Chief Master Sergeant
Encyclopedia
CMSgt Chevron
Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank
United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia
The chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Air Force.While all Air Force military personnel are referred to as Airmen, it can specifically refer to the pay grades of E-1 through E-4 which are below the level of non-commissioned officers...
in the U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, just above Senior Master Sergeant
Senior Master Sergeant
Senior Master Sergeant is the eighth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Master Sergeant and below Chief Master Sergeant and is a senior non-commissioned officer ....
, and is a senior non-commissioned officer. The official term of address is "Chief Master Sergeant" or "Chief".
Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is the pinnacle of an Air Force enlisted member's career. Some Chief Master Sergeants manage the efforts of all enlisted personnel within their unit or major subsection thereof, while others run major staff functions at higher headquarters levels. All Chief Master Sergeants are expected to serve as mentors for company-grade and field-grade commissioned officers, as well as noncommissioned officers and junior enlisted members, and to serve as advisors to unit commanders and senior officers.
By federal law, only one percent of the Air Force enlisted force may hold the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.
Special duty positions
E-9 First Sergeant insignia
CCM insignia
(1998–present)
CMSAF Chevron
(Nov 2004–present)
First Sergeant
The special duty position of First SergeantFirst Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
is the senior enlisted advisor to a unit commander. First Sergeants can be of pay grades E-7 to E-9; while they are referred to officially as "First Sergeant" regardless of their pay grade, they are unofficially referred to as "First Shirt", or simply "The Shirt".
Command Chief Master Sergeant
The position of Command Chief Master Sergeant (CCM) was renamed in November 1998. Formerly titled Senior Enlisted Advisor, Command Chief Master Sergeants serve as senior advisors to commanders at Wing, Numbered Air Force (NAF), Field Operating Agency (FOA), and Major Command (MAJCOM) levels. In a Joint command, when an Air Force Chief Master Sergeant fills a DoD-nominative Command Senior Enlisted Leader position (see Note), that individual is also designated as a Command Chief Master Sergeant. Command Chiefs advise the Commander on all enlisted matters, including all issues affecting the command's mission and operations, and the readiness, training, utilization, morale, technical and professional development, and quality of life of all enlisted members in the organization. Command Chiefs are the functional managers for First Sergeants in their entire command/organization.- NOTE: Joint Command Senior Enlisted Leader (aka Senior Enlisted Advisor) positions are those that require individuals to hold the following ranks: Army Command Sergeant Major (CSM), Marine Corps Sergeant Major (SgtMaj), Navy Command, Force or Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer (CMDCM, FORCM or FLTCM), Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant (CCM), or Coast Guard Command Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO). In order to fill Joint DoD-nominative Joint Command Senior Enlisted Leader positions, each military service nominates one individual to the Joint Commander/Director.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
The post of Chief Master Sergeant of the Air ForceChief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and post represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests,...
(CMSAF) is unique. The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is selected by the Air Force Chief of Staff. The CMSAF is the senior enlisted member in the Air Force, with a 3-star protocol equivalency. The CMSAF represents the entire Air Force enlisted force, and speaks on behalf of the enlisted members of the Air Force to Air Force and DoD senior leadership and, when requested, to Congress. As of 30 June 2009, the current Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is CMSgt James A. Roy
James A. Roy
James A. Roy is the 16th and current Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force beginning on 30 June 2009. He was previously the Senior Enlisted Leader and Advisor for United States Pacific Command. The previous CMSAF Rodney J...
.
NOTE: The CMSAF is one of six Service Senior Enlisted Leaders. Each of the five U.S. Armed Services has a rank for the senior enlisted member of that service. Only one Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman or Coast Guardsman can hold this rank at any one time, although they continue to hold the rank upon retirement. The positions are: Sergeant Major of the Army
Sergeant Major of the Army
The Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Army. The holder of this rank is the most senior enlisted member of the Army, unless an Army NCO is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, when in that case that NCO will be the most senior...
(SMA), Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is a unique non-commissioned rank and billet in the United States Marine Corps....
(SgtMajMC), Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy, which has a paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and post is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S...
(MCPON), Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and post represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests,...
(CMSAF), and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Coast Guard.The holder of this rank and post is the senior enlisted member of the U.S...
(MCPOCG). There is an additional position, senior to the other five, of Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman is a military position within the United States Department of Defense and is the most senior noncommissioned or petty officer overall in the United States Armed Forces...
, who may be a member of any of the five services. The six, while nominally holding pay-grade E-9, receive a special pay rate superior to other E-9s, which is unaffected by the incumbent's longevity.
Historical notes
ObsoleteCMSgt Chevron
(1958–1994)
Although the Air Force had been an independent service since 1947, the rank of Chief Master Sergeant did not come into being until the authorization of the Military Pay Act of 1958. This act established the pay grades of E-8 and E-9, but without specifying titles for those pay grades. It wasn't until late 1958 that the title of Chief Master Sergeant (and the accompanying rank insignia) was decided upon.
The original Chief Master Sergeant rank insignia (1958–1994) consisted of 2 chevrons on top, 3 stripes in the middle, and 3 rockers on bottom.
Until his retirement in 2003, Chief Master Sergeant Norman Marous
Norman Marous
Norman Marous at the time of his retirement, was the oldest, longest serving noncommissioned officer in the United States Air Force, with 41 and 1/2 years of service...
was the Air Force's most senior Chief Master Sergeant, having served in the Air Force since 1962. Marous left active duty in 1962 to spend 22 years in the USAF Reserve and National Guard before returning to active duty as a Chief Master Sergeant in 1989.