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United States Air Force facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Seal of the United States Department of the Air Force.svg

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. It was a part of the United States Army until September 18, 1947. The USAF is the largest and most of technologically advanced air force in the world. It has thousands of aircraft in service including bombers, fighter aircraft, transports and other kinds, and hundreds of Intercontinental ballistic missiles. Hundreds of thousands of men and women are on active duty in the Air Force and others are in the Reserves and the United States National Guard.

Officer Ranks

Pay grade O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6 O-7 O-8 O-9 O-10 Special
Insignia US-O1 insignia.svg US-O2 insignia.svg US-O3 insignia.svg US-O4 insignia.svg US-O5 insignia.svg US-O6 insignia.svg US-O7 insignia.svg US-O8 insignia.svg US-O9 insignia.svg US-O10 insignia.svg US-O11 insignia.svg
Title Second
Lieutenant
First
Lieutenant
Captain Major Lieutenant
Colonel
Colonel Brigadier
General
Major
General
Lieutenant
General
General General
of the Air Force
Abbreviation2 2d Lt 1st Lt Capt Maj Lt Col Col Brig Gen Maj Gen Lt Gen Gen GAF
NATO Code OF-1 OF-2 OF-3 OF-4 OF-5 OF-6 OF-7 OF-8 OF-9 OF-10

1 Awarded as an honorary rank or during periods of a declared war.
2 No periods are used in actual grade abbreviation.

Warrant officers

The Air Force warrant officer ranks, while authorized by law, are not used.

Enlisted airmen

Pararescue.training exercise
Pararescuemen and a simulated "survivor" watch as an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter comes in for a landing.
US DoD Pay grade E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 E-6 E-7 E-8 E-9
Insignia No Insignia E2 USAF AM.svg E3 USAF AM1.svg E4 USAF SAM.svg E5 USAF SSGT.svg E6 USAF TSGT.svg E7a USAF MSGT.svg E7b USAF 1STSGT1.svg E8a USAF SMSGT.svg E8b USAF 1STSGT2.svg E9a USAF CMSGT.svg E9b USAF 1STSGT3.svg E9c USAF CCMS.svg E9d USAF CMSAF.svg
Title Airman
Basic
Airman Airman First
Class
Senior
Airman
Staff
Sergeant
Technical
Sergeant
Master
Sergeant¹
Senior Master
Sergeant¹
Chief Master
Sergeant¹
Command Chief
Master Sergeant
Chief Master Sergeant
of the Air Force
Abbreviation AB Amn A1C SrA SSgt TSgt MSgt SMSgt CMSgt CCM CMSAF
NATO Code OR-1 OR-2 OR-3 OR-4 OR-5 OR-6 OR-7 OR-8 OR-9 OR-9 OR-9

¹ The USAF does not have a separate First Sergeant rank; it is instead a duty denoted by a diamond within the upper field.


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