United States Air Force Enlisted Ranks

The **United States Air Force (USAF)** has eleven different enlisted ranks. Unlike the other branches of the United States Military it doesn't have any warrant officers. Enlisted service personnel perform jobs specific to their own occupational specialty, as opposed to the more generalized command responsibilities of commissioned officers. Enlisted Officers can apply to become Commissioned Officers, dependent on their function, performance and leadership ability this may be granted to them or not on a case by case basis.

## All Ranks

### Basic Airman

This lowest rank is commonly known as slick-sleeves for unlike the lowests ranks of the other armed forces of the United States Basic Airman don't have their own insignia.

An airman basic in the U.S. Air Force is the lowest enlisted rank possible. It is equivalent to the rank of private in the Army/Marines and seaman recruit in the Navy/Coast Guard. Airman basic is the typical entry-level rank for newly enlisted members of the Air Force.

Airman basics are responsible for graduating basic training, becoming accustomed to military customs and courtesies, maintaining Air Force physical and professional standards, and learning technical skills. Airman basics typically spend a lot of time in training and shadowing more experienced enlisted personnel. Most basic airman are promoted to full bird Airman within six to eight months. Their pay grade is E-1.

### Airman

An airman in the U.S. Air Force is the second lowest enlisted rank and directly above airman basic. It is equivalent to the rank of private in the Army, private first class in the Marines, and seaman apprentice in the Navy/Coast Guard. Airman is the also an entry-level rank for newly or recently enlisted members of the Air Force.

Airmen are responsible for continue initial training and adjusting to life in the Air Force. Airmen typically spend a lot of time in training and shadowing more experienced enlisted personnel just like airman basics. Most airmen are enrolled in schools for their duty specialty. The actual length of this training varies by job but could be as long as one year.

Airman is both the most common rank among the enlisted officers and a general term for anybody in the United States Air Force. So technically even the General of the Air Force is still an airman. Many personnel are immediately promoted to the rank of Airman after completing the Air Force basic training given one of several additional qualifications:

* Having completed at least two years of a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Junior ROTC) while in high school.
* Having achieved the Eagle Scout level from the Boy Scouts of America, or the Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
* Having earned 20 college semester credit hours (30 quarter hours).

Those enlistees who have qualified for these early promotions to the rank of Airman are allowed to wear their single airman insignia stripe during the Air Force basic training graduation ceremony.

Airmen are often nicknamed “mosquito wings" due to the insignia's resemblance to a mosquito’s small wings. Their pay grade is E-2.

### Airman First Class

Promotion to Airman First Class occurs upon one or more of the following:

* Completion of 10 months time in the grade of Airman (or earlier for Airmen with specific specialities)
* Completion of three years of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) sponsored by any of the four branches of the service
* Completion of two years of college-level Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
* Earning the Billy Mitchell Award in the Civil Air Patrol.
* Completion of at least 45 semester hours or at least 67 quarter hours of accredited junior college/college credits.
* Agreeing to an extended-length enlistment (normally six years).

An airman first class in the U.S. Air Force is the third lowest enlisted rank and directly above airman. It is equivalent to the rank of private first class in the Army, lance corporal in the Marines, and seaman in the Navy/Coast Guard. Airman first class can be an entry-level rank for newly or recently enlisted members of the Air Force but also suggests greater experience and leadership abilities.

Airmen first class are expected to be fully adjusted and knowledgeable of the Air Force lifestyle and standards. They will be expected to help younger airmen adjust to the military life. Also, airmen first class will be expected to effectually carry out duties and polishing their duty specialty skills. Airmen first class should also expect to begin planning their career objectives and further educational training. This includes a plan to obtain a bachelor's degree. Their pay grade is E-3.

### Senior Airman

A senior airman in the U.S. Air Force is the fourth lowest enlisted rank and directly above airman first class. It is equivalent to the rank of specialist or corporal in the Army/Marines, and petty officer third class in the Navy/Coast Guard. A senior airman is the first enlisted rank that is rarely awarded to an entry-level airman. They have greater responsibility and are expected to be more knowledgeable than younger airmen.

Senior airmen should be technically effective at their skill or be close to proficient. More experienced senior airmen may also be supervising younger airmen. Most senior airmen are expected to begin developing leadership abilities in preparation for becoming a non-commissioned officer (NCO). Some senior airmen may also be selected to be a recruiter or a military training instructor at basic training.

Senior airmen should also be completing coursework en-route to an associate's or bachelor's degree. In addition, senior airmen should expect to attend the Airman Leadership School, a six-week professional military education course, in order to hone their leadership skills.

The Air Force promotes an Airman First Class (A1C) to Senior Airman after 36 months time in service (TIS) and 20 months time in grade (TIG), or 28 months TIG, whichever occurs first. Outstanding Airmen First Class, limited to no more than 15 percent of the total, may be promoted to Senior Airmen six months early, in a competitive process called Below-the-Zone, which normally involves going before a competitive board. Senior Airmen are expected to be technically proficient and begin to develop leadership skills, and may be expected to supervise an Airman of lesser rank.

Senior Airmen must attend the six-week Airman Leadership School, the first course of the Air Force's college of enlisted professional military education, before being promoted to staff sergeant. SrA with no projected promotion and between three and six years TIS, may attend Airman Leadership School. Their pay grade is E-4.

### Staff Sergeant

This is the Air Force's first non-commissioned officer rank, as well as the first Air Force rank to which promotion is attained on a competitive basis.

A staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force is the lowest non-commissioned officer rank and directly above senior airman. It is equivalent to the rank of sergeant in the Army/Marines, and petty officer second class in the Navy/Coast Guard. Staff sergeants are expected to be proficient in their skill and their professionalism.

In addition to being proficient in their skill, staff sergeants must also be comfortable in leading younger airmen and addressing their concerns and duties. Most staff sergeants will be go-to supervisors of a department and work directly with officers in ensuring the mission takes place. Staff sergeants must also be proficient in writing performance reports as well as addressing memorandums. Finally, staff sergeants should also help any new officer adjust and learn about the lives of the enlisted force in the department.

Staff sergeants should also be completing coursework en-route to an associate's or bachelor's degree. In addition, staff sergeants must have attended the Airman Leadership School, a six-week professional military education course, in preparation for the work of a non-commissioned officer.

Staff sergeants are expected to be technically proficient and function as first-line supervisors within a 'work center'. After being selected for promotion, senior airmen must attend six-week Airman Leadership School, which teaches them basic leadership skills and how to write performance reports to become staff sergeant. SrA with no projected promotion and between three and six years TIS, may attend Airman Leadership School. The term of address is "Staff Sergeant" or "Sergeant". High year of tenure is 20 years as of 2018. Their pay grade is E-5.

### Technical Sergeant

A technical sergeant is a noncommissioned officer and abbreviated as TSgt (without point). Official terms of address are "technical sergeant" or "sergeant"[, although many use "tech sergeant" in informal situations.

A technical sergeant in the U.S. Air Force is the second non-commissioned officer rank and directly above staff sergeant. It is equivalent to the rank of staff sergeant in the Army/Marines, and petty officer first class in the Navy/Coast Guard. Technical sergeants are expected to be very proficient in their skill and to assume a varying number of responsibilities.

Technical sergeants should be masters of their craft and should be able to instruct other airmen or officers in their skills. They should have very developed leadership skills as well as attention to detail. In many specialties, technical sergeants are the NCO-in charge of a flight or department. They are the go-to person for both officers and enlisted. Technical sergeants must also be well versed in writing performance reports as well as addressing memorandums.

Technical sergeants should also be completing coursework en-route to a bachelor's degree. In addition, technical sergeants should be participating in activities that will further develop his or her skills, leadership, and intellectual abilities.

Promotion to technical sergeant has historically been the second-most difficult rank to achieve (only the rank of senior master sergeant, capped by federal law, has lower promotion rates) and is the most difficult promotion that most career air force members achieve. A staff sergeant must have served at least 23 months in grade to be considered for promotion to technical sergeant. It normally takes 10–12 total years of service to attain this pay grade. Technical sergeants mentor junior enlisted personnel while preparing themselves for promotion to master sergeant, the entry rank of the senior non-commissioned grades. All Technical Sergeant are expected to apply themselves to getting promoted to Master Sergeants, every year a certain number of Technical Sergeants are promoted by a promotion commission. Their pay grade is E-6.

### Master Sergeant

It is abbreviated as MSgt. Advancement to master sergeant is one of the most significant promotions within the enlisted Air Force. At the rank of master sergeant, the airman enters the senior non-commissioned tier and transitions his or her duties from front line technicians and supervisors to operational leaders. An operational leader develops his or her leadership and management skills since this rank carries increased broad leadership, supervisory, and managerial responsibilities rather than technical performance.

A master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force is the first senior non-commissioned officer rank and directly above technical sergeant. It is equivalent to the rank of sergeant first class in the Army, gunnery sergeant in the Marines, and chief petty officer in the Navy/Coast Guard. Master sergeants transition from supervising and operating to leading.

Master sergeants serve in roles such as s superintendents, flight chiefs, section chiefs, and non-commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC). They should have very developed leadership skills as well as attention to detail. They are the go-to person for both officers and enlisted. Many newly commissioned lieutenants are instructed to attache themselves to a master sergeant in order to quickly learn the craft and working environment. Master sergeants must also be well versed in writing performance reports as well as addressing memorandums.

Master sergeants may also serve as a first sergeant or leading sergeant. The duties in this capacity are more focused on the overall wellbeing of the enlisted members of a unit.

Master sergeants should also be completing coursework en-route to a bachelor's degree. However, many master sergeants will have already completed his or her degree. In addition, master sergeants should be participating in activities that will further develop his or her skills, leadership, and intellectual abilities.

Per Air Force Instruction 36-2618, master sergeants do serve in positions as squadron superintendents, flight chiefs, section chiefs, and Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC). Master sergeants are the lowest rank in the Air Force at which one can hold the special duty position and responsibilities of a first sergeant. Air Force first sergeants occupy the pay grades of E-7 through E-9 and are referred to officially as "first sergeant" regardless of pay grade, and unofficially as "first shirt" or "shirt". Their pay grade is E-7.

### Senior Master Sergeant

SMSgts are key, experienced, operational leaders, skilled at merging their personnel's talents, skills, and resources with other teams' functions to most effectively accomplish the mission. SMSgts continue to develop their leadership and management skills in preparation for expanded responsibilities and higher leadership positions. SMSgts normally operate at the operational level of leadership.

A senior master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force is the second senior non-commissioned officer rank and directly above master sergeant. It is equivalent to the rank of master sergeant in the Army/Marines, and senior chief petty officer in the Navy/Coast Guard. Senior master sergeants are very experienced operational leaders in any unit.

Senior master sergeants are typically superintendents and mentors to junior NCOs and junior officers. They should be very experienced leaders and managers assigned to high-level units in the Air Force. Many senior master sergeants will also find themselves in staff functions assigned to a high-ranking officer. In units with a large number of enlisted personnel, senior master sergeants are ultimately responsible for their training and work.

Senior master sergeants may also serve as a first sergeant or leading sergeant. The duties in this capacity are more focused on the overall wellbeing of the enlisted members of a unit.

Senior master sergeants should also be completing coursework en-route to a bachelor's degree. However, many senior master sergeants will have already completed his or her degree. Some may also have a post-baccalaureate education as well. In addition, senior master sergeants should be participating in activities that will further develop his or her skills, leadership, and intellectual abilities.

Promotion to senior master sergeant is the most difficult enlisted promotion to attain in the Air Force. It is the second enlisted grade to which results of a central promotion board is the only factor in selection for promotion. Usually, less than ten percent of eligible master sergeants are selected for promotion to senior master sergeant in most years. Selectees typically have vast technical and leadership experience gained from a broad variety of assignments at both line and staff functions throughout their careers. Additionally, the successful candidate will typically have completed an associate's or bachelor's degree in their Air Force specialty as well as the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Correspondence Course and have had their latest performance report endorsed by a senior rater, usually a colonel or brigadier general.

Senior master sergeants typically assume superintendent duties, overseeing enlisted members' efforts to accomplish a major segment of a unit's mission, in preparation for promotion to the rank of chief master sergeant. They are expected to serve as mentors for noncommissioned and junior commissioned officers.

Senior master sergeants in the first sergeant special duty serve as first sergeants of larger units than those employing master sergeants as first sergeants.Public Law 107-107 of the "National Defense Authorization Act", establishes senior enlisted strength levels for all branches of the US military. Currently, only 2.5 percent of the Air Force's total active duty enlisted strength may hold this rank, making it the most difficult enlisted rank to obtain.

Senior master sergeants are sometimes referred to by the nickname of "Senior". Their pay grade is E-8.

### Chief Master Sergeant

The official term is "Chief Master Sergeant" or "Chief". Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is the pinnacle of an Air Force enlisted person's career. Some Chief Master Sergeants manage the efforts of all enlisted personnel within their unit or major subsection while others run major staff functions at higher headquarters levels. All Chief Master Sergeants are expected to serve as mentors for non-commissioned officers and junior enlisted members, and to serve as advisers to unit commanders and senior officers. There are three specializations within the rank these are: Senior Enlisted Advisor, Group Superintendent or Squadron Superintendent.

A chief master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force is the highest senior non-commissioned officer rank and directly above senior master sergeant. It is equivalent to the rank of sergeant major in the Army, master gunnery sergeant/sergeant major in the Marines, and master chief petty officer in the Navy/Coast Guard.

As the highest ranked enlisted members in the service, chief master sergeants are responsible for all the enlisted personnel within their unit. Many chief master sergeants will also serve on staff positions at higher-level units. Both company grade and field grade officers are expected to reach out to the chief master sergeant for training and experience. Many commanders and general officers will have chief master sergeants as advisers as well.

As a group superintendent, chief master sergeants are basically responsible for creating policies that ensure the success of the mission by the enlisted force. Their goal is to improve innovations and efficiency throughout the entire unit.

Chief master sergeants should have completed their collegiate education and be working towards further enrichment in their training and knowledge.

By federal law, roughly one percent of the Air Force enlisted force may hold the rank of chief master sergeant. Their pay grade is E-9.

### Command Chief Master Sergeant

A command chief master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force is special title and role that a chief master sergeant can be. It is equivalent to the rank of command sergeant major in the Army, sergeant major in the Marines, and command master chief petty officer in the Navy/Coast Guard.

Command chief master sergeants are senior advisors to top commanders in certain organizations that include Wings, Number Air Forces, and Major Commands. Despite a different title, command chief master sergeants still fulfill the duties and responsibilities of chief master sergeants. This includes being responsible for all the enlisted personnel in the unit as well as ensuring that the mission is successful.

Command chief master sergeants also provide advice and leadership to the other senior non-commissioned officers and first sergeants in their unit. Their rank is distinguished with a star between the upper and lower chevrons.

Originally this was a specialization withing the rank of Chief Master Sergeant, now are rare few of them will make promotion to this rank. They serve as senior advisors to commanders at key levels of command; these include Wings, Numbered Air Forces, Field Operating Agencies, and Major Commands. Command Chiefs advise the unit commanders on all enlisted matters, including all issues affecting the command's mission and operations, and the readiness, training, utilization, morale, technical and professional development, and quality of life of all enlisted members in the organization. Command Chiefs hold a reporting identifier of CCMs. CCMs provide leadership to the enlisted force and are the functional managers for group superintendents and first sergeants in their organizations. Their pay grade is still E-9.

### Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and position of office represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public, and to those in all levels of government.

The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is the highest ranked enlisted member in pay-grade and responsibility. It is equivalent to the rank of Sergeant Major of the Army/Marines in the Army/Marines, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy/Coast Guard. The current CMSAF is Chief Master Sergeant James A. Cody. (As of April 2016)

The CMSAF is responsible for the morale, training, readiness, and quality of life for all the enlisted personnel in the Air Force. He/she works directly as an advisor for the Air Force Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force.

The CMSAF also provides advice and leadership to the other senior non-commissioned officers throughout the Air Force. Their rank is distinguished with two stars and the Great Seal of the USA between the upper and lower chevrons.

The one exception to the status of the CMSAF as the highest-ranking enlisted member of the Air Force, which has yet to occur, is when an Air Force chief is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this instance, the SEAC would outrank the CMSAF. The CMSAF is appointed by the Air Force Chief of Staff (AF/CC) and serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the Air Force Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force. His or her pay grade is still E-9.

## Insignia Gallery

2 Airman3 Airman First Class4 Senior Airman5 Staff Sergeant6 Technical Sergeant7 Master Sergeant8 Senior Master Sergeant9 Chief Master Sergeant10 Command Chief Masters Sergeant11 Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
## Notes

* The Air Force doesn't have a seperate First Sergeant rank; it is instead a duty denoted by a diamond within the upper field, which is the reason why Master Sergeant, Senior Master Sergeant and Chief Master Sergeant have two different insignia.
* Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force has two insignia, one for peace time and one denoting a higher status for war time.