Civil Air Patrol - CAWG - Squadron 44

Cadets - Insignia & Ribbons

Insignia, Grades and Achievement Ribbons

Cadets begin their CAP membership as a Cadet Airman Basic when they first join. As they progress through the Cadet Program achievement levels, they can eventually reach the Grade of Cadet Colonel--the highest Cadet Grade in CAP. Cadets must also know the Senior Member Grades as they will interact with each other.

Below is a chart of Cadet Grades, the insignia for each Grade, the abbreviation for each Grade, the achievement level and the associated ribbon for each Grade. Additional information is also provided, along with a chart of Senior Member Grade levels and their associated insignias.

Use this handy Ribbon Rack Builder to see the order in which your ribbons should be assembled when worn.

Cadet Title	Grade Insignia	Abbreviation	Terms of Address	Achievement Level	Ribbon
Cadet Grades (ages 12-20)
Cadet Airman		C/Amn	Cadet	1 - John Curry
Cadet Airman First Class		C/A1C	Cadet	2 - Hap Arnold
Cadet Senior Airman		C/SrA	Cadet	3 - Mary Feik
Cadet Staff Sergeant		C/SSgt	Sergeant	Wright Brothers Award
Cadet Technical Sergeant		C/TSgt	Sergeant	4 - Eddie Rickenbacker
Cadet Master Sergeant		C/MSgt	Sergeant	5 - Charles Lindbergh
Cadet Senior Master Sergeant		C/SMSgt	Sergeant	6 - Jimmy Doolittle
Cadet Chief Master Sergeant		C/CMSgt	Chief	7 - Robert Goddard
No Associated Promotion (a "dead grade")		C/CMSgt	Chief	8 - Neil Armstrong
Cadet Second Lieutenant		C/2d Lt	Sir / Ma'am Lieutenant	Billy Mitchell Award
No Associated Promotion (a "dead grade")		C/2d Lt	Sir / Ma'am Lieutenant	9 - Flight Commander	No Ribbon
Cadet First Lieutenant		C/1st Lt	Sir / Ma'am Lieutenant	10 - Admin Officer	No Ribbon
No Associated Promotion (a "dead grade")		C/1st Lt	Sir / Ma'am Lieutenant	11 - Public Affairs Officer	No Ribbon
Cadet Captain		C/Capt	Sir / Ma'am Captain	Amelia Earhart Award
No Associated Promotion (a "dead grade")		C/Capt	Sir / Ma'am Captain	12 - Leadership Officer	No Ribbon
No Associated Promotion (a "dead grade")		C/Capt	Sir / Ma'am Captain	13 - Aerospace Officer	No Ribbon
Cadet Major		C/Maj	Sir / Ma'am Major	14 - Operations Officer	No Ribbon
No Associated Promotion (a "dead grade")		C/Maj	Sir / Ma'am Major	15 - Logistics Officer	No Ribbon
No Associated Promotion (a "dead grade")		C/Maj	Sir / Ma'am Major	16 - Cadet Commander	No Ribbon
Cadet Lieutenant Colonel		C/Lt Col	Sir / Ma'am Colonel	Ira Eaker Award
Cadet Colonel		C/Col	Sir / Ma'am Colonel	Carl Spaatz Award

Grade Title	Grade Insignia	Abbreviation	Terms of Address
Flight Officer Grades (ages 18-20)
Senior Member (without grade)		SM	Sir / Ma'am
Flight Officer		FO	Sir / Ma'am
Technical Flight Officer		TFO	Sir / Ma'am
Senior Flight Officer		SFO	Sir / Ma'am
Senior Member Grades (ages 21+)
Senior Member (without grade)		SM	Sir / Ma'am
Second Lieutenant		2d Lt	Sir / Ma'am / Lieutenant
First Lieutenant		1st Lt	Sir / Ma'am / Lieutenant
Captain		Capt	Sir / Ma'am / Captain
Major		Maj	Sir / Ma'am / Major
Lieutenant Colonel		Lt Col	Sir / Ma'am / Colonel
Colonel		Col	Sir / Ma'am / Colonel
Brigadier General		Brig Gen	Sir / Ma'am / General
Major General		Maj Gen	Sir / Ma'am / General