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CHAPTER 4

COMMAND, CORRESPONDING RANK AND 
PRECEDENCE

(1)        The senior officer of the general duties branch serving at a station, or in a unit, is to command except where a more junior general duties branch officer has been specifically appointed or where an officer of any other branch has been posted to command.

(2)        When a station is normally commanded by an officer of the general duties branch the next senior officer of that branch or any other appropriate branch serving at that station, will, irrespective of the unit to which he belongs, assume command in the absence of the officer posted for the duty at the direction of the officer commanding.

(3)        If the station is normally commanded by an officer of a branch other than the general duties branch, the command in his absence, will, subject to clauses (4) and (5), devolve upon the next senior officer of either the general duties branch or of the branch to which the officer normally in command belongs. Where two officers of different branches are of the same seniority, the air or other OC is to decide who shall take command. These principles are also to apply to the command of a group, air headquarters, wing or unit.

(4)        If a maintenance unit is normally commanded by an officer of a branch other than the general duties branch, the command, in his absence, will devolve upon the next senior officer of the general duties,  operations support, engineering, supply or administrative branch, regardless of the branch to which the officer normally in command belongs.

(5)        A unit of the RAF Regiment or its associated overseas force may be commanded by an RAF Regiment officer only. Similarly, a medical unit or dental unit may be commanded by an officer of the medical services only.

(6)        If, under clause (2) to (4), an officer who would be called upon to command is not considered suitable, or if special circumstances render it desirable, another officer may be detailed by the air or other OC, or, for a unit under the direct control of the MOD, by the MOD, provided that an officer so detailed shall not hold a rank lower than that held by the officer who would normally assume command in the absence of the officer posted for the duty.  

(7)        If a situation arises which is not expressly covered by clauses (1) to (6), the circumstances are to be reported to the immediate superior of the officer commanding.  

(8)        An officer is not eligible to assume command whilst undergoing a course of instruction or attached for temporary duty.

(9)        See Para 113 as to officers holding appointments on the staff of a command or group HQ.

(10)      Retired officers and officers of the reserves and auxiliaries will exercise command only when:

(a)        Employed on full pay in the circumstances indicated on QRs 121 to 123.

(b)        Employed on civil rates of pay, if commissioned in Class CC or J of the RAFR.

(c)        Specially detailed to perform air force duty by the OC of the station.

(11)       Honorary rank or an honorary commission carries with it no executive command.

112.     Officer in Temporary Command.   Sponsor: ACOS Pers Pol (RAF)

An officer in temporary command of a unit or station is not to issue any standing orders, nor alter those which are at the time in force, nor authorize the application of funds to any purpose other than the ordinary current expenditure, without reference either to the permanent CO or superior authority. On the other hand, an officer while absent from, and not in the exercise of, his command, cannot issue orders relating to such command.

113.      Staff Appointments.   Sponsor: RAF Employment Policy

The senior staff officer of a branch of the staff (air, administrative or engineer) of a command or group HQ will normally be appointed as such, but in the absence of such an appointment the senior officer on the staff of the branch concerned (as distinct from an officer attached to the staff in an advisory capacity) is to act as senior staff officer in that branch, irrespective of the branch of the service to which he belongs.

114.     Chaplains.   Sponsor: RAF Employment Policy

(1)        Chaplains are given relative air force rank solely for the purpose of defining status as regards precedence, discipline and administration in relation to other RAF officers and to officers of the other Services. They are not, by virtue of that rank, eligible to exercise any executive command, or claim any advantage as regards emoluments (effective or non-effective).

(2)        Chaplains will rank as follows in relation to other air force officers:

As air vice-marshal: Chaplain-in-Chief.

As group captain: Directors of Chaplaincy and any assigned to a position graded as Gp Capt. in the establishment.

As wing commander: Senior Chaplains  

As squadron leader: After three years’ satisfactory service as chaplain, accompanied by satisfactory appraisals.

As flight lieutenant: On first appointment as chaplain. (Previous commissioned service on full pay as a chaplain in the armed forces of the Crown, will however, be taken into consideration when determining the rank to be given on first appointment).

provided always that whenever the Defence Council so determine, a chaplain may be granted such other relative rank as may be notified in the London Gazette.

115.      Unit or Detachment Quartered away from its Station. Sponsor: ACOS Pers Pol (RAF)

When any unit or detachment is quartered at a station other than at which it is normally located, it will automatically come under the station commander at its temporary location for purposes within the competence of that officer. (See also Para 58).

116.      Relative Rank and Seniority.   Sponsor: RAF Employment Policy

Except where an antedate of seniority is specially granted by the Defence Council, the relative seniority of officers of all branches of the RAF of the same substantive rank is to be determined by the respective dates of their appointment or promotion to that rank in the RAF. Where two officers of the same rank have been gazetted to such rank with effect from the same date, their relative seniority is to be determined by the order in which their names appear in the current Air Force List.

117.      Order of Precedence of Officer Branches of the RAF.   Sponsor: RAF Employment Policy

The order of precedence of the officer branches of the RAF is based on two broad groups - policy (functional and administrative) and services. Within the two groups the order of precedence of branches will be as shown below and all questions of precedence as between officers of different branches (e.g., the order in which squadrons line up on parade, and the order of progress on a ceremonial occasion) will be governed by that order, though it will not affect powers of command as laid down in Para 111.

Flying

Aerospace Battle Manager

Intelligence

Flight Operations

Regiment

Provost

Logistics

Personnel

Services

Medical	[including Medical Technician branch (Medical and
Dental	Dental sections) and Medical Secretarial branch]
Chaplains
Legal
Directors of Music

(1)        The pilot, or in the case of an aircraft with more than one pilot, the first pilot, is the captain of the aircraft unless some other person is detailed to be captain by the officer authorizing the flight.

(2)        All persons subject to air force law, whatever their rank, while in an aircraft, are to be under the command, as respects all matters relating to the flying or handling of the aircraft or affecting the safety thereof, of the captain of the aircraft, whether the latter is subject to air force law or not.

(3)        Any person subject to air force law, who while in an aircraft disobeys any lawful command of the captain of the aircraft, whether or not the captain is subject to air force law, is liable to punishment for an offence under Section 34 AFA 55 (Disobedience to lawful commands).

(4)        The duties and responsibilities of captains of aircraft are contained in JSP 318 (Military Flying Regulations).

119.     Acting Rank. Sponsor: RAF Employment Policy

Officers holding the same acting rank are to take precedence among themselves according to the date of appointment to the acting rank. They are, however, to take command and precedence below all officers holding substantive rank corresponding to their acting rank but above all officers holding substantive rank in the rank below. When an officer has relinquished acting rank and is reappointed to such rank at a later date, he will reckon his subsequent seniority from the date of reappointment only. Nothing in this paragraph affects the counting of service in acting rank for the purpose of pay, retired pay or promotion.

120.     Prisoners of War. Sponsor: ACOS Pers Pol (RAF)

When officers or airmen become prisoners of war, the ordinary air force relations of superior and subordinate, and the air force duty of obedience, remain unaltered. Any such prisoner who is guilty of insubordination or other breach of discipline in respect of his superior will be required to answer for his conduct when released.

121.     Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers. Sponsor: PMA(ECwk)RF(RAF)

(1)        Except as provided in clause (2) and in Para 122 (2) officers of the RAFResO are to rank as junior to all regular officers of the same rank, but senior to all officers of the RAuxAF of the same rank.

(2)        When called up for service, when serving on a civilian engagement in Class CC or when serving voluntarily with the RAF, officers of the RAFResO will take command and precedence with regular officers as if they had been appointed to the RAF in the reserve rank in which they are employed, from the date of their being called up, or commencing to serve with the RAF, as the case may be, or if they are promoted whilst called up or serving with the RAF, from the date of such promotion. Officers to whom AP3393, Chapter 5, Para 0552 applies are, however, to continue to take command and precedence as if they had not been transferred to the reserve and called up for service.

122.     Royal Auxiliary Air Force, RAF Volunteer Reserve (Training) and RAF Volunteer Reserve (University Air Squadrons) Officers. Sponsor: PMA(ECwk)RF(RAF)

(1)        Except as provided in clause (2), officers of the RAuxAF are to rank junior to officers of the RAF or the RAFResO of the same rank. Similarly, officers of the RAFVR(T) and the RAFVR(UAS) are to rank junior to officers of the RAF, RAFResO or RAuxAF of the same rank. The seniority of officers of the RAFVR(T) in relation to officers of the RAFVR(UAS) is to be determined by the date of appointment or promotion.

(2)        When any portion of the RAuxAF has been called out, officers of that portion of the RAuxAF are to take command and precedence with officers of the RAF and of the RAFResO with whom they are serving as if they had been appointed to the RAF in their RAuxAF rank from the date of their being called out, or, if they were promoted whilst called out, from the date of such promotion.

123.     Retired Officers Re-employed as Officers. Sponsor: RAF Employment Policy

(1)        An officer on the Retired List who is recalled to service with the regular air force under AP3393, Chapter 5, Annex B in the substantive rank in which he was serving at the time of retirement is to take his original date of seniority in that rank abated by the period spent on the Retired List, and is to take command and precedence with other officers of the RAF in accordance with that rank and seniority.

(2)        An officer on the Retired List who is re-employed on the Active List other than under clause (1), is to take his original date of substantive seniority in the re-employed rank, abated by the period spent on the Retired List, and is to take command and precedence with other officers of the same substantive rank in accordance with his revised seniority.

(3)        An officer on the Retired List who is appointed to a commission in the RAFR, the RAuxAF or the RAFVR(T) and the RAFVR(UAS) is to take command and precedence as prescribed for officers of those forces (see paras 121 and 122).

124.     Employment Outside the RAF. Sponsor: ACOS Pers Pol (RAF)

An officer employed in a Commonwealth air force appointment, or civil appointment, on the staff of a civil governor, under a foreign government, or in any other special employment is not entitled, by virtue of his air force rank, to assume any air force command in the RAF unless posted for air force duty by the Defence Council. He will be liable, however, in case of necessity, to serve on courts-martial, or to perform such air force duty as the Defence Council may direct.

125.     Precedence of Airmen.  Sponsor: RAF Employment Policy

(1)        Warrant officers are to take precedence after commissioned officers, but before all other airmen, and, amongst themselves, according to their date of promotion. In this clause the expression "warrant officer" is used in its generic sense, i.e., as including airmen of ground trades who hold the rank title of warrant officer and non-commissioned aircrew who hold master aircrew titles.

(2)        The order of precedence of airmen below warrant rank will be in accordance with the following table, and within each rank according to the date of promotion:

Airmen.	Flight Sergeant	Junior Technician
	Chief Technician	Senior Aircraftman
	Sergeant	Leading Aircraftman
	Corporal	Aircraftman
	Lance Corporal

(4)        Airmen of the same rank are to take precedence amongst themselves and amongst airmen holding ranks of equal status according to the date of their promotions.

(5)        Airmen holding acting rank are to take precedence next after those holding corresponding substantive or temporary ranks and, amongst themselves, according to the dates they attained their acting ranks.

(6)        Airmen promoted or appointed to a rank on the same day are to take precedence in that rank in accordance with their position at that date on the promotion roster for their respective trades. Airmen whose relative position cannot be determined in this manner are to take precedence according to the order in which they attained their rank as indicated in the official rolls kept by ACOS Manning.

(7) (a) Except as provided in sub-clause (b), airmen of the RAFR/RAuxAF are to rank as junior to all airmen of the RAF of the same rank.

(b) When airmen of the RAFR/RAuxAF have been called out, they will take precedence with regular airmen with whom they are serving as if they had been promoted in the RAF in their RAFR/RAuxAF rank from the date of their being called out, or, if they are promoted while called out, from the date of such promotion.

126.   Naval, Military and Air Forces Acting Together.  Sponsor: RAF Employment Policy

(1)        In accordance with Section 367(1) Armed Forces Act 2006 every member of the regular forces is subject to Service law at all times. Section 367(2) provides the legislative basis for the applicability of Service law to the Reserve Forces. Broadly speaking members of the Reserve Forces are subject to Service law when carrying out training or duties or when ‘called out’ for service under the legislation relating to the Reserve Forces (the Reserve Forces Acts 1980 and 1996).

(2)        When members of one Service are co-operating with one or both of the other Services they enjoy like power of command over members of another Service as the members of that Service of corresponding rank insofar as power of command depends upon rank or rate. Thus when members of different Services are acting together, the superior officers of one Service become, in accordance with the scale of corresponding ranks prescribed by these regulations at Table A below, superior officers of members of the other Services of lower corresponding rank or less seniority and can, consequently, give lawful commands to them. These provisions and these circumstances do not, however, bestow upon any member of one Service the power or right to assume command over any body of HM Forces or over any ship, aircraft, unit, formation or establishment of another Service unless it is specifically placed under his command.

(3)        The corresponding ranks, solely for purposes of command, of the three Services are:

Members of Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service (QARNNS) are subject to Service discipline at all times. Because of their differing rank titles, the QARNNS are shown separately in the Table below, which should be read in conjunction with J126 for equivalent ranks in other Services.

(1)        The governor of a colony is the single and supreme authority responsible to, and representative of, HM. He is, by virtue of his commission and the Letters Patent or Order in Council constituting his office, entitled to the obedience, aid and assistance of all military, air force and civil officers; but although he may bear the title of captain-general or commander-in-chief, and although he may be a military or air force officer senior in rank to the officer commanding the troops or air force, he is not, except on special appointment from HM, invested with the command of HM regular forces in the colony. He is not therefore entitled to take the immediate direction of any military or air operations, or except in cases of urgent necessity, to communicate officially with subordinate military or air force officers without the concurrence of the officer in command of the forces, to whom any such exceptional communications must be immediately notified.

(2)        The governor, as the Queen’s representative, will give the ‘word’ (parole) in all places within his government.

(3)        The OC the troops or air force is to render to the governor such returns as the latter may require relating to the strength and condition of the forces or to the military or air defences of the colony.

(4)        Whenever a governor who is not actually in command of HM forces shall have occasion to report upon, or bring under the consideration of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs matters which involve military or air force as well as civil consideration, or which require the concurrence or decision of the Secretary of State for Defence, he will, if there is an OC military or air forces in the colony, first communicate with that officer respecting the matters in question, and, having obtained that officer’s opinion or observations thereon, he will transmit the same, with his own report to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and will, in every case, furnish the OC with a copy of any report he may make involving military or air force considerations. If the OC considers that these reports required the consideration of the Secretary of State for Defence he is to forward the duplicates with his observations by the same mail which conveys the original report to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

(5)        Similarly, when the OC the troops or air force in a colony desires to bring to the notice of his military or air force superiors any matter which may involve civil as well as military or air force considerations, he is first to communicate with the governor with a view to obtaining his opinion thereon. He is to transmit with his own report any opinion or observations he may thus obtain, and in every case furnish the governor with a copy of any reports he may make on subjects other than military or air force discipline and routine. If the governor considers that these reports require the consideration of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, he will forward the duplicates with his observations by the same mail which conveys the original report to the Secretary of State for Defence.

(6)        For the purposes of this regulation, the term "governor" means the officer appointed by the Crown to administer the government, however such officer is styled. The term "colonies" includes colonies, protectorates, protected states and trust terrorities. For the purpose of clauses 1 to 3 of this paragraph colonies comprised under one governor-in-chief are regarded as a single colony.

135.       (Omitted) 

135A.   Power of Command in relation to Forces raised in a Colony.  Sponsor: ACOS Pers Pol (RAF)

(1) Officers in local air forces raised in a colony shall take rank and precedence below officers of HM regular air force or the same or equivalent rank.

(2) In relation to members of HM regular air force within a colony, officers of such local force therein shall have such powers of command as are vested in officers holding a commission in the RAF of the same or equivalent rank, provided nevertheless that such powers of command shall be exercised only on such occasions or during such period or periods, or in such circumstances as may be declared by the Defence Council with the concurrence of the Governor of the Colony.

136-137 (Omitted)

137A.   Order of Precedence of RAF Commands. Sponsor:AMPSec(SC)1

The following order of precedence of the commands of the RAF is established for ceremonial and other purposes:

(1)        Strike Command.

(2)        Personnel and Training Command.

138-149. (Omitted) 

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