Devon & Somerset Wing

ATC Ranks & Insignia (Staff)

If you ever see a member of the Royal Air Force or Air Training Corps, you may like to know what rank they hold. Here are a few of those you are more likely to see. The Air Training Corps differs from the RAF only in that the rank insignia has the letters 'VRT' or 'ATC' on them.

Ranks - Commissioned

Wing Commander Wing Commander
A Wing Commander in the RAF usually commands a Wing such as Engineering, Operations, Administration etc. In the ATC, he/she will command a Wing such as Devon & Somerset, and all the Squadrons the Wing contains. Squadron Leader Squadron Leader
A Squadron Leader usually commands a Squadron in the RAF, and is second-in-line to the Wing Commander. In the ATC, he/she will invariably have more administrative duties, for example Wing Staff Officer.

Flight Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant
An RAF Flight Lieutenant is one of the most common ranks amongst commissioned officers. They can be found performing a number of functions within a station organisation. An ATC officer of this rank may be a Squadron Commander, or have a specialist role in the Wing. Flying Officer Flying Officer
An RAF Flying Officer is comparatively new to the service, and is awaiting promotion to Flight Lieutenant. An ATC officer of this rank is more common, and is often the rank of a Flight Commander or Adjutant.

Pilot Officer Pilot Officer
Pilot Officers are relatively new to the service and this is the rank that they usually attain upon completion of basic training. This is the most junior of both the RAF and ATC commissioned officers.

Ranks - Non-Commissioned

Warrant Officer Warrant Officer
A Warrant Officer in the both the RAF and the ATC is the most senior Non-Commissioned Officer. Many ATC Adult Warrant Officers are themselves ex-military. Warrant Officer
Occasionally you may see an ATC Warrant Officer wearing this badge. This means that he is a former Warrant Officer in the RAF before joining the ATC.

Flight Sergeant Flight Sergeant
A recent development with the ATC was the introduction of the Flight Sergeant and Sergeant rank for Adult Staff. Previously, Adult Staff who did not wish to be commissioned were only offered the rank of Warrant Officer. Sergeant
In future, Adult staff who are not commissioned, but wish to go 'into uniform' are offered the rank of Sergeant, and, like the RAF, may be later promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant and eventually Warrant Officer.

Civilian Instructors
Alongside the uniformed staff are Civilian Instructors (or CI's) who assist in the running of the Flight or Squadron. They are normally dressed in civilian clothes and sometimes wear a gold-coloured ATC lapel badge with the initials 'CI' enclosed.

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	Wing Commander A Wing Commander in the RAF usually commands a Wing such as Engineering, Operations, Administration etc. In the ATC, he/she will command a Wing such as Devon & Somerset, and all the Squadrons the Wing contains.		Squadron Leader A Squadron Leader usually commands a Squadron in the RAF, and is second-in-line to the Wing Commander. In the ATC, he/she will invariably have more administrative duties, for example Wing Staff Officer.
	Flight Lieutenant An RAF Flight Lieutenant is one of the most common ranks amongst commissioned officers. They can be found performing a number of functions within a station organisation. An ATC officer of this rank may be a Squadron Commander, or have a specialist role in the Wing.		Flying Officer An RAF Flying Officer is comparatively new to the service, and is awaiting promotion to Flight Lieutenant. An ATC officer of this rank is more common, and is often the rank of a Flight Commander or Adjutant.
	Pilot Officer Pilot Officers are relatively new to the service and this is the rank that they usually attain upon completion of basic training. This is the most junior of both the RAF and ATC commissioned officers.

	Warrant Officer A Warrant Officer in the both the RAF and the ATC is the most senior Non-Commissioned Officer. Many ATC Adult Warrant Officers are themselves ex-military.		Warrant Officer Occasionally you may see an ATC Warrant Officer wearing this badge. This means that he is a former Warrant Officer in the RAF before joining the ATC.
	Flight Sergeant A recent development with the ATC was the introduction of the Flight Sergeant and Sergeant rank for Adult Staff. Previously, Adult Staff who did not wish to be commissioned were only offered the rank of Warrant Officer.		Sergeant In future, Adult staff who are not commissioned, but wish to go 'into uniform' are offered the rank of Sergeant, and, like the RAF, may be later promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant and eventually Warrant Officer.