Two things move you forward as a cadet, and they’re often mixed up: star levels (how far through training you are) and rank (the responsibility you’re given). Here’s how each works and how they fit together.
Star levels track how far you’ve progressed through the cadet training syllabus. You move up by completing and being assessed on each stage’s subjects. Broadly:
The exact requirements for each star come from your training programme; your instructors confirm when you’ve met the standard.
Rank is about the role and responsibility you hold, shown by the badges on your uniform. As you gain experience and show leadership, you can be promoted. A typical cadet rank progression looks like:
Exact ranks, titles and badges can vary between organisations and units - the Combined Cadet Force and its Royal Navy and RAF sections use their own structures. Your unit is the authority on how rank works where you are.
Think of it this way: star levels are what you know and can do; rank is what you’re trusted to lead. They’re linked - progressing through the stars shows you’re ready for more responsibility - but they’re not the same thing. You can be strong on training and still be growing into a leadership role, and vice versa.
Both come down to knowing your stuff and being someone staff can rely on. Solid subject knowledge gets you signed off at each star and marks you out for promotion. Revise little and often using active recall and quizzing, and back it up by turning up sharp and helping others.
Cadet AI mirrors this journey: quizzes run from Basic to 4-Star across all ten subjects, you bank XP and climb military ranks in the app as you learn, and TANGO keeps you grounded in your training the whole way.
Train from Basic to 4-Star, bank XP and climb the ranks with Cadet AI. Coming soon to Google Play.
