US Air Force Ranks In Order

The US Air Force has many ranks, some of these ranks are so similar it can be confusing, as well as in what order they progress in. In this video, we provide a simple guide to the US Air Force Ranks in order.

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[PremierHistory]

Perhaps you or a family member has served or is serving in the Air Force. Which rank do you think is the backbone of the Air Force?

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[george]

My dad rose from a Private in the Army Air Corps to Major General in the Air Force serving over 30 years and during three wars. He was a tough old coot, God love him...

[timothyfinch]

E-4s are the backbone. The term "E-4 Mafia" exists for a reason. They're the people you wanna go to if you want something done, as they always "Know a guy" in basically every career field who can pull some strings for them.

[kenlucero]

As a Air Force Veteran, I believe team work is the backbone of the Air Force

[marytorres]

My grand daughter in the air force and I'm so proud of her 😌😊💖

[johnnier.johnson]

It doesn't matter which branch of the service you are looking at. The backbone of the service is the E-4/E-5.

[aa]

My father was a Major General and his father was a Brigadier general, then his father was a Major general. My whole family were generals; only one was a colonel. They were all serving in the Air Force. :)

[BulletproofPastor]

I am a USAF veteran, discharged honorably in 1976. I was an NCO and attained the rank of Sergeant. I find it dishonoring to now find I am classified as a departing rank of "Senior Airman E4" and no longer considered ever having been an NCO. Retroactively changing a person's rank and classification is a hit on their respect. I was a Sergeant AND and NCO and that's never going to change.

[xShadowFTW]

My father served 28 years in the USAF, retired at E-9 CMSGT. I remember we were at Nellis AFB and he used to be a Buck Sgt, before it was phased out service.

[lord.d_]

My great uncle was held O-6 in the South Vietnamese Air Force. I had a pic of him back in April 1970 when he was awarded Top Gun Trophy, he was O-3 at that time.

[raymondmartin]

When I entered active duty in USAF, after
grad school, at 25.in Oct 1969, I went for
2 months to Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS, 2 Mos
after Hurricane Camille hit the Gulf Coast
in August 1969. I did with other new officers
manage to visit New Orleans, 90 miles west.
Later Jan 1970 until I had 4 and half years,
I was at Pease AF Bade. Portsmouth, NH, and after being the 509th Combat Support
Squadron Section Commander, as a Captain,
with an E7 First Sergeant, and some other
staff, in the barracks building and then administered to 450 Airmen.
I agree that Senior Airman and Jr. NCO's
do most of the daily work.
I first as a 2LT had an E8 and other Airmen
teach me a lot about my position.
As I left active service in 1973 after the
Vietnam War ended.

[annettemalaski]

As far as the backbone is concerned it is the Senior Airman ( what use to be a Sergeant and entry level NCO) and the Staff Sergeant. These two ranks get the responsibility but not the glory. The shop boss and or the squadron CO rely on this rank the most. The younger ranks see them as older "siblings" who have done well.

[nanabutner]

My Dad was a Glider Pilot in WWII. Even though he was a qualified pilot, because he was foreign born(born on madeira island, Portugal in 1915) he was not allowed to be a regular pilot. When the war ended his rank was FLIGHT OFFICER! He stated that he was in the invasion of Sicily, Holland, D-DAY and over the Rhine. He is buried at the NATIONAL CEMETERY in Santa Fe.

[orthadonis]

My grandfather served for over 30 years through 3 wars and was a highly decorated colonel. its sad because he almost made to to a brigadier general but he was never promoted because the war ended

[Animania.]

Great video man, This will help a lot on my Airforce project. 2 good things was your voice was easily understandable and not that long of a video

[Charles]

My cousin is William ( Billy ) Mitchell, on my mother's side of the family. Who is known as the father of the Air force. He was a Pioneer in the use of early aviation air power. He even predicted how airplanes would be utilized in the future. The kicker is, my other cousins on my father's side, are the Wright Brothers ! So both sides of my family made their contributions to aviation in one form or another. Pretty Cool, if I do say so myself ! : )

[AMJDG]

The rank structure of the USAF, Army and Marines are pretty easy - the Navy is the most confusing because a member's rank corresponds with their actual career field - so even members with the same rank can have different titles...

[KevinInPhoenix]

I left the USAF in 1980 as an E-4 Sergeant. This rank no longer exists.

[randieandjodistrom]

I served in the United States Air Force for 30 years. I've commented on other videos of this sort, and when it comes to the US military, the term "rank" is incorrectly applied as the correct term is "grade." Rank only refers to seniority within a grade, i.e., a staff sergeant promoted to that grade prior to other staff sergeants "outranks" them. Next, including First Sergeants, Command Chief Master Sergeants, , the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, and the Senior Enlisted advisor to the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff unnecessarily confuses the entire issue as these are not "grades" or "ranks, " but specific duty roles and have nothing to do with the grade or rank structure of the US Air Force. Regarding Second Lieutenants, I cannot think of any instance where a Second Lieutenant has the opportunity to hold the position of a Flight Chief or Deputy Commander. Achieving the grade of Captain is not "generally" achieved after four years of service, but specifically and exactly achieved when the officer has four years of commissioned service. There are few command positions for Majors, they are, in most cases, staff officers at Wing or Command level. The video is correct with respect to the "General of the Air Force" (5-star) grade as it was "created" during WWII to afford US general officers equal or higher status to foreign grades non-existent in the US such as Field Marshall. The video is incorrect in that no Air Force officer has worn this grade. The only officer to hold this grade was General of the Air Force Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, and the only person to serve in this grade in two services as he held the grade of the General of the Army Air Forces prior to being designated the General of the Air Force. With respect to the final comment in the video, there's no way to determine which "grade" is the "backbone" of the Air Force. The Air Force is a team, and all members of the team, at all grades, are vital to mission success.

[drillsergeant]

I don't remember when I made rank early on, but I made E-5 in 3 years and 11 months. I sat at E-5 for 8 years. I made E-6 at 12 years and E-7 at 17 years. I then turned down a commission, stopped testing and retired at E-7. I loved the USAF and was able to complete my BS and MA all on Tuition assistance, never touching my GI Bill benefits which in those days was free. But, all of my experiences in the USAF was far greater than I could have ever imagined and I would go back in a heartbeat. Love you all.