Rank insignia in the French Air and Space Force are worn on the sleeve or on shoulder marks of uniforms
Officers
Although they all wear the same insignia and titles, officers are divided into:
- Regular officers of the air force
- Officers of the Armed Forces Commisariat Corps
- Officers of the technical and administrative corps of the armed forces
Généraux - general officers
NATO rank | Rank insignia | Name | Description | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shoulder | Sleeve | French | English translation | ||
OF-9 | Général d'armée aérienne | Army air general | In command of an air force. | ||
OF-8 | Général de corps aérienne | Air corps general | In command of an air force corps. | ||
OF-7 | Général de division aérienne | Divisional air general | In command of a division. | ||
OF-6 | Général de brigade aérienne | Air brigade general | In command of a brigade, or of a région in the Gendarmerie. |
Officiers supérieurs - senior officers
Colonel
The word colonel originates in the medieval term capitaine colonel, "the head (officer) of a column" (=regiment). Lieutenant-colonel is the one who can "hold the place" of a colonel in his absence (lieu-tenant, from tenir lieu which means to hold the place). The word chef or "chief" in English comes from the Latin word caput meaning "head".
Lieutenant-colonel
The lieutenant-colonel has the same responsibilities as a colonel. They were called major during the First French Empire.
Commandant
Commandant is equivalent to a major in most English-speaking countries.
Officiers subalternes - junior officers
Capitaine
A capitaine is in command of a company (compagnie).
Lieutenant
A lieutenant (lieutenant or first lieutenant) commands a platoon (section).
Sous-lieutenant
A Sous-lieutenant (sub-lieutenant or second lieutenant) commands at the same level as a lieutenant, but is a more junior officer rank.
Aspirant
- Aspirant An Officer Designate rank, it is used in the Armée de Terre (Army), the Armée de l'Air (Air Force), the Marine Nationale (Navy) and the Gendarmerie Nationale. Technically it is not a commissioned rank but it is still treated in all respects as one. Aspirants are either officers in training in military academies or voluntaries, serving as temporary officers. The aspirant must have been previously élève officier (Officer Cadet). S/He can afterwards be commissioned as a sous-lieutenant or enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe. The insignia is a single curl of gold lace, disrupted by "flashes" of wool. It was widely used during both World Wars for providing young educated people with an officer's authority.
- Eleve officier ("officer cadet"); a rank held during the first years at the officer academies.
aspirant élève de l'École de l'air (EA)
(officer candidate, air force academy)aspirant élève de l'École militaire de l'air (EMA)
(officer candidate, military flight school)élève officier de l'École de l'air (EA)
(officer cadet, air force academy)Elève officier du personnel navigant (EOPN)
(navigation officer cadet)
Sous-officiers - sub-officers, i.e. non-commissioned officers
- Major, the senior sub-officer rank, since 1 January 2009 this grade is attached to the sous-officiers. Prior to this date it was an independent corps between the sous-officiers and the officiers. There are relatively few majors in the army, about one per regiment or brigade. As they could hold equivalent administrative tasks as officiers they are more common in the Armée de l'Air.
Note the difference with many army rank systems of other countries where the term major is used for a rank above that of captain. For example, the rank of "major" in the US Army or British army is equivalent to the rank of "commandant" in the French army.
- Adjudant-chef: "Chief adjutant"; often same responsibilities as the lieutenant.
- adjudant-chef (infantry arms)
- Adjudant: Adjutant; often same responsibilities as an adjutant-chef.
- Sergent-chef (infantry), addressed as "chef". Typically a platoon second-in-command (equivalent to a Commonwealth sergeant or a US sergeant first class).
- Sergent-chef: Chief sergeant
- Sergent (infantry): Typically in command of a "group" (i.e. squad; equivalent to a commonwealth corporal or US staff sergeant)
- Sergent: Sergeant
- Élève sous-officier NCO candidates at the EOPN.
Etymologically the adjudant is the adjoint ("joint (assistant)") of an officer, and the sergeant "serves" (Latin: serviens = English: servant).
Aspirants are cadet officers still in training. Sous-lieutenants are junior officers and are often aided by adjudants or adjudants-chefs, who are experienced NCOs/warrant officers.
Full lieutenants are experienced junior officers, served by sergeants when commanding their unit.
A four chevron sergent-chef-major rank existed until 1947. It was a ceremonial rank usually given to the most senior or experienced NCO in a unit, similar to a colour sergeant in the British Army. It was discontinued in the post-war army due to its redundancy.
Militaires du rang - Troop ranks
- Caporal-chef: in command of an équipe (literally a team).
- Caporal: in command of an équipe.
- Aviateur de première classe.
- Aviateur de deuxième classe.
There are also distinctions to distinguish volunteers and conscripts, and bars for experience (one for five years, up to four can be obtained).
Military chaplains
Chief Military Chaplain | |
Deputy Chief Military Chaplain | |
Regional military chaplain | |
Military chaplain |
Other armies
As the following national air forces were trained by French Air Force personnel, these wear insignia similar to those used in this service:
- Air Force of Burkina Faso
- Royal Cambodian Air Force
- Cameroon Air Force
- Central African Air Force
- Chadian Air Force
- Air Force of the Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti Air Force
- Air Force of Gabon
- Guinean Air Force
- The Ivorian Air Force
- Air Force of Madagascar
- Air Force of Mali
- Royal Moroccan Air Force
- Peruvian Air Force
- Togolese Air Force
- Tunisian Air Force
Tables
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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
French Air and Space Force | No equivalent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Air army general Général d´armée aérienne | Air corps general Général de corps aérien | Air division general Général de division aérienne | Air brigade general Général de brigade aérienne | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Captain Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sub-Lieutenant Sous-Lieutenant | Aspirant | Officer cadet Élève-officier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | National rank | General/flag officers | Field/senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burkina Faso Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général d'armée | Général de corps | Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel Major | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Cambodian Air Force | No equivalent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | 1st lieutenant | 2nd lieutenant | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cameroon Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général d'armée aérienne | Général de corps aérien | Général de division aérienne | Général de brigade aérienne | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Central African Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chadian Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général de division aérienne | Général de brigade aérienne | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Congolese Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général de corps d'armée | Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Djibouti Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général de brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gabonese Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général d´armée | Général de corps d´armée | Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guinea Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ivory Coast Air Force[1] | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général d'armée | Général de corps d'armée | Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel-major | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant | Aspirant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Madagascar Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général d'armée | Général de corps d'armée | Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malian Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel-Major | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | Aspirant | Élève officier d'active | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mauritania Islamic Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général de division لواء | Général de brigade عميد | Colonel عقيد | Lieutenant-Colonel مقدم | Commandant رائد | Capitaine نقيب | Lieutenant ملازم أول | Sous-Lieutenant ملازم | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Moroccan Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général d'armée Aerienne | Général de corps Aerienne | Général de division Aerienne | Général de brigade Aerienne | Colonel Major | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Niger Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | First Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senegalese Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général de division | Général de brigade | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Togolese Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | First Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tunisian Air Force | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Général de corps d'armée فريق أول | Général de division فريق | Général de brigade أمير لواء | Colonel-major عميد | Colonel عقيد | Lieutenant-colonel مقدم | Commandant رائد | Capitaine نقيب | Lieutenant ملازم أول | Sous-lieutenant ملازم | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | National rank | General/flag officers | Field/senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet |
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
French Air and Space Force | No equivalent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major | Chief adjutant Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Chief sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Chief corporal Caporal-chef | Corporal Caporal | Aviator 1st Class Aviateur 1e classe | Aviator 2nd Class Aviateur 2e classe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burkina Faso Air Force | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Warrant Officer Adjudant-chef Major | Warrant Officer Class I Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class II Adjudant | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Lance Corporal Caporal | PrivateFirst Class Soldat Première | Private Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Cambodian Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer | Command Sergeant Major | Master Sergeant | Staff Sergeant | Chief Corporal | Corporal | Airman 1st Class | Airman 2nd Class | Airman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cameroon Air Force | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant | Flight sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | Leading aircraftman Soldat Première | Aircraftman Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Central African Air Force | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief WarrantOfficer Adjudant-chef | WarrantOfficer Adjudant | SergeantMajor Sergent-major | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Career Sergeant Sergent | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | PrivateFirst Class Soldat Première | Private Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chadian Air Force | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergent-major | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal | Soldat Première | Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Congolese Air Force | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | Private First Class Soldat de première classe | Private Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Djibouti Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | Private First Class Soldat Première | Private Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gabonese Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Warrant Officer Adjudant-chef Major | Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | Private First Class Soldat Première | Private Soldat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ivory Coast Air Force[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de première classe | Soldat de seconde classe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Madagascar Air Force | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Warrant Officer Adjudant-chef Major | Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant | Sergeant major Sergent Major | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | Private First Class Soldat Première | Private Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malian Air Force | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | Private First Class Soldat de première classe | Private Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mauritania Islamic Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Lance Corporal Caporal | Private Soldat 2e classe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Moroccan Air Force | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant | SergeantMajor Sergent-major | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | Private First Class Soldat Première | Private Soldat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Niger Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | Private First Class Soldat de première classe | Private Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senegalese Air Force | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de première classe | Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Togolese Air Force | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef | Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent de Carriere | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | Private First Class Soldat Première | Private Soldat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tunisian Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergeant Major Adjudant-chef Major | Master Sergeant Adjudant-chef | Sergeant 1st class Adjudant | Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef | Sergeant Sergent | Corporal Caporal-chef | Lance Corporal Caporal | Private First Class Soldat Première | Private Soldat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted |
See also
- French Air Force
References
- ^ a b "GRADES / APPELLATIONS / DISTINCTIONS". defense.gouv.ci (in French). Ministère de la Défense. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- Official website
- Uniforminsignia.org (French Air Force)