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Air Force Rank Structure

|Purpose |

|THIS LESSON INTRODUCES THE AIR FORCE RANK STRUCTURE. IT PROVIDES|

|INFORMATION ON OFFICER AND ENLISTED RANKS, GRADES, AND INSIGNIA. |

|UPON COMPLETION OF THIS LESSON, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AIR |

|FORCE RANK STRUCTURE BY RANK, GRADE, AND INSIGNIA AND IN ORDER OF|

|SENIORITY. |

Introduction

The Air Force, like the other services, has distinctive insignia to identify its military members. It has officers and enlisted personnel in the same pay grades as the other services. Unlike the other services however, it does not have Warrant Officers.

Background

The National Security Act of 1947 established the United States Air Force. Prior to that time, the Air Force was an organization within a branch of the United States Army. Its official lineage began August 1, 1907, when the U.S. Army Signal Corps formed an Aeronautical Division. The unit was upgraded to an Aviation Section (air section) from the Signal Corps, making it a distinctive branch of service called the Army Air Service. In 1926, the branch became the Army Air Corps. Finally, in 1947, it became what is currently the U.S. Air Force.

History

Since the Air Force was a part of the Army, the rank structure evolution was the same beginning October 13, 1775. The present system of officers’ grade insignia began on June 18, 1780, when it was prescribed that Major Generals would wear two stars and Brigadier Generals one star on each epaulette. In 1832, the Colonel’s eagle was initiated. In 1836, leaves were adopted for Lieutenant Colonels and Majors, while Captains received two bars and one bar was prescribed for First Lieutenant. Second Lieutenants received the gold bar in December 1917.

U.S. Air Force chevrons trace their origin from 1864 when a request was made for a distinctive rank insignia. With the creation of the Army Air Service, their device became a winged propeller design in its chevron. After the Air Force became a separate branch of the military, there was a time of transition. The chevrons retained the “Army look.” Enlisted personnel were still “soldiers” until 1950, when they became “airmen” to distinguish them from “soldiers” or “sailors.”

No documented rationale exists for the design of the present Air Force enlisted chevrons, except the minutes from a March 9, 1948 Pentagon meeting, which states that chevron designs were circulated at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. A group of 150 soldiers (airmen) was polled and 55 percent selected the design used today. The Air Force Chief of Staff approved the choice of the enlisted majority.

The inverted and curved chevron of today’s Air Force distinguishes them from the noncommissioned and petty officers of other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Air Force Rank Structure

The Air Force rank structure consists of officers and enlisted personnel. The enlisted personnel are subdivided into two categories, just as the other services. These two categories are noncommissioned officers and airman personnel. The pay grades are the same as the other services.

Officer Rank Structure

Rank Grade

• General 0-10

• Lieutenant General 0-9

• Major General 0-8

• Brigadier General 0-7

• Colonel 0-6

• Lieutenant Colonel 0-5

• Major 0-4

• Captain 0-3

• First Lieutenant 0-2

• Second Lieutenant 0-1

The officer insignia is shown below.

Enlisted Rank Structure

Rank Grade

• Master Chief Petty Officer E-9

of the Air Force

• Command Chief Master Sergeant E-9

• First Sergeant E-9

• Chief Master Sergeant E-8

• First Sergeant E-8

• Senior Master Sergeant E-8

• First Sergeant E-7

• Master Sergeant E-7

• Technical Sergeant E-6

• Staff Sergeant E-5

• Senior Airman E-4

• Airman First Class E-3

• Airman E-2

• Airman Basic E-1

Conclusion

During this lesson, you have learned about the U.S. Air Force rank structure. The Armed Forces Rank Structure Chart provides a refresher and comparison of all branches of the Armed Forces.(

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