Australian Defence Force Cadets
The Australian Defence Force Cadets (ADFC) (Known as the Australian Service Cadet Scheme until 2001) consists of three Australian Defence Force affiliated community-based, youth development organisations of approximately 22,000 cadets and 2,200 cadet staff in 464 units and squadrons across Australia. 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 | Volunteer Youth Organisation |
| Headquarters | ADF Cadets |
| Commanders | |
| Head Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Divisions | Rear Admiral Brett Wolski |
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.
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. The ADFC encompasses three organizations:
- Australian Navy Cadets (ANC)
- Australian Army Cadets (AAC)
- Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC)
ADFC Ranks
Officer of Cadets (OOC) ranks
| Australian Navy Cadets (ANC) | ||||||
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| Rank | Captain ANC |
Commander ANC |
Lieutenant Commander ANC |
Lieutenant ANC |
Sub Lieutenant ANC |
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| Abbreviation | CAPT, ANC |
CMDR, ANC |
LCDR, ANC |
LEUT, ANC |
SBLT, ANC |
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| Australian Army Cadets (AAC) | ||||||
| Insignia |  |
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| 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 |  |
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| 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 |  |
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| Rank | Warrant Officer ANC (Inactive rank) |
Chief Petty Officer ANC | Petty Officer ANC | Leading Seaman ANC (Inactive rank) |
Able Seaman ANC (Inactive rank) |
Provisional Instructor ANC | ||
| 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 | |
| Abbreviation | WO1 (AAC) |
WO2 (AAC) |
SSGT (AAC) |
SGT (AAC) |
CPL (AAC) |
LCPL (AAC) |
TOOC | |
| Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) | ||||||||
| Insignia |  |
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| 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) | |||
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Australian Navy Cadets |
No equivalent |  |
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No equivalent | |
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No Insignia | |||
| Midshipman ANC (Inactive rank) |
Cadet Warrant Officer (Inactive rank) |
Cadet Chief Petty Officer | Cadet Petty Officer | Cadet Leading Seaman | Cadet Able Seaman | Cadet Seaman | Cadet Recruit | ||||||
| MIDN, ANC | 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 |
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No equivalent | No insignia | |
| National Cadet Under Officer | Regional Cadet Under Officer | Cadet Under Officer | National Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major | Cadet Warrant Officer Class One | Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two | Cadet Staff Sergeant (Phased out as of mid 2020) |
Cadet Sergeant | Cadet Corporal | Cadet Lance Corporal (formerly Cadet First Class) |
Cadet | Cadet Recruit | ||
| NATCUO | RCUO | CUO | NATCDTRSM | CDTWO1 | CDTWO2 | CDTSSGT | 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 |
No equivalent |  |
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No equivalent |  |
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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 | ||||||
