My Son just made Captain in August this year.. He joined right after Highschool so he's been in for 20 years as of April 2023.. I spoke with him about a month ago, and we were talking about jobs and things out here.. And he told me that he's staying in the Air Force until they drag him out to Gate.
Think they changed MSgt from 6 stripes down to 5 down/1 over back in the mid 1980‘s. When I went active duty in 1976 E-4 was initially a „Buck“ Sergeant. Then they switched to Senior Airman(a solid blue center star) and Buck Sergeant (a silver center star). Buck Sergeant was gained by attending Airman Leadership School. And when you made Staff Sergeant, you had to sew on „Buck“ Sergeant stripes for a day before sewing on SSgt. ‚Buck“Sergeant phased out in 1991 or so along with the solid blue center star. I believe the new Master Sergeant rank with 3 stripes over was an attempt at the old `‘top 3% „of enlisted grades. The total percentage of enlisted personnel reaching the top grade of „Chief Master Sergeant (E9)„ was 1%. With 2% of the enlisted force attaining Senior Master Sergeant (E8). Originally Master Sergeant wasn’t in the top 3%….but was the lowest of the „Senior“ Enlisted grades. As a retired Master Sergeant, I wore many „hats“ depending on availability/need of the Squadron. NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge) of a shop, of a branch, Maintenance Superintendent, Chief of Maintenance (an officers position usually a Major in my old unit) until an actual Major could be assigned, 1st Sergeant and Acting Commander (LT Col) position when unit deployed and left personnel behind (our unit rarely deployed 100% , we always left 30-40 airman behind to keep things running). The 1st Sergeant and Acting Commander positions would go to the ranking airman remaining when the rest of the unit deployed, so a Master Sergeant filled the spots as we took turns rotating who would deploy. 100% of the officers deployed from 2nd lieutenants to LT Col. In my old unit. So that was 23 years ago and I’m sure things have changed but I wonder how many base commanders now would be comfortable leaving a enlisted person in charge of one of their squadrons? I think my old base commander had a lot of trust in both my squadron commander and his decision to leave the unit in the hands of one of his Senior NCO‘s. My last duty assignment was in an Air Control Squadron which deployed every 12 months or so…..what fun! Cheers
I would have liked a short Air Force enlistment, say a 2 year open contract. I would have worked harder to pass the written tests just to get E-4. Might have taken me to the final 3 months of service just to get that promotion. Gotta know your job or you are in "Dutch".
Gen. „Hap“ Arnold was a 5 star general. He was General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. He was the ONLY person to hold 5 star rank in 2 branches of service and the ONLY Air Force 5 star General. Cheers
1st sergeant in the USAF, whether E7 E8 or E9( rarely will you see e8 or e9, but it happens) work directly for the Squadron CC. Their duties are the same regardless of pay grade this was harder to watch than i imagined
my brother did 21 yrs in the AF, left a an E-6, tech sgt.. to this day he claims this is normal, and that he was an exceptional airman, and that those that achieved higher rank are "ass kissers". i find that hard to believe, can anyone enlighten me on this. was he a slug, just waiting to be pushed out. i heard the common phrase "move up or move out" , does the Air Force not have this ???
E-6 (TSgt) is average depending upon the time period. If he joined in the 1950s, the SSgt (E-5) would have been average with all of the rank freezes etc. During the 80s, E-7 MSgt was more likely but not average for a 20 year career. Pay grades E8 and E-9 are basically the top 2 and 1% of the enlisted force (by law on 2% as E-8s and 1% E-9). That is unless they changed it. In the late 80s, it was easier to make full Col. than make E-9. No disrespect to Chiefs (real Chiefs, that is).
My Son just made Captain in August this year.. He joined right after Highschool so he's been in for 20 years as of April 2023.. I spoke with him about a month ago, and we were talking about jobs and things out here.. And he told me that he's staying in the Air Force until they drag him out to Gate.
lol
Captain? 20 years he should be a major or Lt colonel.
@@bossK78 He had enlisted time.
Think they changed MSgt from 6 stripes down to 5 down/1 over back in the mid 1980‘s. When I went active duty in 1976 E-4 was initially a „Buck“ Sergeant. Then they switched to Senior Airman(a solid blue center star) and Buck Sergeant (a silver center star). Buck Sergeant was gained by attending Airman Leadership School. And when you made Staff Sergeant, you had to sew on „Buck“ Sergeant stripes for a day before sewing on SSgt. ‚Buck“Sergeant phased out in 1991 or so along with the solid blue center star. I believe the new Master Sergeant rank with 3 stripes over was an attempt at the old `‘top 3% „of enlisted grades. The total percentage of enlisted personnel reaching the top grade of „Chief Master Sergeant (E9)„ was 1%. With 2% of the enlisted force attaining Senior Master Sergeant (E8). Originally Master Sergeant wasn’t in the top 3%….but was the lowest of the „Senior“ Enlisted grades. As a retired Master Sergeant, I wore many „hats“ depending on availability/need of the Squadron. NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge) of a shop, of a branch, Maintenance Superintendent, Chief of Maintenance (an officers position usually a Major in my old unit) until an actual Major could be assigned, 1st Sergeant and Acting Commander (LT Col) position when unit deployed and left personnel behind (our unit rarely deployed 100% , we always left 30-40 airman behind to keep things running). The 1st Sergeant and Acting Commander positions would go to the ranking airman remaining when the rest of the unit deployed, so a Master Sergeant filled the spots as we took turns rotating who would deploy. 100% of the officers deployed from 2nd lieutenants to LT Col. In my old unit. So that was 23 years ago and I’m sure things have changed but I wonder how many base commanders now would be comfortable leaving a enlisted person in charge of one of their squadrons? I think my old base commander had a lot of trust in both my squadron commander and his decision to leave the unit in the hands of one of his Senior NCO‘s. My last duty assignment was in an Air Control Squadron which deployed every 12 months or so…..what fun! Cheers
I would have liked a short Air Force enlistment, say a 2 year open contract. I would have worked harder to pass the written tests just to get E-4. Might have taken me to the final 3 months of service just to get that promotion. Gotta know your job or you are in "Dutch".
No written test for senior airmen
Gen Arnold maybe 10star general. Once he was Gen of Army Air Corps and then Gen of Air Force.
Gen. „Hap“ Arnold was a 5 star general. He was General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. He was the ONLY person to hold 5 star rank in 2 branches of service and the ONLY Air Force 5 star General. Cheers
You forgot the Air Force auxiliary
your E2 back ground is the graduating class of OCS ( Officer Candidate School) do your home work please
Its not a curved chevron, its a rocker, do more homework please, for the love of God please stop embarrassing my branch
roof top, im done
you got diamond right!!! grats!!!
1st sergeant in the USAF, whether E7 E8 or E9( rarely will you see e8 or e9, but it happens) work directly for the Squadron CC. Their duties are the same regardless of pay grade
this was harder to watch than i imagined
First Lieutenant goes back from job yet or not?
3.43 mal afeitado
my brother did 21 yrs in the AF, left a an E-6, tech sgt.. to this day he claims this is normal, and that he was an exceptional airman, and that those that achieved higher rank are "ass kissers". i find that hard to believe, can anyone enlighten me on this. was he a slug, just waiting to be pushed out. i heard the common phrase "move up or move out" , does the Air Force not have this ???
E-6 (TSgt) is average depending upon the time period. If he joined in the 1950s, the SSgt (E-5) would have been average with all of the rank freezes etc. During the 80s, E-7 MSgt was more likely but not average for a 20 year career. Pay grades E8 and E-9 are basically the top 2 and 1% of the enlisted force (by law on 2% as E-8s and 1% E-9). That is unless they changed it. In the late 80s, it was easier to make full Col. than make E-9. No disrespect to Chiefs (real Chiefs, that is).
When did they change the insignia. Use to be 6 down and 2 across the top.