Senior Airman - History

History

Formerly, from 1976 to 1991, this grade was divided into ranks with separate titles: sergeant (referred to unofficially but almost universally within the USAF as "buck sergeant" or simply "buck"), a non-commissioned officer; and senior airman, which is the equivalent of specialist, a non-supervisory rank. Senior airmen were promoted to sergeant after 12 months' time in grade and completion of the now-defunct non-commissioned officer preparatory course. This schism reflected a desire by the Air Force in 1976 to subdivide enlisted ranks into a three-tier organization, a move which was resisted by the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, resulting in the compromise dual-rank that lasted fifteen years. The last Air Force promotions to sergeant were effective 1 May 1991. Those personnel who had been promoted to sergeant prior to this cut off date retained the rank until being promoted to a higher rank or leaving the service. There are no longer any personnel on active duty who hold this rank. Due to high year of tenure rules in effect at the time, the last person to hold the rank was forced out of the Air Force on 23 March 1998. Sergeants wore the same chevrons as present-day senior airmen. Senior airmen wore similar chevrons, but with a blue (green on the fatigue or battle dress uniform) subdued central star, as did all airmen in the lowest tier.

As with any change in policy, many airmen supported this change, while others protested. The grades of senior airman and sergeant held the same pay grade, but sergeants were expected to supervise other airmen as part of their duties as non-commissioned officers. Those Air Force members against the change protested that the rank of sergeant prepared airmen for transition to staff sergeant, and that new staff sergeants would therefore be less well-trained for their new position. Air Force personnel who supported the change argued that proper leadership training eliminated the need for a separate rank within the pay grade; moreover, the rank created disparity between individuals earning the same pay and benefits and, often, performing the same duties, since often there were no additional junior airmen in a given duty section for a new buck sergeant to supervise. Today, senior airmen who complete Airman Leadership School may supervise lower-ranking airmen but are not considered non-commissioned officers.

Senior airmen are the lowest USAF rank eligible for selection as a USAF recruiter, and as a military training instructor for USAF basic military training.

Today, the USAF is again the only United States military service that does not have an non-commissioned officer rank at the E-4 pay grade. Previously, from 1947 to 1952, and from 1967 to 1997, the rank of sergeant was an NCO rank in the USAF. In the interim, from 1952 to 1967, the paygrade rank was titled Airman First Class.