Officers hold a commission from the Sovereign, which provides the legal authority for them to issue orders to subordinates. The commission of a regular officer is granted after successfully completing the 30-week-long Initial Officer Training course at the RAF College, Cranwell, Lincolnshire. Other officers also train at RAF Cranwell, but on different courses, such as those for professionally qualified officers.

The titles and insignia of RAF officers were chiefly derived from those used by the Royal Navy, specifically the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) during World War I. For example, the rank of Squadron Leader derived its name from the RNAS rank of Squadron Commander. RAF officers fall into three categories: air officers, senior officers and junior officers.

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6
United Kingdom
	Marshal of the Royal Air Force1	Air Chief Marshal	Air Marshal	Air Vice-Marshal	Air Commodore
Abbreviation	MRAF	Air Chf Mshl or ACM	Air Mshl or AM	AVM	Air Cdre

NATO Code	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2
United Kingdom
	Air Commodore	Group Captain	Wing Commander	Squadron Leader	Flight Lieutenant
Abbreviation	Air Cdre	Gp Capt	Wg Cdr	Sqn Ldr	Flt Lt

NATO Code	OF-1		OF(D)	Student Officer
United Kingdom
	Flying Officer	Pilot Officer		Officer Cadet or Student Officer
Abbreviation	Fg Off	Plt Off	A/Plt Off	OCdt