Summary
The cadet rank at the United States Air Force Academy is determined by two factors: class year and job. First year, or fourth-class, cadets (C4C) have only one rank; but as they progress through the Academy, their roles, responsibilities, and ranks increase, culminating in their senior year, where roles as an Assistant Shop Lead garner the rank of cadet first lieutenant (C/1Lt), while roles such as the Cadet Wing Commander (AFCW/CC), Cadet Vice Wing Commander (AFCW/CV), or Cadet Wing Director of Operations (AFCW/DO) are accorded the highest rank of cadet colonel.
Cadet Rank Insignia
edit| Cadet Fourth Class - C4C (Freshman) | Cadet Third Class - C3C (Sophomore) | ||
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| Cadet 4th Class | Cadet Airman | Cadet 3rd Class | Cadet Staff Sergeant |
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| Cadet Second Class - C2C (Junior) | |||||||
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| Cadet 2nd Class | Cadet Technical Sergeant | Cadet Master Sergeant | Cadet Senior Master Sergeant | Cadet Chief Master Sergeant | |||
| Unranked | Group/Squadron Staff | Master Sergeant | Squadron First Sergeant | Senior Master Sergeant | Squadron Superintendent | Group Superintendent | Wing Command Chief |
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| Cadet First Class - C1C (Senior) | ||||
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| Cadet 1st Class | Cadet
2nd Lieutenant |
Cadet
1st Lieutenant |
Cadet Captain | |
| Unranked | Squadron Staff | Squadron Staff | Flight Commander | |
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| Cadet Major | Cadet
Lieutenant Colonel |
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| Group Staff | Wing Staff | Squadron Commander | ||
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| Cadet Colonel | ||||
| Wing Directors | Group
Commander |
Vice Wing Commander | Wing Commander | |
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Former cadet ranks
edit| Cadet Third Class - C3C (Sophomore) |
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| Cadet Staff Sergeant Chief Clerk |
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Cadet Squadron Insignia
editCurrent Cadet Squadrons
edit| First Cadet Group | |||||||||
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| Cadet Sq. 1 | Cadet Sq. 2 | Cadet Sq. 3 | Cadet Sq. 4 | Cadet Sq. 5 | Cadet Sq. 6 | Cadet Sq. 7 | Cadet Sq. 8 | Cadet Sq. 9 | Cadet Sq. 10 |
| Mighty Mach One | Deuce | Dogs of War | Fightin' Fourth | Wolfpack | Bull Six | Shadow Seven | Eagle Eight | Viking Nine | Tiger Ten |
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| Second Cadet Group | |||||||||
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| Cadet Sq. 11 | Cadet Sq. 12 | Cadet Sq. 13 | Cadet Sq. 14 | Cadet Sq. 15 | Cadet Sq. 16 | Cadet Sq. 17 | Cadet Sq. 18 | Cadet Sq. 19 | Cadet Sq. 20 |
| Rebeleven | Dirty Dozen | Bulldawgs | Cobras | War Eagles | Chicken Hawks | Stalag 17 | Nightriders | Wolverines | Trolls |
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| Third Cadet Group | |||||||||
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| Cadet Sq. 21 | Cadet Sq. 22 | Cadet Sq. 23 | Cadet Sq. 24 | Cadet Sq. 25 | Cadet Sq. 26 | Cadet Sq. 27 | Cadet Sq. 28 | Cadet Sq. 29 | Cadet Sq. 30 |
| Blackjack | Raptors | Barnstormers | Phantoms | Redeye | Barons | Thunderbirds | Blackbirds | Black Panthers | Knights |
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| Fourth Cadet Group | |||||||||
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| Cadet Sq. 31 | Cadet Sq. 32 | Cadet Sq. 33 | Cadet Sq. 34 | Cadet Sq. 35 | Cadet Sq. 36 | Cadet Sq. 37 | Cadet Sq. 38 | Cadet Sq. 39 | Cadet Sq. 40 |
| Grim Reapers | Roadrunners | King Ratz (Cellar Ratz) | Loose Hawgs | Wild Weasels | Pink Panthers | Skyraiders | All-stars | Jedi Knights | Warhawks |
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Defunct Cadet Squadron Insignia
edit| Defunct Squadron Insignia | ||||||||||
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| Cadet Sq. 2 | Cadet Sq. 3 | Cadet Sq. 5 | Cadet Sq. 8 | Cadet Sq. 9 | ||||||
| Deuce | Big 3 (Thirsty Third) | Wolfpack | Evil Eight | Viking Nine | Star Trek | |||||
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| Defunct Squadron Insignia (cont) | ||||||||||
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| Cadet Sq. 14 | Cadet Sq. 17 | Cadet Sq. 19 | Cadet Sq. 20 | Cadet Sq. 23 | Cadet Sq. 28 | |||||
| Cobras | Stalag 17 | Playboy 19 | Starship | Trolls | Barnstormers | Blackbirds | ||||
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| Defunct Squadron Insignia (cont) | ||||||||||
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| Cadet Sq. 31 | Cadet Sq. 34 | Cadet Sq. 35 | Cadet Sq. 37 | Cadet Sq. 38 | Cadet Sq. 39 | Cadet Sq. 40 | ||||
| Grim Reapers | Thunderbolts/Razorbacks (Loose Hawgs) | Wild Weasels | Skyraiders | Bandits | Campus Rads | Ali Baba | Warhawks | |||
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Miscellaneous Insignia
editMerit lists
editCadet merit list insignia are worn by those cadets who excel militarily (Commandant's List), academically (Dean's List), or athletically (Athletic Director's List). Cadets who earn a place on all three lists are awarded the insignia for the Superintendent's List.
| Cadet Merit List Insignia | ||||||
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| Commandant's List | Dean's List | Athletic Director's List | Commandant's & Dean's Lists | Commandant's & Athletic Director's Lists | Dean's & Athletic Director's Lists | Superintendent's List |
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Aviation
editCadet aviation insignia are worn by cadets who achieve certain milestones in their flight training.
| Cadet Aviation Insignia | |||
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| Unmanned Aerial Systems | Soaring/Powered Flight - Solo | Command Soaring Instructor Pilot | Cadet Aviation Instructor |
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Other qualifications
editWhile at the Air Force Academy, cadets may earn other insignia including: parachute wings, for completion of either freefall parachute training at the Academy or the U.S. Army's Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia; the Air Assault Badge for completion of the U.S. Army's Air Assault program at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; or the Bulldog badge for the completion of the U.S. Marine Corps' "Bulldog" program[note 1] at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
| Other Cadet Insignia | ||
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| Parachute (jump) Wings | Air Assault Badge | Bulldog Badge |
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See also
editNotes
edit- ^ A program to commission USAF Academy cadets into the Marine Corps after they graduate.
References
edit- Squadron Insignia of the United States Air Force Academy, P. Michael Sheridan, 1990. (ISBN 0-9627388-0-8)
- "Cadet Insignia/Badges". Contrails 1999-2000. Vol. 45. Air Force Academy, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1999. pp. 279–283. LCCN 80640513.
- Contrails, various years.
- U.S. Air Force Academy, The Core of Cadet Life: Squadrons, https://www.usafa.edu/military/squadrons/ Retrieved 2021-09-08.