| Unit Name: | Australian Defence Force Cadets |
| Garrison: | Russell Offices |
| Garrison Label: | Headquarters |
| Current Commander: | Rear Admiral Brett Wolski, |
| Current Commander Label: | Head Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Divisions |
| Commander2: | General Sir Peter Cosgrove, |
| Commander2 Label: | Australian Defence Force Cadets Patron |
| Dates: | 1976 – present |
The Australian Defence Force Cadets (ADFC) (also known as the Australian Service Cadet Scheme until 2001) consists of three Australian Defence Force affiliated, community-based, youth development organisations of approximately 27,834 cadets and 4,405 cadet staff in 579 units and squadrons across Australia. Coordination of the Australian Defence Force Cadets is via the ADF HQ unit called Reserve and Youth Division, with Commander ADF Cadets - directly accountable to VCDF. The ADFC is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Defence, in partnership with the community.
The Australian Defence Force Cadets have been a large part of the Australian community since the 19th century. After the cadets were re-raised in 1976 the three cadet services were grouped together as the Australian Services Cadet Scheme, beforehand the three organisations were run under the directions of single service policy, in 2001 the name was changed to the Australian Defence Force Cadets as recommended by a review. While the Australian Defence Force Cadets is sponsored by ADF (Australian Defence Force) and runs under a similar rank structure, uniform and training activities, the ADFC is not an official branch of the Defence Force and runs in accordance with the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict which Australia has signed.
The ADFC encompasses three organizations:
Cadet units are referred to differently depending on the parent service. Air Force Cadet units are referred to as Squadrons, Navy Cadet units are referred to as Training Ships and Army Cadet units are referred to as Army Cadet Units.
| Australian Navy Cadets (ANC) | |||||||
| Insignia | |||||||
| Rank | Captain ANC | Commander ANC | Lieutenant Commander ANC | Lieutenant ANC | Sub Lieutenant ANC | Midshipman ANC | |
| Abbreviation | CAPT, ANC | CMDR, ANC | LCDR, ANC | LEUT, ANC | SBLT, ANC | MIDN, ANC | |
| Australian Army Cadets (AAC) | |||||||
| Insignia | |||||||
| Rank | Colonel AAC | Lieutenant Colonel AAC | Major AAC | Captain AAC | Lieutenant AAC | Second Lieutenant AAC | |
| Abbreviation | COL (AAC) | LTCOL (AAC) | MAJ (AAC) | CAPT (AAC) | LT (AAC) | 2LT (AAC) | |
| Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) | |||||||
| Insignia | |||||||
| Rank | Group Captain (AAFC) | Wing Commander (AAFC) | Squadron Leader (AAFC) | Flight Lieutenant (AAFC) | Flying Officer (AAFC) | Pilot Officer (AAFC) | |
| Abbreviation | GPCAPT(AAFC) | WGCDR(AAFC) | SQNLDR(AAFC) | FLTLT(AAFC) | FLGOFF(AAFC) | PLTOFF(AAFC) | |
| Australian Navy Cadets (ANC) | |||||||||
| Insignia | |||||||||
| Rank | Warrant Officer ANC (Inactive rank) | Chief Petty Officer ANC (Inactive rank) | Petty Officer ANC (Inactive rank) | Leading Seaman ANC (Inactive rank) | Able Seaman ANC (Inactive rank) | Provisional Instructor ANC (Inactive rank) | |||
| Abbreviation | WOANC | CPOANC | POANC | LSANC | ABANC | PIANC | |||
| Australian Army Cadets (AAC) | |||||||||
| Insignia | |||||||||
| Rank | Warrant Officer Class One AAC (No longer in use as of 2020) | Warrant Officer Class Two AAC (No longer in use as of 2020) | Staff Sergeant AAC (Phased out as of 2019) | Sergeant AAC (No longer in use as of 2020) | Corporal AAC (No longer in use as of 2020) | Lance Corporal AAC (No longer in use as of 2020) | Trainee Officer of Cadets (No longer in use as of 2022) | ||
| Abbreviation | WO1 (AAC) | WO2 (AAC) | SSGT (AAC) | SGT (AAC) | CPL (AAC) | LCPL (AAC) | TOOC | ||
| Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) | |||||||||
| Insignia | |||||||||
| Rank | Warrant Officer (AAFC) | Flight Sergeant (AAFC) | Sergeant (AAFC) | Corporal (AAFC) | Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman (AAFC) | Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (AAFC) | |||
| Abbreviation | WOFF(AAFC) | FSGT(AAFC) | SGT(AAFC) | CPL(AAFC) | LAC/W(AAFC) | AC/W(AAFC) | |||
Australian Navy Cadets - http://www.navycadets.gov.au/
Australian Army Cadets - http://www.armycadets.gov.au/
Australian Air Force Cadets - http://www.airforcecadets.gov.au/