The rank insignia of a U.S. Space Force chief master sergeant is displayed on the sleeve of the new service dress uniform before a graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Dec. 18, 2025. The ceremony marked the first time the uniform was worn at a Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training graduation, highlighting the Space Force’s growing identity and presence within the joint enlisted training pipeline. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jonathan R. Mallard)
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2026 USAF & USSF Almanac: Rank Insignia of the USAF & USSF
June 18, 2026
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USAF & USSF Rank Insignia — Grades Almanac 2026
Rank Insignia
United States Air Force & Space Force · Grades Almanac 2026
USAFUSSF
Show:
Air Force
Air ForceOfficersO-1 through O-10
O-1
Second Lieutenant
O-2
First Lieutenant
O-3
Captain
O-4
Major
O-5
Lieutenant Colonel
O-6
Colonel
O-7
Brigadier General
O-8
Major General
O-9
Lieutenant General
O-10
General
Air ForceWarrant OfficersW-1 through CW-5
W-1
Warrant Officer W-1
CW-2
Chief Warrant Officer 2
CW-3
Chief Warrant Officer 3
CW-4
Chief Warrant Officer 4
CW-5
Chief Warrant Officer 5
Air ForceEnlistedE-1 through CMSAF
No insignia
E-1
Airman Basic
E-2
Airman
E-3
Airman First Class
E-4
Senior Airman
E-5
Staff Sergeant
E-6
Technical Sergeant
E-7
Master Sergeant / First Sergeant
E-8
Senior Master Sergeant / First Sergeant
E-9
Chief Master Sergeant
CMSAF
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Air Force · First Sergeant & Command Chief variants
E-7
First Sergeant
Duty variant
E-8
First Sergeant
Duty variant
E-9
First Sergeant
Duty variant
E-9
Command Chief Master Sergeant
Duty variant
Space ForceOfficersO-1 through O-10
O-1
Second Lieutenant
O-2
First Lieutenant
O-3
Captain
O-4
Major
O-5
Lieutenant Colonel
O-6
Colonel
O-7
Brigadier General
O-8
Major General
O-9
Lieutenant General
O-10
General
Space ForceEnlistedE-1 (Spc 1) through CMSSF
E-1
Specialist 1
E-2
Specialist 2
E-3
Specialist 3
E-4
Specialist 4
E-5
Sergeant
E-6
Technical Sergeant
E-7
Master Sergeant
E-8
Senior Master Sergeant
E-9
Chief Master Sergeant
CMSSF
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
Source: Grades Insignia Almanac 2026, p. 49. Insignia images extracted directly from the official publication.
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org
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