| Warrant Officer of the Royal Australian Air Force (WOFF-AF) | |
|---|---|
_WOFF-AF_rank_ins.svg){kind=icon} Ralph Clifton since 1 December 2022 | |
| Style | Warrant Officer of the Air Force (Warrant Officer) |
| Inaugural holder | Richard (Dick) Newton |
| Website | WOFF-AF |
Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF) is the senior Warrant Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is a singular appointment, being it is only held by one person at any time. The special insignia for the WOFF-AF is the Australian Coat of Arms encircled by a wreath of Australian native flora. The current Warrant Officer of the Air Force is Ralph Clifton.[1]
Similar to the United States Air Force practice of appointing a Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force,[citation needed] the WOFF-AF is responsible to the Chief of Air Force (CAF). The post was created in 1993, by the then Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Barry Gration, to provide a conduit between Air Force's senior leadership and the airman ranks.[2]
The WOFF-AF is head of the Royal Australian Air Force's Senior Enlisted Leadership Team (SELT). The SELT comprises all Tier C and Tier B Warrant Officers (E-9) in the Air Force. The members of the SELT have the responsibility of providing support to command, support to the workforce, and welfare for all. The SELT comprises Air Force Warrant Officers selected for Tier progression by CAF to perform the roles of Warrant Officer of the Air Force, Air Force Headquarters and RAAF Air Command Warrant Officers, along with Group, Wing or Base Warrant Officer positions located within Air Force. Tier Warrant Officer positions provide the Warrant Officers with direct contact to Commanders, Executive Staff as well as Senior Officers and Airmen.
The SELT participate in open discussion forums designed to look at issues facing Air Force and enlisted personnel now and in the future. This enables a shared understanding of matters affecting Air Force and enlisted personnel across the whole Force, and where appropriate the Australian Defence Force (ADF). With the SELT geographically dispersed across the country, it is important that there is a common understanding of the issues in Air Force, ADF and with enlisted personnel.
Under the leadership of the WOFF-AF, the SELT continuously look within themselves to ensure they are developing core behaviours as a team to support a culture of Inclusive Leadership. Within the Australian Defence Force, the Air Force contributes highly skilled and agile senior enlisted leaders to undertake key appointments in the Joint environment, in both strategic and operational roles.
Since 2017, upon appointment to the position of WOFF-AF, E-9 Warrant Officers are promoted to the Enlisted Rank of E-10.[citation needed]
The WOFF-AF appointment is an equal peer to the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A) in the Australian Army and Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N) in the Royal Australian Navy.
