1. Military Rank and Insignia
Lesson 2.2:
Military Rank and Insignia

2. Lesson Overview Military pay grades and rank insignia
Chapter 1, Lesson 2.2

3. Military Pay Grades and Rank Insignia
The higher the rank, the more responsibility
Pay grade system has two categories:
Officer grades
Enlisted grades
Military Pay Grades and Rank Insignia
Members of the Air Force perform duties that reflect their skill and pay grade; the higher the rank or grade, the more responsibility cadets are given
Rank insignia identify the rank of each member of the armed forces; in each of the armed forces, the pay grade system is broken down into two categories: officer grades and enlisted grades.
Chapter 3, Lesson 2.2
Photo Courtesy of US Air Force

4. Officers Proper methods of address when speaking to officers are:
Lieutenant
Colonel
General
Use full titles for official written correspondence
Officers: Proper methods of address when speaking to officers are:
“Lieutenant” for a second lieutenant and a first lieutenant
“Colonel” for either a lieutenant colonel or a colonel
“General” for all general officers
Use full titles for official written correspondence
Chapter 1, Lesson 2.2
Photo Courtesy of US Air Force

5. Enlisted Enlisted ranks are subdivided into two categories:
Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs)
Airman
NCOs serve in ranks of staff sergeant through chief master sergeant
Enlisted ranks are subdivided into two categories: noncommissioned officer (NCO) and Airman ranks
NCOs are Airmen serving in the ranks of staff sergeant through chief master sergeant
Noncommissioned Officers
The NCO chevron has changed a great deal since the Continental Army, when a brightly colored ribbon tied around the arm identified NCOs
The background of AF chevrons for NCOs is blue, and the stripes are silver with a silver star in the center
Chapter 1, Lesson 2.2
Photo Courtesy of US Air Force

6. Enlisted, cont.
NCOs:
First Sergeants hold a position of trust and responsibility—link between commander and unit
Highest position is chief master sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF)
Airman ranks: Airman basic (AB), Airman (Amn) , Airman first class (A1C), and Senior Airman (SrA)
First sergeants wear a diamond device above the star on their chevrons
These top senior NCOs hold a position of trust and responsibility as the link between the commander and unit personnel
A chief master sergeant is addressed as “chief.” All other sergeants are addressed as “sergeant,” and Airmen in the Grades of E-1 through E-4 are addressed as “Airman”
The highest position held by any enlisted personnel is Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF)
The rank insignia is a chevron of eight stripes with a wreath around the bottom and sides of the star and the Great Seal of the United States of America with two stars in the upper blue field
Airman: There are four Airman ranks:
Airman basic (AB) - An Airman basic (AB) doesn’t wear any rank insignia
Airman (Amn) – An Airman’s rank insignia is a chevron of one silver stripe with a silver star in the middle
Airman first class (A1C) - An AIC rank insignia is a chevron of two silver stripes with a silver star in the middle
Senior Airman (SrA) - The senior Airman rank insignia is a chevron of three silver stripes with a silver star in the middle
Chapter 1, Lesson 2.2
Photo Courtesy of US Air Force

7. AFJROTC Rank Insignia
Officers: Rank insignia for military and cadet officers is very different
Enlisted: Only slight differences exist between enlisted ranks
For cadets: Inside of chevron has torch
Chevron is pointed at the bottom
Chapter 1, Lesson 2.2
Photo Courtesy of Michael Wetzel/US Air Force JROTC

8. Ribbons Ensure proper order based on the AFJROTC ribbon chart
Lowest ribbon worn at the lowest left position
Highest ribbon worn at the top right
Chapter 1, Lesson 2.2

9. The AFJROTC Patch The yellow arrow points to the future
The lamp represents knowledge
Colors of the AF are in the design— ultramarine blue, AF yellow, white, and red
Disc shape used for the JROTC organization
Chapter 1, Lesson 2.2
Photo Courtesy of US Air Force JROTC

10. Activity 4: Rank Insignia of the US Military
Visit the US DoD website and the section on the US Military Rank Insignia
Explore both the Officer and Enlisted Insignia Links, then answer the questions
Chapter 1, Lesson 2

11. Summary Uniform wear and history
Uniform wear, restrictions, and standards
Uniforms used within special teams
Cadet appearance and grooming standards
Military pay grades and rank insignia
Chapter 1, Lesson 2

12. Next…. Done –military rank and insignia
Next – customs and courtesies for Junior ROTC
LESSON OVERVIEW
In this lesson, you will learn about the military uniform and appearance standards. We will cover:
Military pay grades and rank insignia
Chapter 1, Lesson 2.2
Photo Courtesy of Senior Airman Kayla Newman/Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System