Australian Defence Force Cadets

The Australian Defence Force Cadets (ADFC) (also known as the Australian Service Cadet Scheme until 2001) consists of three Australian Defence Force affiliated, community-based, youth development organisations of approximately 30,000 cadets and 4,405 staff members in 579 units across Australia.^[1] Coordination of the Australian Defence Force Cadets is via the ADF HQ unit called Reserve and Youth Division, with Commander ADF Cadets - directly accountable to VCDF. The ADFC is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Defence, in partnership with the community.

Australian Defence Force Cadets
The Badge of the ADFC
Active	1976 – present
Role	Youth development organisation
Headquarters	Russell Offices
Commanders
Head Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Divisions	Rear Admiral Brett Wolski, AM, RAN
Australian Defence Force Cadets Patron	General Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, CVO, MC

The Australian Defence Force Cadets have been a large part of the Australian community since the 19th century. After the cadets were re-raised in 1976 the three cadet services were grouped together as the Australian Services Cadet Scheme, beforehand the three organisations were run under the directions of single service policy, in 2001 the name was changed to the Australian Defence Force Cadets as recommended by a review. While the Australian Defence Force Cadets is sponsored by ADF (Australian Defence Force) and runs under a similar rank structure, uniform and training activities, the ADFC is not an official branch of the Defence Force and runs in accordance with the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict which Australia has signed.

The ADFC encompasses three organizations:

• Australian Navy Cadets (ANC)
• Australian Army Cadets (AAC)
• Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC)

Cadet units are referred to differently depending on the parent service. Air Force Cadet units are referred to as Squadrons, Navy Cadet units are referred to as Training Ships and Army Cadet units are referred to as Army Cadet Units.

ADFC Ranks

Officer of Cadets (OOC) ranks

Australian Navy Cadets (ANC)
Insignia
Rank	Captain ANC	Commander ANC	Lieutenant Commander ANC	Lieutenant ANC	Sub Lieutenant ANC	Midshipman ANC
Abbreviation	CAPT, ANC	CMDR, ANC	LCDR, ANC	LEUT, ANC	SBLT, ANC	MIDN, ANC
Australian Army Cadets (AAC)
Insignia
Rank	Colonel AAC	Lieutenant Colonel AAC	Major AAC	Captain AAC	Lieutenant AAC	Second Lieutenant AAC
Abbreviation	COL (AAC)	LTCOL (AAC)	MAJ (AAC)	CAPT (AAC)	LT (AAC)	2LT (AAC)
Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC)
Insignia
Rank	Group Captain (AAFC)	Wing Commander (AAFC)	Squadron Leader (AAFC)	Flight Lieutenant (AAFC)	Flying Officer (AAFC)	Pilot Officer (AAFC)
Abbreviation	GPCAPT(AAFC)	WGCDR(AAFC)	SQNLDR(AAFC)	FLTLT(AAFC)	FLGOFF(AAFC)	PLTOFF(AAFC)

Instructor of Cadets (IOC) ranks

Australian Navy Cadets (ANC)
Insignia
Rank	Warrant Officer ANC (Inactive rank)	Chief Petty Officer ANC (Inactive rank)		Petty Officer ANC (Inactive rank)	Leading Seaman ANC (Inactive rank)		Able Seaman ANC (Inactive rank)	Provisional Instructor ANC (Inactive rank)
Abbreviation	WOANC	CPOANC		POANC	LSANC		ABANC	PIANC
Australian Army Cadets (AAC)
Insignia
Rank	Warrant Officer Class One AAC (No longer in use as of 2020)	Warrant Officer Class Two AAC (No longer in use as of 2020)	Staff Sergeant AAC (Phased out as of 2019)	Sergeant AAC (No longer in use as of 2020)	Corporal AAC (No longer in use as of 2020)	Lance Corporal AAC (No longer in use as of 2020)		Trainee Officer of Cadets (As of 2022, only used by some battalions)[citation needed]
Abbreviation	WO1 (AAC)	WO2 (AAC)	SSGT (AAC)	SGT (AAC)	CPL (AAC)	LCPL (AAC)		TOOC
Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC)
Insignia
Rank	Warrant Officer (AAFC)	Flight Sergeant (AAFC)		Sergeant (AAFC)	Corporal (AAFC)		Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman (AAFC)	Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (AAFC)
Abbreviation	WOFF(AAFC)	FSGT(AAFC)		SGT(AAFC)	CPL(AAFC)		LAC/W(AAFC)	AC/W(AAFC)

Cadets ranks

ADFC Cadets	CDT 9 (Special Grade)		CDT 8	CDT 7		CDT 6		CDT 5	CDT 4	CDT 3	CDT 2	CDT 1	CDT (R)
Australian Navy Cadets[2][failed verification] v t e	No equivalent									No equivalent			No Insignia
				Cadet Warrant Officer		Cadet Chief Petty Officer		Cadet Petty Officer	Cadet Leading Seaman		Cadet Able Seaman	Cadet Seaman	Cadet Recruit
				CDTWO		CDTCPO		CDTPO	CDTLS		CDTAB	CDTSMN	CDTRCT
ADFC Cadets	CDT 9 (Special Grade)		CDT 8	CDT 7		CDT 6		CDT 5	CDT 4	CDT 3	CDT 2	CDT 1	CDT (R)
Australian Army Cadets[2][failed verification] v t e											No equivalent
	National Cadet Under Officer	Regional Cadet Under Officer	Cadet Under Officer	Cadet Warrant Officer[a]	Cadet Warrant Officer Class One	Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two		Cadet Sergeant	Cadet Corporal	Cadet Lance Corporal		Cadet	Cadet Recruit
	NATCUO	RCUO	CUO	CDTWO	CDTWO1	CDTWO2		CDTSGT	CDTCPL	CDTLCPL		CDT	CDTREC
ADFC Cadets	CDT 9 (Special Grade)		CDT 8	CDT 7		CDT 6		CDT 5	CDT 4	CDT 3	CDT 2	CDT 1	CDT (R)
Australian Air Force Cadets[2][failed verification] v t e	No equivalent									No equivalent			No insignia
			Cadet Under Officer	Cadet Warrant Officer		Cadet Flight Sergeant		Cadet Sergeant	Cadet Corporal		Leading Cadet	Cadet	Cadet Recruit
			CUO	CWOFF		CFSGT		CSGT	CCPL		LCDT	CDT	CDTRCT

See also

• Cadets (youth program)
• National Cadet Advisory Council
• Ranks of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
• Cadet grades and insignia of the Civil Air Patrol
• Ranks of the cadet forces of the United Kingdom
• Cadets Canada elemental ranks
• New Zealand Cadet Forces ranks

Notes

1. Insignia of Cadet Warrant Officer in the role of National Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major