The

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

is organised into a number of operational, support and training formations located at bases across

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. Circa 1998, composite wings in the 95-97 series range were reported to be formed if necessary for operations overseas. In the event,

No. 97 Wing RAAF No. 97 Wing was a temporary formation established on 24 October 1997 to command the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) elements deployed for drought relief purposes to Papua New Guinea during Operation Ples Drai. It was led by Wing Commander Chris ...

was established on 24 October 1997 to command the RAAF elements deployed for drought relief purposes to

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

during

Operation Ples Drai Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...

. It was led by Wing Commander Chris Richards, who was also the commander of the Air Component of Joint Task Force 105 which had been established for this operation.

Air Force structure

Formations

Note: Only select formations as promulgated by CAF are designated as official command (Military) or directorial (APS) appointments :*Rank/Title depends on size/complexity/purpose of the formation :~A junior officer of the Air Force is a

Pilot Officer Pilot officer (Plt Off officially in the RAF; in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly P/O in all services, and still often used in the RAF) is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countri ...

(O1), Flying Officer (O2) or

Flight Lieutenant Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in air forces that use the Royal Air Force (RAF) system of ranks, especially in Commonwealth countries. It has a NATO rank code of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as Flt Lt in the India ...

(O3). Air Force Warrant Officers (WOFF/E9) hold similar standing to a Flying Officer or Flight Lieutenant - depending on time/experience in rank. :*~Air Force public servant non-executive leaders, depending on roles, are designated as; Manager FLTLT(APS5)/SQNLDR(APS6) responsibility depending on size/complexity), Coordinators WOFF(APS4)/FLGOFF(APS4) responsibility), and Officer (APS4 - FSGT/PLTOFF responsibility) :**Air Force senior officers are Squadron Leader (APS6/O4), Wing Commander (EL1/O5), Group Captain (EL2/O6). :**~Air Force executive public servant officers are designated Senior Managers or Deputy Directors (EL1/O5), Director (EL2) or Executive Director (EL2.1/O6) depending on role and level of responsibilities. :Air Force 'Air Officers' (Flag Rank (Navy), General Rank (Army) are Air Commodore (1*), Air Vice Marshal (2*), Air Marshal (3*) and Air Chief Marshal (4*). : Air Force public servants of equivalent air officer rank are; (1*) - SES Band-1/Assistant Secretary, (2*) - SES Band-2/First Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretary (DEPSEC - 3*), and Secretary (SEC - 4*)

Other appointments

* Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) –

Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...

(when RAAF officer) * Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) – Air Marshal (when RAAF officer) *Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS) – Air Marshal (when RAAF officer) *Chief Capability Development Group (CCDG) – Air Marshal (when RAAF officer) *Deputy Chief of Air Force (DCAF) –

Air Vice Marshal Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes u ...

*Commander Integrated Air Defence System (CDR IADS) –

*Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (DCJOPS)/Chief of Staff Headquarters Joint Operations Command (COS HQJOC) –

(when RAAF officer) *Chief Joint Logistics (CJLOG) –

(when RAAF officer) *Chief Information Officer (CIO) –

(when RAAF officer) *Commander Joint Health (CJHLTH)-

(when RAAF officer)

Air Force Headquarters

{{RAAF Royal Australian Air Force Structure of contemporary air forces