Under Officer - New Zealand

New Zealand

Cadet Under Officer is also a rank in the New Zealand Air Training Corps and the New Zealand Cadet Corps. It ranks between Cadet Warrant Officer/Cadet Warrant Officer Class 2 and Pilot Officer NZCF/Second Lieutenant NZCF, thus making it the highest rank a cadet can reach, although not actually itself a Cadet rank. Under Officers are normally aged between 18 and 21, and to be eligible for a commission one must be at least 20 years of age. Under Officers are Cadets who have received the necessary training and have the desire to become NZCF Officers. Hence, Under Officers are treated as understudy officers. There are 2 Under Officers' courses run each year, and provide the training that Under Officers require to be efficient Understudy Officers within their Cadet Units, and skills which will be useful as a Commissioned Officer. They perform roles similar to commissioned officers, but do not have nearly the same legal responsibilities and are not to be saluted, but are referred to as "Sir/Ma'am". Cadet Under Officers wear insignia similar to that worn by Officer Cadets, except that the thin blue braid is replaced by a piece of NCO chevron cloth. This emphasises their official status as cadets rather than adult leaders.

To become an Under Officer, Cadets are required to:

• Spend 6 months at the minimum rank of Staff Sergeant/Flight Sergeant
• Have completed at least 3 years of Cadet Forces training
• Be 18 Years of age or older
• Have the desire, commitment & potential to become an NZCF Officer
• Be recommended by their Unit Commander and have the approval of AC CFTSU.