Regular/Reserve

Although ranks in the RAF will have the same NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) code as their counterparts in the other armed forces (OF#(Officers))/(OR#(Other Ranks)), in many cases, Royal Air Force ranks will be the junior of the three services, with the Royal Navy having seniority over the Army and the Royal Air Force.

Royal Navy

British Army

Royal Air Force

Commissioned Ranks

Admiral of the Fleet (Adm of the Fleet) - OF10

Admiral (Adm) - OF9

Vice-Admiral (V. Adm) - OF8

Rear-Admiral (R. Adm) - OF7

Commodore (Cdre) - OF6

Captain (Capt) - OF5

Commander (Cdr) - OF4

Lieutenant-Commader (Lt. Cdr) - OF3

Lieutenant (Lt) - OF2

Sub-Lieutenant (S. Lt) - OF1

Mid-Shipman (Mid) - OF1

Officer Cadet (O. Cdt) - OF(D)

Field Marshal (FM) - OF10

General (Gen) - OF9

Lieutenant-General (Lt Gen) - OF8

Major-General (Maj Gen) - OF7

Brigadier (Brig) - OF6

Colonel (Col) - OF5

Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt Col) - OF4

Major (Maj) - OF3

Captain (Capt) - OF2

Lieutenant (Lt) - OF1

Second Lieutenant (2Lt) - OF1

Officer Cadet (O. Cdt) - OF(D)

Marshal of the Royal Air Force (MRAF) - OF10

Air Chief Marshal (Air Chf Mshl) - OF9

Air Marshal (Air Mshl) - OF8

Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) - OF7

Air Commodore (Air Cdre) - OF6

Group Captain (Gp Capt) - OF5

Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) - OF4

Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) - OF3

Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) - OF2

Flying Officer (Fg Off) - OF1

Pilot Officer (Plt Off) - OF1

Officer Cadet (O. Cdt) - OF(D)

Non-Commissioned Ranks

Senior Enlister Advisor to the Chief of Staff Committee (SEAC)

Warrant Officer of the Naval Service (WO(NS))

Warrant Officer (WO) - OR9

* No OR8 equivalent *

Chief Petty Officer (CPO) - OR7

Petty Officer (PO) - OR6

* No OR5 rank *

Leading Rate (LH) - OR4

* No OR 3 equivalent *

Able Seaman (AB) - OR2

* No OR1 equivalent *

Army Sergeant Major

Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) - OR9

Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) - OR8

Staff/Colour Sergeant (SSgt or CSgt) - OR7

Sergeant (Sgt) - OR6

* No OR5 rank *

Corporal (Cpl) - OR4

Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) - OR3

* Private is OR1/OR2 *

No Insignia
Private (Pte) - OR1/2

Chief of the Air Staffs Warrant Officer (CASWO)

Warrant Officer (WO) - OR9

* No OR8 equivalent *

Flight Sergeant/Chief Technician (FS/ChfT) - OR7

Sergeant (Sgt) - OR6

* No OR5 rank *

Corporal (Cpl) - OR4

Lance Corporal (LCpl) - OR3

Leading/Senior/Senior(Technician) Aircraftsman (LAC/SAC/SAC(Tech) - OR2

No Insignia
Aircraftsman (AC) - OR1

NOTES

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee (SEAC) is the most senior enlisted member of the British Armed Forces. The role of the SEAC is to advise the Chiefs of Staff Committee, contribute to policy and decision making, and "bring the perspective of the Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Junior Ranks". The first SEAC took up the appointment on 1 November 2018. Applicants can be from the RN, the Army or the RAF

Royal Navy

Regular appointments to Admiral of the Fleet ended in 1995.
In 2004, the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 was introduced. However, the rank was phased out in April 2014, although existing holders of the rank were permitted to retain it until they were either promoted or left the service.
Since a ship can only have one Captain, if any OF3 ranked Army or Marine Captains, or non-commanding OF6 ranked Navy Captains, were embarked on a ship they were always given a temporary, name-only, promotion of one rank for the duration of the voyage (Army & Marines officers were temporary Majors, while the Navy Officers were temporary Commodores). Since the rank carried no additional authority, responsibilities, or duties, it's not an 'Acting' or 'brevet' rank, simply a means of avoiding confusion onboard a ship.
Naval Chaplins do not have a rank - they assume the rank of the person they're talking to.

WO2	Naval Chaplin rankslide

British Army

Field Marshal is an Honorary, posthumous, war time or ceremonial rank
The Royal Marines rank alongside their army equivalents.

Most Warrant Officers have an appointment, and they are usually referred to by their appointment rather than by their rank.
- Appointments held by WO1s include: Academy Sergeant Major (AcSM), Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) and Garrison Sergeant Major (GSM)
- Appointments held by WO2s include: Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS), Company Sergeant Major (CSM) and Band Sergeant Major (BSM)
Depending on the Regiment, alternatives to Private are Air Trooper (ATpr), Gunner (Gnr), Highlander (Hdr), Ranger (Rgr), Sapper (Spr), Trooper (Tpr), Craftsman (Cfn), Guardsman (Gdn), Kingsman (Kgn), Rifleman (Rfn), Signaller (Sig), Fusilier (Fus), Musician (Mus (where appropriate: Drummer (Dmr), Trumpeter (Tptr), Bugler, or Piper (Ppr)))

Royal Air Force

Marshal of the Royal Air Force is an Honorary, posthumous, war time or ceremonial rank
Aircrew ranks are equivalent to their non-aircrew counterparts (e.g - MACr = WO and visa versa)
Lance Corporal is used by the RAF Regiment only - it was introduced in 2010
Promotion to the rank of Junior Technician ceased in 2005, only to be replaced by Senior Aircraftman (Technician) a short time later.

Information obtained from Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force
Rank illustrations from Wikipedia: Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Other Ranks
© Air Cadet 101 - Harry Briggs