Cadets have a rank structure similar to the USAF enlisted and officer ranks. A cadet starts as a Cadet Airman Basic and are promoted as they complete each achievement. To complete an achievement a cadet must pass a physical fitness test, and two written tests, one for leadership and one for aerospace education.

Cadet Program Basic & NCO Grades ( C1 - C9 )

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 Achievement) 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) (Armstrong Award) Addressed as "Cadet" or "Sergeant" No Promotion -Cadet remains C/CMSgt - Cadet Chief Master Sergeant (Armstrong Award) Addressed as "Cadet" or "Sergeant"

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"

Senior Program Transition Grades (Ages 18-20)

S/M - Senior Member Without Grade Addressed as Mr., Miss, Mrs., Sir, or Ma'am FO - Flight Officer Addressed as Mr., Miss, Mrs., Sir, or Ma'am TFO - Technical Flight Officer Addressed as Mr., Miss, Mrs., Sir, or Ma'am SFO - Senior Flight Officer Addressed as Mr., Miss, Mrs., Sir, or Ma'am