieutenant-general Lieutenant-général orLieutenante-générale | Major-general Major-général orMajore-générale | Brigadier-general Brigadier-général orBrigadière-générale | Colonel Colonel orColonelle | Lieutenant-colonel Lieutenant-colonel orLieutenante-colonelle | Major Major orMajore | Captain Capitaine | Lieutenant Lieutenant orLieutenante | Second lieutenant Sous-lieutenant orSous-lieutenante | Officer cadet Élève-officier orÉlève-officière | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force (1948–1953) |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Force (1953–1968)[19] |  |  |  | | | | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1948–1968)[23] | Warrant officer first class Adjudant de 1re classe | Warrant officer second class Adjudant de 2e classe | Flight sergeant Sergent de section | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal | Leading aircraftman/aircraftwoman Aviateur-chef | Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman first class Aviateur 1re classe | Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman second class Aviateur 2e classe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (1968–1973) | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (1973–1984) | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (1984–2010) | _OR-9.svg) | _OR-8.svg) | _OR-7.svg) | _OR-6.svg) | _OR-5.svg) | _OR-4.svg) | _OR-3.svg) |  | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (1968–2010)[13] | Chief warrant officer Adjudant-chef | Master warrant officer Adjudant-maître | Warrant officer Adjudant | Sergeant Sergent | Master corporal Caporal-chef | Corporal Caporal | Private Soldat | Private (basic) Soldat (confirmé) | Private (recruit) Soldat (recrue) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Command (2010–2014) | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (2010–2014)[14] | Chief warrant officer Adjudant-chef | Master warrant officer Adjudant-maître | Warrant officer Adjudant | Sergeant Sergent | Master corporal Caporal-chef | Corporal Caporal | Private Soldat | Private (basic) Soldat (confirmé) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Canadian Air Force (2014–present)[24] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank titles (2014–present) | Chief warrant officer Adjudant-chef orAdjudante-chef | Master warrant officer Adjudant-maître orAdjudante-maître | Warrant officer Adjudant orAdjudante | Sergeant Sergent orSergente | Master corporal Caporal-chef orCaporale-chef | Corporal Caporal orCaporale | Aviator Aviateur orAviatrice | Aviator (basic) Aviateur (confirmé) orAviatrice (confirmée) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contrary to theRoyal Canadian Navy and theCanadian Army,mess dress uniform ranks for officers of theRoyal Canadian Air Force follow the naval pattern, without the executive curl. General officers do not wear shoulder straps with this order of dress.
| NATO Code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Air Force Mess dress and full dress[b] ranks 1925–1968[26][a] |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | ||
| Air Command Mess ranks 1968–2014 | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
| Royal Canadian Air Force Mess ranks 2015–Present | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
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