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I'm the kind of Marine who prefers to avoid the deer in the headlights experience as often as possible. Its unprofessional and bad for business.
With that being said, I took it upon myself to learn the ranks and insignia for all five branches fairly early on in my career. After my boot camp and combat training I spent several months training at NAS Pensacola, where besides the obvious huge amount of Sailors, there was also a small presence of Air Force Personnel.
My confusion comes when we begin to discuss Air Force 1st Sergeants. In the Marine Corps we have 1stSgts (E-8) who function as a senior enlisted man at a company level unit, beyond that there are Sergeants Major (E-9). However in the Air Force, it appears as though there are First Sergeants at E-7, E-8 and E-9, along with the Command Chief Master Sergeant, who I can only hope functions as the equivalent of a Sergeant Major (his star is familiar territory). My question is, where does that leave the E-9 Chief Master Sergeant/1st Sergeant? My only guess is that a Chief Master Sergeant would function in a similar way to a Master Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps, as a senior expert within his particular field, then the E-9 First Sergeant and Command Chief Master Sergeant relationship is akin to that of a Sergeant Major and a Command Sergeant Major in the Army.
Am I even Close?
With that being said, I took it upon myself to learn the ranks and insignia for all five branches fairly early on in my career. After my boot camp and combat training I spent several months training at NAS Pensacola, where besides the obvious huge amount of Sailors, there was also a small presence of Air Force Personnel.
My confusion comes when we begin to discuss Air Force 1st Sergeants. In the Marine Corps we have 1stSgts (E-8) who function as a senior enlisted man at a company level unit, beyond that there are Sergeants Major (E-9). However in the Air Force, it appears as though there are First Sergeants at E-7, E-8 and E-9, along with the Command Chief Master Sergeant, who I can only hope functions as the equivalent of a Sergeant Major (his star is familiar territory). My question is, where does that leave the E-9 Chief Master Sergeant/1st Sergeant? My only guess is that a Chief Master Sergeant would function in a similar way to a Master Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps, as a senior expert within his particular field, then the E-9 First Sergeant and Command Chief Master Sergeant relationship is akin to that of a Sergeant Major and a Command Sergeant Major in the Army.
Am I even Close?
Rank
Air Force
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 4
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Cpl,
That's a very good question of which I'll try to answer it. Also, I've attached the link to the AF's instruction for the enlisted force structure at the bottom of this post.
To sum it up: E7's, E8's and E9's are considered Senior NCOs much like the other components, but in order to be a first sergeant, in the Air Force, it is considered a special SNCO position, "...First sergeants provide a dedicated focal point for all readiness, health, morale, welfare, and quality of life issues within their organizations. At home station and in expeditionary environments, their primary responsibility is to build and maintain a mission-ready force to execute home station and expeditionary mission requirements..." These SNCO's are positioned outside the operation focus of units to focus on the direct readiness of our Airmen within those units. Oh, by the way, any SNCO (E7, E8, E9) can be a first sergeant...
Now, to E8 and E9...these SNCO's are considered the top leaders in their career field and provide operational and strategic level advice to commanders from Colonel's to Generals depending on their unit level.
For the Command Chief Master...this rank is a key advisor to the commander...as stated in the instruction..."...Command Chief Master Sergeant (CCM). The CCM is the senior enlisted leader in a wing,
NAF, MAJCOM, DRU, FOA, or other similar organization. The CCM is responsible for advising commanders and staff on mission effectiveness, professional development, military readiness, training, utilization, health, morale, and welfare of the command’s enlisted Airmen and takes action to address shortfalls or challenges. The CCM provides leadership to the enlisted force and is the functional manager for group superintendents and first sergeants in their organization..." I hope this answers your questions.
The AF instruction for further reading is located here: http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2618/afi36-2618.pdf
MSgt Dahl
That's a very good question of which I'll try to answer it. Also, I've attached the link to the AF's instruction for the enlisted force structure at the bottom of this post.
To sum it up: E7's, E8's and E9's are considered Senior NCOs much like the other components, but in order to be a first sergeant, in the Air Force, it is considered a special SNCO position, "...First sergeants provide a dedicated focal point for all readiness, health, morale, welfare, and quality of life issues within their organizations. At home station and in expeditionary environments, their primary responsibility is to build and maintain a mission-ready force to execute home station and expeditionary mission requirements..." These SNCO's are positioned outside the operation focus of units to focus on the direct readiness of our Airmen within those units. Oh, by the way, any SNCO (E7, E8, E9) can be a first sergeant...
Now, to E8 and E9...these SNCO's are considered the top leaders in their career field and provide operational and strategic level advice to commanders from Colonel's to Generals depending on their unit level.
For the Command Chief Master...this rank is a key advisor to the commander...as stated in the instruction..."...Command Chief Master Sergeant (CCM). The CCM is the senior enlisted leader in a wing,
NAF, MAJCOM, DRU, FOA, or other similar organization. The CCM is responsible for advising commanders and staff on mission effectiveness, professional development, military readiness, training, utilization, health, morale, and welfare of the command’s enlisted Airmen and takes action to address shortfalls or challenges. The CCM provides leadership to the enlisted force and is the functional manager for group superintendents and first sergeants in their organization..." I hope this answers your questions.
The AF instruction for further reading is located here: http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2618/afi36-2618.pdf
MSgt Dahl
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SSgt Gregory Guina
TSgt Joshua Copeland Similar to the Marines as far as scope/responsiblities for the senior enlisted go. We have 1stSgt at the Company level and they are basically the SEL for the Company commander. Then ther eis the Sgt Maj at the bn level as the SEL for the Battalion Commander. 1stSgts and SgtMaj typically take care of the morale/legalaspects within a BN while the MSgt (E8) and the MGySgt (E9) are the SME.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
We still have E8/E9 from that Sq's AFSC(MOS) that fullfil the operational side of the house. Our 1st Sgts operate more as CC advisors on personnel issues other than operational. You might have a 1st Sgt with an Aircraft Mx background working in a Comm unit and a 1st Sgt with a Dental background working in a Muntions Unit.
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SMSgt Brent Black
Cpl Harrison, just want to provide a little more clarity . . . As a former Air Force First Sergeant, I have a little experience in this department. I've also served six years active duty Navy and three years Army Guard. (Sorry, no USMC. Although I was offered the opportunity to earn a commission as a Marine, but I turned it down. What can I say, I was young and stubborn.) As stated previously in this thread, an AF First Sergeant is the principal adviser to the commander on all matters pertaining to the health, morale, and welfare of the squadron enlisted. With that said, in officer-heavy squadrons (flying squadrons and med squadrons), First Sergeants also assist with matters that effect officers. I was originally an aircraft maintainer, and have been a First Sergeant for Security Forces, Aerial Port, and Aeromedical Evacuation. In the Air Force, First Sergeant is a Special Duty. First Sergeants serve for three years, with an option to serve an additional three upon the recommendation of the squadron commander and the Command Chief. If a First Sergeant chooses to leave the special duty after three or six years, they return to their original career field. There are some cases (of which I am one), that the six year mark is exceeded due to various circumstances. In those cases, the SNCO can return to their original career field at a reduced skill-level, or crosstrain to a new career field. As far as the different ranks of an AF First Sergeant, the size of the squadron determines the First Sergeant's rank.The Command Chief is the equivalent of a Command Sergeant Major. Just to expound on something that MSgt Dahl said . . . All SNCOs are not only technical experts in their respective career fields, they are also expected to be enlisted leaders and role models for NCOs and junior enlisted (and sometimes junior officers). I am also a facilitator for the Air Force Reserve Command's SNCO Leadership Course. One of the differences I've found between the Air Force and the other services is that Air Force E-7s sell themselves short. There's a big difference between the way an Air Force Master Sergeant and a Navy Chief, or a Gunnery Sergeant are viewed (by subordinates as well as officers). Yes, E-8s and E-9s have more experience and corporate knowledge, but all SNCOs are important as senior enlisted leaders! Thank you for your service in the Corps! And good on you for taking a vested interest in your military career by exploring the workings of your sister services! I have a feeling you will go far!
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Corporal,
Great thing about the AF and Army is that you can pretty much get away with calling anyone wearing a bunch of strips SERGEANT. True eights and nine are a bit touchy about it. I've figure if your service selected you to be an NCO at any pay grade, you should proudly accept the respect that is intended to accompany the greeting of SERGEANT. FYI, once upon a time, the Air Force two ranks at E-4, Senior Airman and Sergeant.
Great thing about the AF and Army is that you can pretty much get away with calling anyone wearing a bunch of strips SERGEANT. True eights and nine are a bit touchy about it. I've figure if your service selected you to be an NCO at any pay grade, you should proudly accept the respect that is intended to accompany the greeting of SERGEANT. FYI, once upon a time, the Air Force two ranks at E-4, Senior Airman and Sergeant.
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Sgt (Join to see) I think the easy correlation is they are equivalent to the Navy Senior Enlisted Leader/Advisor or the Navy's Command Chief, Command Senior Chief and Command Master Chief.
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