U.S. Air Force Ranks
22 grades — from Airman Basic to General of the Air Force.
Enlisted
The backbone of every branch — non-commissioned service members and the NCO leaders who train and lead them.
E-1AB
Airman Basic
No insignia
E-2Amn
Airman
One chevron
E-3A1C
Airman First Class
Two chevrons
E-4SrA
Senior Airman
Three chevrons
E-5SSgt
Staff Sergeant
Four chevrons
E-6TSgt
Technical Sergeant
Five chevrons
E-7MSgt
Master Sergeant
Six chevrons
E-8SMSgt
Senior Master Sergeant
Seven chevrons
E-9CMSgt
Chief Master Sergeant
Eight chevrons
E-9SCCM
Command Chief Master Sergeant
Eight chevrons, star
E-9SCMSAF
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Eight chevrons, stars
Officer
Commissioned leaders responsible for command, strategy, policy, and the welfare of the service members under their authority.
O-12d Lt
Second Lieutenant
Gold bar
O-21st Lt
First Lieutenant
Silver bar
O-3Capt
Captain
Two silver bars
O-4Maj
Major
Gold oak leaf
O-5Lt Col
Lieutenant Colonel
Silver oak leaf
O-6Col
Colonel
Silver eagle
O-7Brig Gen
Brigadier General
One star
O-8Maj Gen
Major General
Two stars
O-9Lt Gen
Lieutenant General
Three stars
O-10Gen
General
Four stars
O-11GAF
General of the Air Force
Five stars (wartime only)
