Air Force E-8/E-9

2014-08-26T16:59:58-04:00

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?

Response by SMSgt Robert Dahl made Aug 26 at 2014 5:12 PM

2014-08-26T17:12:09-04:00

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

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2014 10:36 PM

2014-10-17T22:36:41-04:00

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member 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.

Response by CSM Christopher St. Cyr made May 1 at 2016 8:45 PM

2016-05-01T20:45:53-04:00

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.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Oct 13 at 2020 11:44 PM

2020-10-13T23:44:02-04:00

Don't confuse pay grades with billets (assigned jobs). In the USCG/USN, every command has a senior enlisted member serving as an advisor to the CO. In the USCG, command CPO's (E-7/8/9) are usually collateral duties. Only our larger commands have full time Command Master Chiefs (E-9). Person may not be senior to his peers, but will hold position power due to the close relationship to the CO.
Biggest perks are a parking space next to the CO and access to the liquor locker at sea. Senior Petty officers may have many roles within a command regardless of their pay grade. Those E-7s who successfully juggle all their duties make it to E-8 and E-9.