Canadian Armed Forces ranks and insignia

The Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces (French: Commandant en chef des Forces armées canadiennes) rank insignia is a special sleeve braid embellished with the crest of the Royal arms of Canada and this same embroidered crest is worn on the shoulder straps.[1]

The rank insignia for the Commander-in-Chief.

Commander-in-Chief
Royal Canadian Navy
Canadian Army
Royal Canadian Air Force

Army general gorget

Army colonel gorget

The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the navy, army, and air force.

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Royal Canadian Navy[2]
			Admiral		Vice-admiral		Rear-admiral		Commodore		Captain (N)		Commander		Lieutenant-commander		Lieutenant (N)		Sub-lieutenant			Acting sub-lieutenant			Naval cadet
			Amiral		Vice-amiral		Contre-amiral		Commodore		Capitaine de vaisseau		Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette		Lieutenant de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe			Aspirant de marine
Canadian Army[2]
			General		Lieutenant-general		Major-general		Brigadier-general		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet
			Général		Lieutenant-général		Major-général		Brigadier-général		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant			Élève-officier
Royal Canadian Air Force[2]
			General		Lieutenant-general		Major-general		Brigadier-general		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet
			Général		Lieutenant-général		Major-général		Brigadier-général		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant			Élève-officier
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer

The following are the rank insignia for non-commissioned members for the navy, army and air force respectively.

NCM rank insignia for the rank of petty officer 1st class/warrant officer and above are worn on the lower sleeve, while those for the rank of petty officer 2nd class/sergeant and below are worn on the upper sleeve. The Royal Canadian Navy has directed its personnel to use the English rank titles for OR-1 through OR-5, but they are not yet legally in force pursuant to the National Defence Act, as they are not yet updated in the King's Regulations and Orders issued by the Governor-in-Council.[3]

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Royal Canadian Navy[2]
	Chief petty officer 1st class						Chief petty officer 2nd class		Petty officer 1st class		Petty officer 2nd class												Master sailor				Sailor 1st class		Sailor 2nd class						Sailor 3rd class
	Premier maître de 1re classe						Premier maître de 2e classe		Maître de 1re classe		Maître de 2e classe												Matelot-chef				Matelot de 1re classe		Matelot de 2e classe						Matelot de 3e classe
Canadian Army[2]
	Chief warrant officer						Master warrant officer		Warrant officer		Sergeant												Master corporal				Corporal		Private (trained)						Private (basic)
	Adjudant-chef						Adjudant-maître		Adjudant		Sergent												Caporal-chef				Caporal		Soldat (formé)						Soldat (confirmé)
Royal Canadian Air Force[2]
	Chief warrant officer						Master warrant officer		Warrant officer		Sergeant												Master corporal				Corporal		Aviator (trained)						Aviator (basic)
	Adjudant-chef						Adjudant-maître		Adjudant		Sergent												Caporal-chef				Caporal		Aviateur (formé)						Aviateur (confirmé)
NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Appointments

The rank insignia for NCM appointments.

Rank group	Senior appointments			Appointments
Royal Canadian Navy[2]
	Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer	Command chief petty officer	Senior appointment Chief petty officer, 1st class	Drum major	Pipe major	Trumpet / Bugle major
	Adjudant-chef des Forces canadiennes	Premier maître de 1re classe du commandement	Premier maître de 1re classe	Tambour-major	Cornemuseur-major	Trompette / Clairon-major
Canadian Army[2]
	Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer	Command chief warrant officer	Senior Appointment Chief Warrant Officer	Drum major	Pipe major	Trumpet / Bugle major
	Adjudant-chef des Forces canadiennes	Adjudant-chef du commandement	Adjudant-chef-nomination supérieure	Tambour-major	Cornemuseur-major	Trompette / Clairon-major
Royal Canadian Air Force[2]
	Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer	Command chief warrant officer	Senior Appointment Chief Warrant Officer	Drum major	Pipe major	Trumpet / Bugle major
	Adjudant-chef des Forces canadiennes	Adjudant-chef du commandement	Adjudant-chef-nomination supérieure	Tambour-major	Cornemuseur-major	Trompette / Clairon-major
Rank group	Senior appointments			Appointments

The tables above describe the rank insignia worn on the service dress jacket. On DEU shirts, sweaters, and outerwear; and operational dress shirts and jackets, rank insignia are worn on slip-ons with the word "CANADA" or a regimental/branch title embroidered underneath. Flag/general officers' slip-ons include only the crown, crossed sabre and baton, and maple leaves worn on the shoulder straps; they do not include the braid worn on the sleeve. Army NCM slip-ons for DEU shirts, sweaters, and outerwear display only the word "CANADA" or a regimental/branch title, rank insignia being worn instead as enamelled metal pins on collar points or lapels.

From 1955 to 1968, Militia personnel were permitted to wear service insignia on the right jacket sleeve.[4][5] There were one to five silver chevrons on drab backing for every two years of service or a maple leaf in silver thread on a drab cloth circle to represent 10 years of service. Chevron points were worn either up or down; even official documents and photos were confused on the matter. Further awards after 10 years were believed covered by the Canadian Forces Decoration, which was awarded after 12 years and a clasp added for every 10 years afterwards.

Qualifying service could include prior active service in the active reserves of the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force or the regular or territorial forces of a fellow Commonwealth member nation. Service in Canadian Army reserve forces units (like the regular reserve, supplementary reserve and reserve militia) did not count. The awarding of Service Stripes ceased in 1968 after the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Every branch or corps of the Canadian Army uses a distinctive colour. Applicable only to officers, they are indicated by coloured borders of rank insignia on DEU shirt and sweater slip-ons and on mess dress.[6][7][8]

Branch	Colour	Image
Royal Canadian Armoured Corps	Yellow
Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Canadian Forces Military Police Public Affairs Royal Canadian Logistics Service	Red
Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers	Blue
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (RCIC) (except rifle regiments) Officers of the General List Cadet Instructors Cadre	Scarlet
Royal Canadian Medical Service	Dull cherry
Canadian Intelligence Corps	Forest green (silver rank)
Royal Canadian Dental Corps	Emerald green
Royal Canadian Chaplain Service	Purple
RCIC members of Les Voltigeurs de Québec	Black

When the Royal Canadian Navy was established in 1910, it kept with Royal Navy traditions and adopted sleeve braid with an executive curl for rank insignia. "Wavy" sleeve braid was adopted for the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) and rings of narrow interwoven gold lace for the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve (RCNR). Other variations in rank insignia included sky blue lace with a diamond shaped loop for officers of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, and warranted Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps officers, who had a small anchor in place of the executive curl.

Following the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy was reorganized with a single reserve component. In 1946, the distinctive wavy gold braid of the reserves gave way to the straight braided executive curl of the regular force until 1968. With the integration of the Canadian Forces the sea element was designated as Canadian Forces Maritime Command. Unembellished straight braid became the common rank insignia for officers of both the regular and reserve forces. The executive curl appeared only on navy mess dress.

On 5 March 2010, the Canadian House of Commons passed a motion (moved by Guy Lauzon[9]) recommending the executive curl be reinstated on the Canadian navy uniform. Subsequently, in recognition of the Canadian Naval centennial, Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, authorized the use of the executive curl for the Canadian Navy on 2 May 2010. The insignia became effective on 11 June 2010, on the occasion of the Pacific Canadian Naval International Fleet Review parade of nations in Victoria, B.C.[10][11]

More than 54 countries, including Canada and 18 other of the 22 Commonwealth navies, use the insignia. Most navies that do not use the executive curl insignia, such as the United States Navy and the French Navy, substitute a star or other national device above the top row of lace.

Timeline of changes (sleeves only)

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Royal Canadian Navy (1910–1968)
Maritime Command (1968–1985)
Maritime Command (1985–2010)
Royal Canadian Navy (Present)
Rank titles			Admiral		Vice-Admiral		Rear-Admiral		Commodore		Captain(N)		Commander		Lieutenant-Commander		Lieutenant(N)		Sub-Lieutenant			Acting Sub-Lieutenant			Naval cadet
			Amiral		Vice-amiral		Contre-amiral		Commodore		Capitaine de vaisseau		Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette		Lieutenant de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau de première classe			Enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe			Aspirant de marine
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Canadian Navy (1953–1968)																											Trade badge		No insignia						No insignia
	Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe						Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe		Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe		Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe												Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe				Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe		Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe						Recruit Recrue
Maritime Command (1968–1973)
Maritime Command (1973–1985)
Rank titles (1968–1985)	Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe						Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe		Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe		Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe												Master seaman Matelot-chef				Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe		Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe						Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe
Maritime Command (1985–2010)
	Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe						Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe		Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe		Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe												Master seaman Matelot-chef				Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe		Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe						Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe
Royal Canadian Navy (2011–present)
Rank titles (2011–2020)	Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe						Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe		Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe		Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe												Master seaman Matelot-chef				Leading seaman Matelot de 1re classe		Able seaman Matelot de 2e classe						Ordinary seaman Matelot de 3e classe
Rank titles (2020–present)	Chief petty officer 1st class Premier maître de 1re classe						Chief petty officer 2nd class Premier maître de 2e classe		Petty officer 1st class Maître de 1re classe		Petty officer 2nd class Maître de 2e classe												Master sailor Matelot-chef				Sailor 1st class Matelot de 1re classe		Sailor 2nd class Matelot de 2e classe						Sailor 3rd class Matelot de 3e classe
NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

In 2017 the Bath Star (above) was replaced by the Vimy Star.

Prior to unification in 1968, the Canadian Army used rank insignia identical to the British Army. When the universal CF green uniform was adopted at unification, Land Command, like the other services, used gold braid sleeve stripes as rank insignia. When distinctive environmental uniforms were adopted in the mid-1980s, the army retained the green uniform with gold stripes.

On 8 July 2013, Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay announced the intention to reintroduce a more traditional style Canadian Army officers' rank insignia.[12] Instead of the sleeve stripe rank insignia used since unification, officers would use the older St Edward's Crown and Star of the Order of the Bath insignia, commonly called "pips and crowns".[13] Gorget patches were also restored for officers of the rank of colonel or higher.[14] The new insignia for officers, instead of using the current British rank insignia for brigadier (used in the Canadian Army until 1968), had the pre-1920 brigadier-general insignia (crossed sabre and baton) instead.

On 2 April 2016, the Commander of the Canadian Army announced that general officers would revert to the unification-era rank insignia worn between 1968 and 2013. This rank insignia is based on the shoulder board rank insignia of Royal Canadian Navy flag officers. The rank insignia of general officers now consists of a crown, crossed sabre and baton, and a series of maple leaves on shoulder straps. Additionally, general officers wear one broad gold band on each of the lower sleeves of the service dress tunic.[15]

On the centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 9 April 2017, the Bath Star pip was replaced by the "Vimy Star". It depicts a maple leaf and is surrounded by the Latin motto vigilamus pro te ("we stand on guard for thee"). Commissioned officers of the household guard regiments (Governor General's Foot Guards, Canadian Grenadier Guards, and Governor General's Horse Guards), plus Army personnel stationed to the seasonal Ceremonial Guard, use the Guards Star in place of the Vimy Star on their shoulder boards.

Timeline of changes

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Canadian Militia (1902–1920) Canadian Expeditionary Force (1914–1920)
			General		Lieutenant-General		Major-General		Brigadier-General		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant			Officer Cadet
Canadian Militia (1921–1940) Canadian Army (1940–1953)
			General		Lieutenant-General		Major-General		Colonel commandant		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant			Officer Cadet
Canadian Army (1953–1968)[16]
			General		Lieutenant-general		Major-general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet
Mobile Command & Land Force Command (1968–2013)
Canadian Army (2013–2016)
Canadian Army (2016–2017)
Canadian Army (Present)
Rank titles			General		Lieutenant-General		Major-General		Brigadier-General		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant			Officer Cadet
			Général		Lieutenant-général		Major-général		Brigadier-général		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant			Élève-officier
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
(1920–1953)																													No insignia
	Warrant Officer Class I						Warrant Officer Class II		Staff/Colour Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)
Canadian Army (1953–1966)[16]																													No insignia
	Warrant Officer Class I/1						Warrant Officer Class II/2		Staff/Colour Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)
Canadian Army (1966–1968)																													No insignia
	Warrant Officer Class I/1						Warrant Officer Class II/2		Staff/Colour Sergeant		Sergeant						Master corporal						Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)
Land Force Command (1968–1973)
Land Force Command (1973–Present)
Rank titles (1968–present)	Chief warrant officer						Master warrant officer		Warrant officer		Sergeant												Master corporal				Corporal		Private						Private (basic)
	Adjudant-chef						Adjudant-maître		Adjudant		Sergent												Caporal-chef				Caporal		Soldat						Soldat (Confirmé)
NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Canadian Air Force ranks and insignia originally were taken from the Royal Air Force practice. Upon unification, the Air Command used identical ranks and insignia as the Land Command. When Air-specific blue DEUs were introduced, the gold rank insignia were retained.

In April 2015,[17] the Royal Canadian Air Force adopted new rank insignia reminiscent of the pre-unification RCAF system. The new officer rank insignia uses pearl-grey-on-black rank stripes instead of gold. Non-commissioned members (NCMs) rank insignia is pearl grey instead of gold. The colour gold found elsewhere on the uniform was also changed to pearl-grey. The air force rank of private, formerly indicated by one chevron, became aviator (Fr: aviateur), and is indicated by a horizontally-aligned two-bladed propeller. All other ranks titles remain as they were.[18]

Timeline of changes

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Royal Canadian Air Force (1924–1968)[16]
Rank titles (1924–1968)[19][20]			Air chief marshal		Air marshal		Air vice-marshal		Air commodore		Group captain		Wing commander		Squadron leader		Flight lieutenant		Flying officer			Pilot officer			Flight cadet/ officer cadet (post-1962)
			Maréchal en chef de l’Air		Maréchal de l’Air		Vice-maréchal de l’Air		Commodore de l’Air		Colonel d’aviation		Lieutenant-colonel d’aviation		Commandant d’aviation		Capitaine d’aviation		Lieutenant d’aviation			Sous-lieutenant d’aviation			Élève-officier
Air Command (1968–1984)
Air Command (1984–2014)
Royal Canadian Air Force (2014–present)[20]
Rank titles (1968–present)			General		Lieutenant-general		Major-general		Brigadier-general		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet
			Général		Lieutenant-général		Major-général		Brigadier-général		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant			Élève-officier
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Air Force (1948–1953)																																			No insignia
Air Force (1953–1968)[16]																																			No insignia
Rank titles (1948–1968)[19]	Warrant officer first class						Warrant officer second class		Flight sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal						Leading aircraftman/aircraftwoman						Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman first class	Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman second class
	Adjudant de 1re classe						Adjudant de 2e classe		Sergent de section		Sergent												Caporal						Aviateur-chef						Aviateur 1re classe	Aviateur 2e classe
Air Command (1968–1973)
Air Command (1973–1984)
Air Command (1984–2014)
Rank titles (1968–2014)	Chief warrant officer						Master warrant officer		Warrant officer		Sergeant												Master corporal				Corporal		Private						Private (basic)
	Adjudant-chef						Adjudant-maître		Adjudant		Sergent												Caporal-chef				Caporal		Soldat						Soldat (confirmé)
Royal Canadian Air Force (2014–present)[20]
Rank titles (2014–present)	Chief warrant officer						Master warrant officer		Warrant officer		Sergeant												Master corporal				Corporal		Aviator						Aviator (basic)
	Adjudant-chef						Adjudant-maître		Adjudant		Sergent												Caporal-chef				Caporal		Aviateur						Aviateur (confirmé)
NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Mess dress

Contrary to the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army, mess dress uniform ranks for officers of the Royal Canadian Air Force follow the naval pattern, without the executive curl. General officers do not wear shoulder straps with this order of dress.

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)	Student officer
Royal Canadian Air Force Mess dress and full dress[lower-alpha 1] ranks 1925-1968[22]
Air Command Mess ranks 1968-2014
Royal Canadian Air Force Mess ranks since 2015

• Former ranks of the Canadian Forces
• Historic Royal Canadian Air Force ranks (1924–1968)
• Ranks and insignia of NATO
• List of comparative military ranks
• Comparative army officer ranks of the Americas
• Uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces
• Cadets Canada Elemental Ranks

• Canadian Armed Forces ranks and appointment insignia – official site with images of rank insignia for Navy, Army and Air Force.