Cadet Grade Structure (Youth, Age 12 - 18)

Cadet Program Basic & NCO Grades 

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Cadet Grade

Achievement / Courtesy

Associated Ribbon

C/AB - Cadet Airman Basic
Addressed as "Cadet"

N/A

C/Amn - Cadet Airman
(Curry Achievement)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Airman"

C/A1C - Cadet Airman First Class
(Arnold Achievement)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Airman"

C/SrA - Cadet Senior Airman
(Mary Fiek Achievement)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Airman"

C/SSgt - Cadet Staff Sergeant
(Wright Brothers Award
Completion of Phase I)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Sergeant"

C/TSgt - Cadet Technical Sergeant
(Rickenbacher Achievement)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Sergeant

C/MSgt - Cadet Master Sergeant
(Lindbergh Achievement)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Sergeant"

C/SMSgt - Cadet Senior Master Sergeant
(Doolittle Achievement)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Sergeant"

C/CMSgt - Cadet Chief Master Sergeant
(Goddard Achievement)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Sergeant"

 There is no promotion associated with this achievement (Cadet Remains a c/CMSgt)
(Armstrong Award)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Sergeant"

First Sergeant
The white diamond in the center of the rank insignia signifies the special assignment as first sergeant. This does NOT have to be a Chief Master Sergeant.

N/A

Cadet Officer Grades (C10 - C14)

C/2LT - Cadet Second Lieutenant
(Mitchell Award)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Lieutenant," "Sir" or "Ma'am"

 C/1LT - Cadet First Lieutenant
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Lieutenant," "Sir" or "Ma'am"

N/A

C/CPT - Cadet Captain
(Earhart Award)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Captain," "Sir" or "Ma'am"

C/MAJ - Cadet Major
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Major," "Sir" or "Ma'am"

N/A

C/LTC - Cadet Lieutenant Colonel
(Eaker Award)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Colonel," "Sir" or "Ma'am"

C/COL - Cadet Colonel
(Spaatz Award)
Addressed as "Cadet" or "Colonel," "Sir" or "Ma'am"