US Air Force Enlisted Rank Timeline

1947-2004


1947-1976

Pay Grade September
1947
April
1949
April
1952
Dec.
1958
Feb.
1959
March
1967
Oct.
1967
June
1976
pre-1949 post-1949
  E-9   USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
of the Air Force
USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
of the Air Force
  USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
  E-8   USAF Chevron
Senior Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Senior Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Senior Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Senior Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Senior Master Sergeant
1 E-7
USAF Chevron
First Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
2 E-6 USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
3 E-5
USAF Chevron
Staff
Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Technician
3rd Grade
USAF Chevron
Staff Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Staff Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Staff Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Staff Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Staff Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Staff Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Staff Sergeant
4 E-4
USAF Chevron
Sergeant
 
USAF Chevron
Technician
4th Grade
USAF Chevron
Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Airman 1st Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 1st Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 1st Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 1st Class
USAF Chevron
Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Senior Airman
5 E-3
USAF Chevron
Corporal
USAF Chevron
Technician
5th Grade
USAF Chevron
Corporal
USAF Chevron
Airman 2nd Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 2nd Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 2nd Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 2nd Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 1st Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 1st Class
6 E-2 USAF Chevron
Private 1st Class
USAF Chevron
Private 1st Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 3rd Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 3rd Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 3rd Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 3rd Class
USAF Chevron
Airman
USAF Chevron
Airman
7 E-1  
Private
 
Private
 
Basic Airman
 
Basic Airman
 
Airman Basic
 
Airman Basic
 
Airman Basic
 
Airman Basic
September
1947
April
1949
April
1952
Dec.
1958
Feb.
1959
March
1967
Oct.
1967
June
1976

 

1976-present

Pay Grade June 1976 1993 November 2004
E-9 USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
of the Air Force
USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
of the Air Force
USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
of the Air Force
USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant
E-8 USAF Chevron
Senior Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Senior Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Senior Master Sergeant
E-7 USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Master Sergeant
E-6 USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Technical Sergeant
E-5 USAF Chevron
Staff Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Staff Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Staff Sergeant
E-4 USAF Chevron
Sergeant
USAF Chevron
Senior Airman
USAF Chevron
Senior Airman
USAF Chevron
Senior Airman
E-3 USAF Chevron
Airman 1st Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 1st Class
USAF Chevron
Airman 1st Class
E-2 USAF Chevron
Airman
USAF Chevron
Airman
USAF Chevron
Airman
E-1  
Airman Basic
 
Airman Basic
 
Airman Basic
June 1976 1993 November 2004

Reference:

US Department of the Air Force, Air Force Historical Research Agency, A Timeline of the Enlisted Rank Chevron of the United States Air Force, 1993


All text and images © Justin T. Broderick, 2013 unless otherwise indicated.