Ranks in the French Air Force

Rank insignia in the French air 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

• général d'armée aérienne ("Air army general"); in command of an air force.
• général de corps aérien ("Air corps general", i.e. Lieutenant general); in command of an air force corps.
• Général de division aérienne ("Air divisional general", i.e. Major general); in command of a division.
• Général de brigade aérienne ("Air brigade general", i.e. Brigadier 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.
  • 

Student

• 
  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).

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

Officers

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
France (Edit)	No equivalent
			Général d´armée aérienne		Général de corps aérien		Général de division aérienne		Général de brigade aérienne		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant			Aspirant						Élève-officier
Equivalent NATO Code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
Burkina Faso (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			Général d'armée		Général de corps		Général de division		Général de brigade		Colonel Major	Colonel	Lieutenant-Colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant
Cambodia (Edit)	No equivalent		General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Sub Lieutenant			No equivalent
			General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		1st Lieutenant			2nd Lieutenant
Cameroon (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			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 Republic (Edit)	No equivalent																								Unknown
							Général de division		Général de brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant
Chad (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
							Général de division aérienne		Général de brigade aérienne		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant
Republic of the Congo (Edit)	No equivalent
					Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		First Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant			Officer Cadet
Djibouti (Edit)	No equivalent																								Unknown
									Général de brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant
Gabon (Edit)	No equivalent																								Unknown
			Général d´armée		Général de corps d´armée		Général de division		Général de brigade		Colonel Major	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel Major	Lieutenant Colonel	Commandant Major	Commandant	Capitaine Major	Capitaine	Lieutenant Major		Lieutenant		Sous-lieutenant
Guinea (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		First Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant
Ivory Coast (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			Général d'armée		Général de corps d'armée		Général de division		Général de brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant
Madagascar (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			Général d'armée		Général de corps d'armée		Général de division		Général de brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant
Mali (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
							Général de division		Général de brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant
Mauritania (Edit)	No equivalent																								Unknown
							Général de division لواء		Général de brigade عميد		Colonel عقيد		Lieutenant-Colonel مقدم		Commandant رائد		Capitaine نقيب		Lieutenant ملازم أول			Sous-Lieutenant ملازم
Morocco (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			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 (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
											Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		First Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant
Senegal (Edit)	No equivalent																								Unknown
							Général de division		Général de brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant
Togo (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
											Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		First Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant
Tunisia (Edit)	No equivalent																								Unknown
					Army corps general		Major general		Brigadier General		Major Colonel	Colonel	Lieutenant-Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant
Equivalent NATO Code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer

Enlisted

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
France (Edit)									No equivalent
	Major			Adjudant-chef			Adjudant				Sergent-chef						Sergent						Caporal-chef				Caporal		Aviateur 1^e classe						Aviateur 2^e classe
Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Burkina Faso (Edit)									No equivalent														No equivalent												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		Private First Class Soldat Première						Private Soldat
Cambodia (Edit)
	Chief Warrant Officer			Warrant Officer			Command Sergeant Major		Master Sergeant		Staff Sergeant						Chief Corporal						Corporal				Airman 1st Class		Airman 2nd Class						Airman
Cameroon (Edit)									No equivalent																										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 Republic (Edit)																																			No insignia
	Chief Warrant Officer Adjudant-chef						Warrant Officer Adjudant		Sergeant Major Sergent-major		Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef						Career Sergeant Sergent			Sergeant Sergent			Corporal Caporal-chef				Lance Corporal Caporal		Private First Class Soldat Première						Private Soldat
Chad (Edit)	No equivalent																						No equivalent												No insignia
									Sergeant Major Sergent-major		Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef						Sergeant Sergent										Lance Corporal Caporal		Private First Class Soldat Première						Private Soldat
Republic of the Congo (Edit)									No equivalent																										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 (Edit)									No equivalent
	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
Gabon (Edit)									No equivalent
	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 (Edit)									No equivalent
	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 Soldad Première						Private Soldad
Madagascar (Edit)																																			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
Mali (Edit)	No equivalent																																		No insignia
											Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef						Sergeant Sergent						Corporal Caporal-chef				Lance Corporal Caporal		Private First Class Soldat Première						Private Soldat
Mauritania (Edit)									No equivalent														No equivalent						No equivalent
	Warrant Officer Class 1 Adjudant-chef						Warrant Officer Class 2 Adjudant				Staff Sergeant Sergent-chef						Sergeant Sergent										Lance Corporal Caporal								Private Soldat 2^e classe
Morocco (Edit)																																			No insignia
	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
Niger (Edit)									No equivalent
	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
Senegal (Edit)									No equivalent																										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
Togo (Edit)									No equivalent																										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
Tunisia (Edit)									No equivalent
	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
Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

See also

• French Air Force

References

• Official website
• Uniforminsignia.org (French Air Force)