Jan 212023
A Guide to Military Rank Equivalents – Australian Government

The Australian Government has a number of military ranks and these are used across the military forces that it supports. The following table shows some equivalencies between the different ranks used by this government.

Military rank (or rank) is a system of listing the seniority and command (degree of decision-making responsibility) within military organizations. The following are rank equivalents in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) three service branches: Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Commissioned Officers

AIR FORCE (RAAF)ARMYNavy (RAN)
 Marshal of the RAAFMRAAFField MarshalFMAdmiral of the FleetAF
 Air Chief MarshalACMGeneralGENAdmiralADML
 Air MarshalAIRMSHLLieutenant GeneralLTGENVice AdmiralVADM
 Air Vice-MarshalAVMMajor GeneralMAJGENRear AdmiralRADM
 Air CommodoreAIRCDREBrigadierBRIGCommodoreCDRE
 Group CaptainGPCAPTColonelCOLCaptainCAPT
 Wing CommanderWGCDRLieutenant ColonelLTCOLCommanderCMDR
 Squadron LeaderSQNLDRMajorMAJLieutenant CommanderLCDR
 Flight LieutenantFLTLTCaptainCAPTLieutenantLEUT
 Flying OfficerFLGOFFLieutenantLTSub LieutenantSBLT
 Pilot OfficerPLTOFF2nd Lieutenant2LT 
  MidshipmanMIDN

Note: Lieutenant is pronounced “Left-tenant”

Warrant Officers

AIR FORCE (RAAF)ARMYNAVY (RAN)
 Warrant OfficerWOFFWarrant Officer Class OneWO1Warrant OfficerWO
see note Warrant Officer Class TwoWO2see note 

NOTE: The Army rank of Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) is equivalent to both
the RAN rank of Chief Petty Officer (CPO) and the RAAF rank of Flight Sergeant (FSGT).

Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs)

AIR FORCE (RAAF)ARMYNAVY (RAN)
 Flight SergeantFSGTsee note Chief Petty OfficerCPO
 Staff SergeantSSGT 
 SergeantSGTSergeantSGTPetty OfficerPO
 CorporalCPLCorporal
Bombardier
CPL
LBDR
Leading SeamanLS
 Lance Corporal
Lance Bombardier
LCPL
LBDR
 

Other Ranks

AIR FORCE (RAAF)ARMYNAVY (RAN)
 Leading Aircraftman
 Leading Aircraftwoman
LAC
LAC W
Able SeamanAB
 Aircraftman
 Aircraftwoman
AC
AC W
Private PTE
Bandsman 
Craftsman CFN
Gunner GNR
Sapper SPR
Signaller SIG
Trooper TPR
SeamanSMN

Other Information

An enlistee in the RAAF is referred to as an Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman Recruit (ACR / ACWR) and remains as such until graduation from basic training (1RTU). On completion of basic training, the graduate is reclassified to the rank of Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (AC/ACW).

The term “Australian Defence Force” is singular and is the only correct term that should be used. “Australian Defence Forces” with an “s” is wrong. The following terms are also wrong and should not be used: “armed services” and “armed forces”.

“Australian Army” is the correct title that should be used, NOT the “Royal Australian Army”.

More Information


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