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United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia

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The chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Air Force.

  1. ^ a b c Air Force first sergeants are considered temporary and lateral ranks and are senior to their non-diamond counterparts. First sergeants revert to their permanent rank within their paygrade upon leaving assignment.[1]

While all Air Force military personnel are referred to as airmen, it can specifically refer to the pay grades of E-1 through E-4, which are below the level of non-commissioned officers (NCOs).[2] Above the pay grade of E-4 (E-5 through E-9) all ranks fall into the category of NCO and are further subdivided into NCOs (E-5 and E-6) and senior NCOs (E-7 through E-9); the term junior NCO is sometimes used to refer to staff sergeants and technical sergeants (E-5 and E-6).[2]

The Air Force and Space Force are the only ones of the six branches of the United States military where NCO status is now only achieved at the grade of E-5. Formerly, the grade of sergeant was obtained after a time as a senior airman and successful completion of the Air Force NCO School. In all other branches, NCO status can be achieved at the grade of E-4 (a corporal in the Army and Marine Corps, petty officer third class in the Navy and Coast Guard). However, E-4s in the Army with the rank of specialist are not NCOs. The Air Force mirrored the Army from 1976 to 2 May 1991 with an E-4 being either a senior airman wearing three stripes without a star or a sergeant (informally referred to as a "buck sergeant") which was noted by the presence of the central star and considered an NCO.[3] Despite not being an NCO, a senior airman who has completed Airman Leadership School can be a supervisor.[2]

History

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1976–1991 USAF E-4 (senior airman) rank insignia, without silver star in the middle
Rank insignia for senior NCOs in the USAF featured three rockers prior to 1991.

Although the United States Air Force came into being as an independent uniformed service with the National Security Act of 1947, it retained the United States Army Air Forces rank structure and corresponding insignia of years past. This rank structure provided for seven enlisted ranks: private, private first class, corporal/technician fifth grade, sergeant/technician fourth grade, staff sergeant/technician third grade, technical sergeant, and master sergeant/first sergeant. Additionally, Air Force personnel were still referred to as "soldiers".[3] During World War II, many USAAF NCOs wore the Army Air Corps branch insignia of the winged propeller underneath their chevrons.[4]

Changes to the rank structure were proposed almost immediately, but did not start occurring until the next year. In late 1947 and early 1948, new chevron designs were tested at Bolling Air Force Base. The style preferred was the one used today, the inverted chevron. Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt Vandenberg approved the new chevron on 9 March 1948.[3] A new Air Force "Uxbridge blue" uniform, silver-gray-on-blue-backing stripes, and black leather boots replaced the U.S. Army Air Corps' olive drab uniform, olive drab-on-dark-blue-backing stripes, and russet leather boots in 1949. Old russet leather gear items like boots and holsters were re-dyed and polished black. Air Force personnel were allowed to wear their old World War II-pattern uniforms and rank insignia until July 1952. Recolored Army "hash marks" and overseas service bars were worn on the uniform until 1957.

Although the new chevrons were approved, the titles did not change. Two years passed before General Vandenberg, in February 1950, ordered all enlisted personnel in the Air Force be referred to as "airman" (singular) and "airmen" (plural) rather than "soldiers". A further two years would go by while the enlisted rank structure was studied and changes proposed. The end results finally became effective on 24 April 1952 with the release of a revised Air Force Regulation (AFR) 39–36. This revision changed the names of the enlisted ranks to basic airman, airman third class, airman second class, airman first class (with resultant loss of NCO status that was not restored until 1967), staff sergeant, technical sergeant and master sergeant.[3]

With the new titles came a proposal for new rank insignia for airman third class through airman first class. The proposed insignia had horizontal stripes for airman third class through airman first class while NCOs kept their inverted chevrons. The purpose of the two different types of insignia was to more readily differentiate the airman and NCO tiers while increasing the prestige of the latter. These were not approved at the time of the release of the revised regulation. When they were finally approved by General Vandenberg in December 1952, procurement of these stripes was deferred until approximately June 1955. This change was eventually reversed, on 12 March 1956, by General Vandenberg's successor, General Twining.[3] On 20 September 2021, the United States Space Force released several media graphics depicting the new rank insignia for enlisted personnel. The information sheets described the designs for the enlisted ranks took inspiration from Vandenberg's proposals from 1952, noted as "Vandenberg Stripes".

1952 proposed rank insignia for E4–E2
  • Airman 1st class
    Airman 1st class
  • Airman 2nd class
    Airman 2nd class
  • Airman 3rd class
    Airman 3rd class

During his tenure, General Twining also approved the diamond insignia for first sergeants. This became available on 21 September 1955.[3] With this approval, the foundations of the first seven ranks and insignia the Air Force uses today were in place.

The next major change came with the Military Pay Act of 1958. This established the pay grades of E-8 and E-9 but without corresponding rank titles. The titles of senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant were chosen between July and December 1958 after comments were solicited from the major Air Force commands of the day. After much discussion, the insignia for these two ranks were designed by simply adding one and two chevrons to the top of the master sergeant insignia (for E-8 and E-9 respectively), each stripe pointing up.[3]

The rank of basic airman was renamed to airman basic on 5 February 1959, still with no insignia attached.[3]

The next series of changes to Air Force enlisted ranks did not occur for almost eight years. In January 1967 the position of Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force was created. This position gained its own special insignia, the chief master sergeant chevrons with a wreath encircling the center star. On 1 August 1967 the lower enlisted rank names changed (revised AFR 39–36 on 19 October 1967) renamed to airman third class, airman second class and airman first class to airman, airman first class and sergeant (known unofficially as "buck sergeant" by the NCO ranks at the time) respectively. This returned sergeant to the rank structure as the first step in the NCO tier as a retention move but required achievement of a 5-skill Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) level. No changes to the respective insignias were made.[3][a]

In a 30 December 1975, directive the grade of sergeant was split into two separate ranks while retaining the grade of E-4. Senior airman was the last junior enlisted tier rank while sergeant remained the first rank in the NCO tier. The impetus behind this was to laterally promote senior E-4 airmen who were ready for NCO responsibilities but not prepared to take on the role of a staff sergeant. This permitted airmen who had not yet reached the AFSC 5-skill level to achieve the pay grade of E-4. To differentiate the two ranks, the directive changed the silver star in the center of airman, airman first class and senior airman changed to blue while the star on sergeant chevrons remained silver. Having two ranks within one grade mirrored the Army's specialist/corporal division of E-4. This dual role lasted until March 1991, when then Chief of Staff General McPeak terminated the rank of sergeant effective 2 May 1991. This termination was due in part to the manning reductions that occurred in the post–Cold War drawdowns of the early 1990s. The last of the "buck sergeants" would have either been promoted or discharged under High Year Tenure by December 1998.[3]

The year 1991 also saw the last major change to the enlisted rank insignia. In October 1991 General McPeak and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Pfingston announced that the senior NCO tier would have new chevron layouts and that all chevrons would have a white star in the center. The change in senior NCO chevrons was the first since chevrons came into being in 1948. Until that time, master sergeant had been composed of six inverted chevrons (six down) with none pointing up, senior master sergeant six down with one up and chief master sergeant six down with two up. The new layout changed the insignia to the current layout (see chart above). The second change, changing the star color to white, was actually two changes in one. It added a star to the airman through senior airman rank insignias where there had been none since 1 June 1976[4] (the blue star carried by these chevrons was the same color as the blue in the stripes giving the impression that the star was not there) and changing the silver star on the NCO and senior NCO chevrons to white.[3]

CMSAF insignia changes
  • CMSAF chevrons (1967–1991)
    CMSAF chevrons (1967–1991)
  • CMSAF chevrons (1991 – October 2004)
    CMSAF chevrons (1991 – October 2004)
  • CMSAF chevrons (November 2004 – present)
    CMSAF chevrons (November 2004 – present)

In November 1998, the duty position of senior enlisted advisor was changed to command chief master sergeant. Along with the change, the addition of a star in the empty blue area between the chevrons was added to denote those holding this position.

In November 2004, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force insignia was updated to include the Great Seal of the United States with a white star on either side. These additions were placed in the empty blue area between the chevrons.

In December 2019, the duty position of senior enlisted advisor to the chairman (SEAC) was given a unique rank insignia. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ramon Colon-Lopez, the fourth senior enlisted advisor to the chairman, is to be the first to wear the new Air Force version of the insignia.[5]

SEAC
  • Special rank insignia for the United States Air Force
    Special rank insignia for the United States Air Force

Timeline of changes

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This table shows changes in insignia, from 1947 until the present.[6][7][8][3][9][10][11]

Uniformed services pay grade Special E-9 E-8 E-7 E-6 E-5 E-4 E-3 E-2 E-1
September
1947 		No equivalent
 No insignia
First sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Technician 3rd grade Sergeant Technician 4th grade Corporal Technician 5th grade Private 1st class Private
March
1948 		No equivalent
 No insignia
Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private 1st class Private
April
1952 		No equivalent
 No insignia
Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Airman 1st class Airman 2nd class Airman 3rd class Basic airman
September
1954 		No equivalent
 No insignia
First sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Airman 1st class Airman 2nd class Airman 3rd class Basic airman
May
1958 		No equivalent
 No insignia
First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant First sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Airman 1st class Airman 2nd class Airman 3rd class Basic airman
February
1959 		No equivalent
 No insignia
First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant First sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Airman 1st class Airman 2nd class Airman 3rd class Airman basic
April
1967 		No insignia
Chief master sergeant
of the Air Force 		First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant First sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Airman 1st class Airman 2nd class Airman 3rd class Airman basic
October
1967 		No insignia
Chief master sergeant
of the air force 		First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant First sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Sergeant Airman 1st class Airman Airman basic
June
1976 		No insignia
Chief master sergeant
of the air force 		First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant First sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Sergeant Senior airman Airman 1st class Airman Airman recruit
March
1991 		No insignia
Chief master sergeant
of the Air Force 		First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant First sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Senior airman Airman 1st class Airman Airman recruit
October
1991 		No insignia
Chief master sergeant of the Air Force First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Senior airman Airman first class Airman Airman basic
November
1998 		No insignia
Chief master sergeant of the Air Force Command chief master sergeant First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Senior airman Airman first class Airman Airman basic
November
2004 		No insignia
Chief master sergeant of the Air Force Command chief master sergeant First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Senior airman Airman first class Airman Airman basic
December
2019 		No insignia
Senior enlisted advisor to the chairman Chief master sergeant of the Air Force Command chief master sergeant First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Senior airman Airman first class Airman Airman basic
August
2020 		No insignia
Senior enlisted advisor to the chairman Chief master sergeant of the Air Force Senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau Command chief master sergeant First sergeant Chief master sergeant First sergeant Senior master sergeant First sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Senior airman Airman first class Airman Airman basic
NATO Code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1

Civil Air Patrol

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Former military enlisted personnel from E-4[b] up may choose to retain their grade as senior members in the Civil Air Patrol, with grades E-5 (CAP staff sergeant) through E-9 (CAP chief master sergeant) available. Former CAP national commander, Major Gen Carr, unveiled plans to restructure the CAP NCO program to allow individuals to "enlist" as NCOs and progress through a specific professional development program. According to an air force article on the subject, "The current design of the NCO corps in the CAP only allows former active-duty NCOs to be a part of the corps, with no upgrade training for promotion within the ranks. The newly signed corps structure will mirror the Air Force NCO force structure with an established process to promote and develop NCOs."[13] By 2018 a professional development and promotion pathway was in place for former military enlisted personnel who joined CAP at their previous rank.[14]

Uniformed services pay grade Special E-9 E-8 E-7 E-6 E-5 E-4 E-3 E-2 E-1
Civil Air Patrol[15]
Chief master sergeant Senior master sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1

See also

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Explanatory notes

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  1. ^ On 1 July 1969 the Air Force Serial Number was changed to the member's social security number (SSAN). This change was for all grades and the three major U.S. military forces including guard and reserve components. The commandant of the USMC did not adopt the serial number change to his forces.
  2. ^ With those at E-4 made CAP staff sergeant[12]

References

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  1. ^ Barnett, Robert (12 December 2012). "Air Force first sergeants work to help Airmen". Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Air Force Instruction 36-2618, The Enlisted Force Structure (PDF). United States Air Force. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Spink, Barry L. (19 February 1992). A Chronology of the Enlisted Rank Chevron of the United States Air Force (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b Powers, Rod (2 April 2018). "Air Force Enlisted Rank (Insignia) History".
  5. ^ "SEAC Troxell announces new positional rank insignia". www.af.mil. USAF. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  6. ^ A Chronology of the Air Force Enlisted Chevrons (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  7. ^ "US Air Force Enlisted Rank Timeline 1947-2004". Uniform-Reference. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  8. ^ Boyne, Walter J. (1 March 2008). "A Study in Stripes". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  9. ^ Matthews, Richard E. (6 December 1995). Research paper on the History behind AF Enlisted Chevrons (PDF). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  10. ^ Castillo, Luis Jr. (23 October 1995). The Evolution of Senior and Chief Master Sergeants (PDF). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  11. ^ Warnock, Charles D. (12 July 1997). Research paper on Enlisted Stripes (PDF). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Your Intro Chief". gocivilairpatrol.com. Civil Air Patrol. 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  13. ^ Leslie, Carlin (21 October 2013). "New NCO Corps Structure for Civil Air Patrol Announced". AF.mil.
  14. ^ Office of the National Commander - Civil Air Patrol (4 September 2018). "Memorandum for all CAP Members" (PDF). gocivilairpatrol.com. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  15. ^ "NCO PROGRAM". pawg.cap.gov. Civil Air Patrol Pennsylvania Wing. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
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