Talk:Canadian Armed Forces ranks and insignia/Archive 1

OCdt
by the way...craftsman in frenc is artisan... and is evryone sur only ocdt is a subordinate officer rank? arent 2lt and lt as well with capt being junior?
 * Only OCdt is a Subordinate Officer; 2Lts, Lts and Capts are Junior Officers. That's how the CF divvies them up. OCdts cannot be in the same grouping as Lts etc because OCdts do not hold a commission. --  SigPig  |SEND - OVER 18:59, 10 December 2006 (UTC)
 * Regardless of what some of those quarter-inch admirals may think. :) 24.68.148.215 (talk) 04:12, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

Spelling
Yes, Virginia, military ranks have odd spellings re their pronunciations. It may be pronounced "leftenant", but it is spelled "lieutenant"; likewise "bombardier" (a corporal in the artillery) retains the first "r" even though it's generally silent. Please check a Canadian Forces website or a dictionary before you start changing spelling. I can't wait for someone to decide we need "sarjunt", "capn", and "kernull". --SigPig 07:01, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

Hi Sigpig, I was a Bombadier for 4 years, and it was always spelled that way. I will try to find another reference before changing. I am not the moron you make me out to be. Motorfix 16:14, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

You are correct...I check the RCA standing orders for rank..and I'll be, it has an R. For my next argument, Gunnner is spelled with three "n"s cheers,

Motorfix 19:15, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

Sorry, Bdr. I knee-jerked (emphasis on "jerk") on two successive posts (the previous spelling Lt as "lieftenant"); I should have checked the signatures, and not assumed they were the same poster; and even so, I should have assumed good faith. Mmmm, tasty combat boot. No hard feelings, I hope. --SigPig 08:14, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

Is there any other units that also make use of a different name for Master Corporal? I think RCHA uses Master Bombardier instead of MCpl but I could be wrong. Do any other units do the same?
 * Engineers? Sapper <==> Corporal, IIRC; is there such a thing as a 'Master Sapper'? What about the zipperheads (said with love for all the zipperheads out there :D) 24.68.148.215 (talk) 04:16, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

English/French
This page contains both English and French names of ranks. There is already a French page here: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grades_des_Forces_canadiennes

so French text should be removed from this page. I note that English is not present on the French page listed above. I don't think it matters whether it's officially bilingual or not. This is an English page.

I would think that instead of deleting the French rank names in English Wikipedia, that one should add the English rank titles in French Wikipedia. Therefore, both the English and French users of Wikipedia will have access in the same information. Anyways, in many Canadian topics, the French titles are also written in English Wikipedia, therefore I do not know why it should be an issue here. Ctjj.stevenson (talk) 18:40, 16 March 2012 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:CF LGen.jpg
Image:CF LGen.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 04:52, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

CWO/CPO1 Senior Appointments badges
The CF has changed it badges regarding Senior Appointments for CWO/CPO1's. The term Special Appointment is not used, the term Senior Appointment(SA)is now th nomenclature. The old crossed swords is gone, all SA CWO/CPO1's wear the central insignia of the CF badge (superimposed anchor, albatros, crossed swords). The exception is the Environmental Command CWO/CPO1's (Navy, Army, Air Force) who wear the laurels around the rank and the CF CWO who wears the CWO/CPO1 rank surrounded by the maple leaves.

Also the CWO/CPO1 rank badge is not the Coat of Arms of Canada but a derivative of it. It does not contain all the details of the Coat of Arms.Kcnever (talk) 01:08, 28 October 2008 (UTC)kcnever

Private (Basic) and Private (Recruit)
I was in the BC Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)'s Mess, and the New recruits were wearing Red Tape on the rank sleeve should be(the one on the front at his chest), while the recuits who passed BMQ had Blue tape on the rank sleeve. Tape was straight and horizontal, like which way the chevrons would go.

My question is, is this for every regiment and standard in the Canadian forces, or is it simply the Duke of Connaught's own, or a third option (Is none of the information I gave you correct in any which way?)? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.68.106.3 (talk) 07:24, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
 * That sounds like it's unit-specific. CFLRS Saint-Jean uses something similar to designate the cadet platoon commanders of BOTC and IAP courses (i.e., the officer cadets responsible for the platoon in the absence of training staff); when I was there in '06, they were using red slip-ons with what would otherwise be a Lt(N) insignia. The standard insignia for Pte(R) and Pte(B) (OSR and OSB for Navy) is the unadorned sleeve of the dress tunic, or the blank slip-on with simply 'CANADA' or regimental/branch designations (RCR, PPCLI, LOG, etc.) I'm not sure how it works for Army/Air Force, but for Navy personnel, an OSR wears the metal tri-service cap badge - the 'cornflake' of beloved memory :) and does so until they land in Slackers or Squiggley and do their in-routine to the school. Soon as they do that, they get their anchor badge, and they're an OSB. Once they're QL3 qualified, they put up their trade badge and they drop the B, becoming OS. BTW, I see that MCpl/MS is correctly identified as an appointment not a rank, but a one-hook private / AB is also an appointment. Just sayin'. 24.68.148.215 (talk) 04:10, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

New Naval Rank Insignia
Now that the rank insignias of the Royal Canadian Navy is effective and changed for almost every naval officer in Canada, I would believe that it is time to remove the old "Maritime Command" ranks from the page. Ctjj.stevenson (talk) 02:00, 15 January 2012 (UTC)

There is a new rank insignia for the Canadian Maritime Command, where all officers will now have a curl in the upper rank bar on their uniforms; this is similar to the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. This page will have to updated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.68.136.107 (talk) 05:29, 31 May 2010 (UTC)

Very true, however, the return of the executive curl will not begin until 11 June 2010 by 0955, PST, and not all officers that wear the Canadian naval uniform will have their uniforms corrected at that time. It will be a process that will probably take until the end of 2010 to be effective throughout the Canadian Forces naval element. I would therefore propose that until the end of the year, starting of 11 June 2010, the page be adjusted to look like this:

and so on. Ctjj.stevenson (talk) 18:20, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

NATO rank levels?
I am thinking that the NATO rank levels (OF-#, OR-#) be added to each of the designations, perhaps immediately before the descriptions. What do others think? Nutster (talk) 15:06, 24 May 2013 (UTC)


 * I think a See Also link to Ranks and insignia of NATO is sufficient, as comparison charts for all NATO countries, including Canada, already exists. I don't see any reason to add non-Canadian designations to a Canadian ranks page. Trackratte (talk) 19:39, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

Return to Britsh style ranks
The article has been changed to show the old names for NCO ranks, and changing the rank badges. At this time there has been no announcement that the NCO rank will change, only that it is under consideration.

"The restoration of the historical rank names for non-commissioned members is also being considered."

The rank names for Ptes, Cpls, and MCpls has been announced.

Should the Wikipedia page wait?
Reference: http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/honours-history-badges-insignia/rank-army.page?

With the following reference, the Government of Canada has, since 28 April 2014 demonstrated official that the rank insignia of the Canadian Army will be with the stars (pips), crowns and cross sabre and baton. I have also noticed that someone has started to post the new Canadian Army officer rank insignia here on Wikipedia. I am wonder, as it was done for the change for the Royal Canadian Navy, should we a) demonstrated both during the transition period, b) persently show was is officially worn by Canadian Army officers until the change has begun, or c) as the DND website shows already, change the rank insignia of Canadian Army officers? I believe that both should be used for a certain period.

Ctjj.stevenson (talk) 01:55, 2 May 2014 (UTC)  00:10, 2 May 2014 (UTC)


 * I originally had both up for OCdt just as a trial. Someone else removed the old OCdt rank. Army personnel have already transitioned to the traditional Canadian Army ranks on all of the orders of mess dress. A lot of units ceremonial orders of dress never stopped using the traditional army ranks, so no change back is required. Combat uniforms and Distinctive Environmental Uniforms will transition in August. Also, my abilities to make SVGs are atrocious, so unless someone else is willing to upload better versions, we can start uploading png files I imagine (direct copies instead of svg renditions). trackratte (talk) 00:42, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

I would propose that this type of model be used for the few months of the transition. This will allow to be able to see both types of rank insignias, seeing that both are in use. Ctjj.stevenson (talk) 02:28, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

I was also doing some looking around and noticed that this change is noted on other websites as i.e. http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=3583 though none of the images are very good. Personally, I believe that the page should wait until the change has been fully announced. In the mean time I will ask round and see what they can tell me about.Elijahthebrain (talk) 00:03, 12 May 2014 (UTC)


 * Is the switch to new army rank insignia on this page premature? With the exception of General Officers, the Canadian Army officers are still wearing the same insignia that they have worn since 1968.  CdnMCG (talk) 02:57, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

Can provide
Hey guys I'm working on the Canaddian ranks for the uniform insignia website

I'm happy to upload images that I've made and someone build mod the web page if able to helpHawkeyebasil (talk) 11:22, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

Contact me on here — Preceding unsigned comment added by Hawkeyebasil (talk • contribs) 11:18, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

Try these:, , , , , CdnMCG (talk) 18:35, 2 May 2014 (UTC)


 * Awesome. Would you be able to change the pips to gold to reflect the official pips here? trackratte (talk) 02:19, 3 May 2014 (UTC)
 * I will work on general ranks first, then see what the final pips look like when they become authorized for wear.  CdnMCG (talk) 02:28, 3 May 2014 (UTC)

Here are more: ,, , .  CdnMCG (talk) 05:32, 8 May 2014 (UTC)

Naval Shoulder Boards
From what I can see, flag officer shoulder boards are being added and removed. May we remain constant and keep the naval officer shoulder boards. Ctjj.stevenson (talk) 19:49, 7 May 2014 (UTC)

Here is the message that I sent to user:Werieth

Flag officer Shoulder Boards - Canadian Forces ranks and insignia
Good afternoon to you,

I hope that you are doing well. If I am not mistaken, I have noticed that you are the one responsible for removing the flag officer shoulder boards from Canadian Forces ranks and insignia. I understand that Wikipedia wishes to have free images, and this makes sense to me. I have noticed this licensing information with the flag officer shoulder boards:

With this logic, no representation of Canadian Forces rank insignia would be able to be displayed on Wikipedia. However, all other rank insignia images do not have this statement.

Also, the shoulder board insignia used do not seem to have been created by the crown. This is the same with all the other rank insignia displayed on Wikipedia for the Canadian Forces. Therefore, would it not make sense to have the Canadian flag officer shoulder boards appear on Wikipedia, or, beause of the licensing information, no Canadian Forces insignia would be permitted.

I would like your opinion on the subject. Thank you kindly and good day, Ctjj.stevenson (talk) 17:11, 12 May 2014 (UTC)
 * user:Werieth has since been confirmed as a WP:SOCK and the account has been blocked. CAF RCN MARS (talk) 00:01, 15 July 2017 (UTC)

New RCAF Uniforms, rank insignia
Looks like the RCAF is getting into the "everything old is new again" game as well. Summary edition - the uniform will have silver buttons vice gold, general officers will have pearl-grey piping on the head-wallet - I mean wedge :) - vice gold, NCMs rank insignia will be in pearl-grey vice gold; officers will have pearl-grey-on-black ranks stripes, reminiscent of the pre-unification RCAF light-blue-on-dark-blue ones. From what I see this is coming, not in effect yet, so just a heads-up. I'll see if I can't duff up some suitable graphics for this page. Refs: Ready Aye Ready  &yen;  Jacky Tar  15:53, 24 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Announcement on gov't website: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=tp&crtr.page=1&nid=886249&crtr.tp1D=930
 * Article in Ottawa Citizen dated 21 Sep 14, includes graphics of new rank insignia: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/here-are-the-details-on-the-rcafs-new-uniforms-and-ranks (I've not been able to find the graphic on a DND website, so may not be considered authoritative source)
 * Article in Ottawa Citizen dated 24 Sep 14, re: projected effective date: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/new-rcaf-insignia-and-rank-colours-not-available-until-march-2015


 * Graphics are uploaded - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Military_rank_insignia_of_Canada
 * CdnMCG (talk) 04:42, 26 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Unfortunately, the image you used for the aviator rank badge is not the one that will be used by the RCAF. You adapted the RAF leading aircraftman badge which is quite visibly different CU L8R AV8R ... J-P (talk) 12:23, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

I have added on this page, the new officer rank insignias for the Royal Canadian Air Force. More and more, they have begun to be worn, first by the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force/Chief of Air Staff and more recently, by the Chief of Defence Staff (Canada). Ctjj.stevenson (talk) 02:24, 15 January 2015 (UTC)

Sea/army/air cadet ranks
Do sea cadet, army cadet and air cadet ranks belong in this article? I don't think so, since those organizations are not part of the CAF. I'm tempted to remove them from the article. Indefatigable (talk) 19:05, 8 November 2017 (UTC)

Cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces, thus I believe that they should not be included on this page. Having cadet ranks on this page may confuse people that cadets are a member of the CAF. I do not mind creating a separate page just for cadet ranks. Mzal98 02:00, 11 November 2017 (UTC) (talk • contribs)

A page on this topic already exists on Wikipedia: Cadets Canada Elemental Ranks. I propose to remove the cadet ranks from this page and add a link to the cadet ranks page. Mzal98 02:09, 11 November 2017 (UTC) (talk • contribs)

Description
Why is there a description for each image? I would think that the photos provided are more than enough. I propose to remove the descriptions. Skjoldbro (talk) 19:58, 16 March 2018 (UTC)