A001/603

HONG KONG AIR CADET CORPS
Senior Member Rank Structure & Promotion Criteria

1.         Senior Member Rank Structure and Responsibilities          

Listed hereunder are the roles and responsibilities in broad terms of each step in the HKACC senior member rank structure :-

Other Ranks

(a)        Recruit Instructor (R Instr) ¡V A training post appointed from direct entrants to undergo training for possible appointment to the rank of Instructor.

(b)        Instructor (Instr) ¡V Instructor is the basic rank in the HKACC senior member hierarchy. He pursues training programmes and seeks to develop proficiency as a Qualified Instructor in  skills such as footdrill, expedition, physical assessment, first aid, and firearms instruction. In an air cadet squadron, he assists his superiors in positions such as Operations and Training Assistant, or Administrative Assistant, or deputizes for the flight commander. In HQ Units, he assists higher ranking senior members in such capacities as Operations Assistant, Training Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Supply Assistant, Public Affairs Assistant, or Technical Assistant. 

(c)            Sergeant Instructor (Sgt Instr) is a line trainer with one or more Qualified Instructor ratings. He may serve as the commander or the second-in-command of a flight of air cadets, or he may perform staff duties in the squadron headquarters (Operations and Training Assistant, or Administrative Assistant). Exceptionally he may fill the post of Squadron Warrant Officer if a squadron has not been assigned a warrant officer. In HQ Units he performs staff, training, or technical duties (Operations Assistant, Training Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Supply Assistant, Public Affairs Assistant, or Technical Assistant).

Warrant Officers

(d)            Warrant Officer (WO) ¡V a Warrant Officer is a Qualified Instructor with multiple ratings. In an air cadet squadron he is the Squadron Warrant Officer overseeing unit discipline, morale, and skills training. In HQ Units he performs staff, training or technical duties as Training Officer, Operations Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Administration Officer, Supply Officer, or Technical Officer.

Officer Cadets/Officer Trainees

(e)        Officer Cadet/Officer Trainee - A training post to understudy the duties of a commissioned officer. The title of Officer Trainee is reserved for members of squadrons established in tertiary institutions.

Commissioned Officers

Three ranks, Pilot Officer (Plt Off), Flying Officer (Fg Off) and Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) form the junior officer cadre. The Fg Off rank is reached by advancement (automatic promotion once criteria are met) and is functionally equivalent to the Pilot Officer rank. The rank of Flight Lieutenant is reached by competitive promotion from Flying Officer.

(f)         Pilot Officer (Plt Off)/Flying Officer (Fg Off) is the second-in-command of an air cadet squadron, or a flight commander. He may also be called upon to discharge staff duties in a squadron (e.g. Squadron Adjutant, Squadron Operations and Training Officer).  In HQ Units he performs staff, training, or technical duties. Due to manpower shortage he may exceptionally be required to command squadrons and HQ units.

(g)        Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) commands at unit level.  While some flight lieutenants perform staff, training, or technical duties, the majority of officers in this rank are in command of squadrons and HQ units.

There are three ranks in the senior officer hierarchy. They are Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr), Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) and Group Captain (Gp Capt).

(h)            Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) commands a major HQ unit or a regional wing, or serves as a senior staff at Corps Headquarters.

(i)         Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) is the advancement rank for senior officers commanding major HQ unit/regional wing, and for senior Headquarters staff. The Deputy Commanding Officer, when appointed, also holds the rank of Wing Commander.

(j)         The Commanding Officer (CO) normally holds the rank of Group Captain (Gp Capt) and is charged with the overall direction and administration of the HKACC.

(k)        Air Commodore (Air Cdre) is the only air officer rank in the HKACC. This is the rank reserved for the Commandant (Cmdt) - the Titular Head of the Corps and the ranking uniformed officer.

2.            Requirements for Promotion

Promotion/Appointment to

Promotion Criteria

Instructor

Primary Requirements:

1. Passed  the Recruit Instructor Training Course (RITC).

Sergeant Instructor

Primary Requirements:

1. At least 1 year of active service in the rank of Instructor.

2. In possession of a valid Qualified Instructor rating.

Secondary Requirements:

1. Good service record.

2. Participation in a HKACC Major Parade within one year prior to the promotion.

Warrant Officer

Primary Requirements:

1. At least 3 years of active service as a Sergeant Instructor.

2. Possessing three valid Qualified Instructor ratings.

Secondary Requirements:

1. Outstanding service record and proven leadership quality.

3. Successful appearance before a Promotion Board.

3. Participation in a HKACC Major Parade within one year prior to the promotion.

Pilot Officer

Primary Requirements:

1. Passed  the Officer Cadet Training Course (OCTC) or the Officer Trainee Training Course (OTTC).

Flying Officer

 

Primary Requirements:

1. At least 2 years of active service as a Pilot Officer.

Secondary Requirements:

1. Good service record.

2. Participation in a HKACC Major Parade within one year prior to promotion.

Flight Lieutenant

 

Primary Requirements:

1. At least 2 years of active service as a Flying Officer.

2. Successful appearance before a Promotion Board.

Secondary Requirements:

1. Outstanding Service record and high leadership quality.

2. Passed the Officer Command Course (OCC)

3. Completion of at least two tours of duty, one in a squadron and  the other in a HQ unit .

4. Participation in a HKACC Major Parade within one year prior to promotion.

Squadron Leader

 

 

Primary Requirements:

1. At least 4 years of active service as a Flight Lieutenant.

2. Appointment as Major Unit Commander or senior HQ staff.

Secondary Requirements:

1. Very good leadership ability and management skill.

2. Excellent Service Record.

3. Successful appearance before a Promotion Board.

4. Passed the Officer Command Course (OCC).

5. Completion of at least two tours as unit commander, one in a

 squadron and the other in a Headquarters Unit.

6. Participation in a HKACC Major Parade within one year prior to the promotion.

Wing Commander

Primary Requirements:

1. Appointment as Deputy Commanding Officer, HKACC.

2. Advancement rank of Sqn Ldrs holding Major Unit Commander or senior staff appointments.

Secondary Requirements:

1. At least 4 years of active service in the rank of Squadron Leader.

2. Successful appearance before a Promotion Board.

3. Participation in a HKACC Major Parade within one year prior to the promotion.

Group Captain

Primary Requirement:

1. Appointment as Commanding Officer, HKACC

Air Commodore

 

Primary Requirement:

1. Appointment as Commandant, HKACC.

Notes: Promotion of Junior Officers (Flight Lieutenant and below) should be approved by the Commanding Officer on the recommendations of their respective Major Unit Commander. Promotion to  Senior or Air Officer ranks (Squadron Leader and above) should be approved by the Executive Board. A Warrant Officer who has at least 5 years of service in that rank may, subject to the Commanding Officer¡¦s approval, and in respect of personal service record, be commissioned in either the rank of Pilot Officer or Flying Officer direct, without having to undergo the full Officer Cadet Training Course.

At each promotion step, primary requirements are those which must be fulfilled before promotion is considered, whereas secondary requirements are those which should preferably be satisfied but  subject to waiver given at the discretion of the Commanding Officer/Executive Board.

1 July 2003