Ranks in the French Air and Space Force

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 aérien 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

NATO
rank
Rank insignia Name Notes
Shoulder Sleeve French English translation
OF-5 Colonel Colonel
OF-4 Lieutenant-colonel Lieutenant colonel
OF-3 Commandant Commandant Is equivalent to a major in most English-speaking countries.

Officiers subalternes - junior officers

NATO
rank
Rank insignia Name Notes
Shoulder Camouflage French English translation
OF-2 Capitaine Captain
OF-1 Lieutenant Lieutenant
Sous-lieutenant Sub-lieutenant
Aspirant Aspirant An Officer Designate rank. 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). They can afterwards be commissioned as a sous-lieutenant.
Élève 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 de l'air (EA)
    (officer candidate, air force academy)
  • Aspirant élève de l'École militaire de l'air (EMA) (officer candidate, military flight school)
    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)
    Élève officier de l'École de l'air (EA)
    (officer cadet, air force academy)
  • Élève officier du personnel navigant (EOPN) (navigation officer cadet)
    Élève officier du personnel navigant (EOPN)
    (navigation officer cadet)

Sous-officiers - sub-officers, i.e. non-commissioned officers

NATO
rank
Rank insignia Name Notes
Shoulder French English translation
OR-9 Major 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 Chief Warrant Officer; often same responsibilities as the lieutenant.
OR-8 Adjudant Adjutant Warrant Officer; often same responsibilities as an adjudant-chef.
OR-6 Sergent-Chef Chief sergeant Addressed as "chef". Typically a platoon second-in-command (equivalent to a Commonwealth sergeant or a US sergeant first class).
OR-5 Sergent Sergeant Typically in command of a "group" (i.e. squad; equivalent to a commonwealth corporal or US staff sergeant)
Élève sous-officier NCO student 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

NATO
rank
Rank insignia Name Notes
Shoulder French English translation
OR-4 Caporal-chef Chief corporal Often same responsibilities as a sergent.
OR-3 Caporal Corporal In command of an équipe - literally a team (fireteam). Presently this size unit is a trinôme in the army.
OR-2 Aviateur de première classe Aviator first class
OR-1 Aviateur de deuxième classe Aviator second class

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

See also

References

  • Official website
  • Uniforminsignia.org (French Air Force)
  • v
  • t
  • e
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