United States Space Force rank insignia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

United States Space Force rank insignia are used to indicate the rank and status of its officers and enlisted personnel. Equivalency between the military services is indicated by associated NATO code and pay grade.[1]

Insignia[]

Officer insignia[]

US DoD
pay grade 		O-10 O-9 O-8 O-7 O-6 O-5 O-4 O-3 O-2 O-1 Officer candidate
NATO code OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D)
Insignia US-O10 insignia.svg US-O9 insignia.svg US-O8 insignia.svg US-O7 insignia.svg US-O6 insignia.svg US-O5 insignia.svg US-O4 insignia.svg US-O3 insignia.svg US-O2 insignia.svg US-O1 insignia.svg USAFA Vice Wing Commander.svg
Various insignia
Service dress uniform (Class A) US Air Force O10 shoulderboard.svg US Air Force O9 shoulderboard.svg US Air Force O8 shoulderboard.svg US Air Force O7 shoulderboard.svg US Air Force O6 shoulderboard.svg US Air Force O5 shoulderboard.svg US Air Force O4 shoulderboard.svg US Air Force O3 shoulderboard.svg US Air Force O2 shoulderboard.svg US Air Force O1 shoulderboard.svg
Service uniform (Class B) US Air-force O10 class b.svg US Air-force O9 class b.svg US Air-force O8 class b.svg US Air-force O7 class b.svg US Air-force O6 class b.svg US Air-force O5 class b.svg US Air-force O4 class b.svg US Air-force O3 class b.svg US Air-force O2 class b.svg US Air-force O1 class b.svg
Mess dress uniform US Air-force O10 mess.svg US Air-force O9 mess.svg US Air-force O8 mess.svg US Air-force O7 mess.svg US Air-force O6 mess.svg US Air-force O5 mess.svg US Air-force O4 mess.svg US Air-force O3 mess.svg US Air-force O2 mess.svg US Air-force O1 mess.svg
OCP uniform USSF OCP O10.jpg USSF OCP O9.jpg USSF OCP O8.jpg USSF OCP O7.jpg USSF OCP O6.jpg USSF OCP O5.jpg USSF OCP O4.jpg USSF OCP O3.jpg USSF OCP O2.jpg USSF OCP O1.jpg
Title General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Cadet / Officer trainee
Abbreviation Gen Lt Gen Maj Gen Brig Gen Col Lt Col Maj Capt 1st Lt 2d Lt Cdt / OT

Enlisted insignia[]

US DoD pay grade E-9 E-8 E-7 E-6 E-5 E-4 E-3 E-2 E-1
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Insignia Insignia pending USSF CMSSF Flat.svg USSF CMSgt Flat.svg USSF SMSgt Flat.svg USSF MSgt Flat.svg USSF TSgt Flat.svg USSF Sgt Flat.svg USSF Specialist 4.svg USSF Specialist 3 Flat.svg USSF Specialist 2 Flat.svg USSF Specialist 1 Flat.svg
Title Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Chief master sergeant Senior master sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Sergeant Specialist 4 Specialist 3 Specialist 2 Specialist 1
Abbreviation SEAC CMSSF CMSgt SMSgt MSgt TSgt Sgt Spc4 Spc3 Spc2 Spc1

Rank insignia wear[]

A Space Force general's OCP uniform.[2]

On the service dress uniform metal rank is worn on the epaulets.[3] On the OCP uniform, the Space Force's combat utility uniform, embroidered navy blue rank is worn on an OCP patch on the center of the chest.[2]

History[]

The creation of the Space Force marked the first time since the 1947 creation of the Air Force that a new branch was created. This created an interest in the rank structure and insignia. In February 2020, it was announced that the Space Force would ask military space professionals for opinions on ranks.[4]

Eighty-six graduates of the United States Air Force Academy class of 2020 commissioned directly into the USSF, becoming the service's first new officers and second lieutenants.[5] On July 28, 2020, four general officers from the Air Force were nominated to transfer to the Space Force in their current grade of major general, and then be promoted to lieutenant general.[6][7] On August 6, 2020, a number of Air Force officers were transferred to the Space Force in the ranks of major, lieutenant colonel and colonel. [8] On September 1, 2020, the Air Force transferred 2410 active-duty airmen to the Space Force to become enlisted space professionals.[9] The space professionals were all transferred to the Space Force in their current enlisted ranks.[9][10]

The Space Force was set to announce its new rank structure in late August 2020 but decided to delay it temporarily,[11] as a proposed amendment included in the United States House of Representatives's version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act would require the Space Force to adopt a rank structure based on that of the United States Navy for its officers and enlisted space professionals.[12][13] The Space Force decided to wait until after the 2021 NDAA was passed, before moving forward with their permanent rank structure. While awaiting the passage of the NDAA, all members of the Space Force retained their respective grade and rank carried over from the Air Force.[14] On November 16, 2020, the United States Senate passed the House of Representative's version of the NDAA, but attached an amendment which would remove the clause requiring the Space Force to adopt naval ranks, and sent it back to the House for consideration.[15] The House unanimously disagreed with the Senate's amendment and sent the amended bill back to their armed services committee on November 18, for consideration of passage.[15] The final version of the NDAA removed any requirement for the Space Force to adopt naval ranks.[16][17] The official rank structure became effective on 1 February 2021,[18] which includes the rank of specialist being used for paygrades E-1 to E-4 for the first time since the Army discontinued its use of multiple specialist ranks in 1985.[19] The rank of 'Sergeant' replaces 'Staff Sergeant' as used by the Air Force in the pay grade of E-5.

On 20 September 2021, Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, Roger A. Towberman, announced the selected insignia.[20][21][22]

Enlisted rank insignia development[]

On 2 March 2021, the Space Force released a survey for guardians to give feedback on four sets of enlisted rank insignia. One version of the proposed enlisted rank insignia mirrored the current Air Force design, but with the Air Corps star replaced by the Delta, Globe, and Orbit. Another version resembled Army and Marine Corps enlisted insignia, but with the Delta, Globe, and Orbit at the bottom of the design. A third inverted the Army/Marine Corps' styled chevrons. A fourth option resembled Navy and Coast Guard rank insignia.[23]

US DoD
pay grade 		E-9 E-8 E-7 E-6 E-5 E-4 E-3 E-2 E-1
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Version 1 USASF-OR-9 v1.svg USASF-OR-8 v1.svg USASF-OR-7 v1.svg USASF-OR-6 v1.svg USASF-OR-5 v1.svg USASF-OR-4 v1.svg USASF-OR-3 v1.svg USASF-OR-2 v1.svg No insignia
Version 2 USASF-OR-9 v2.svg USASF-OR-8 v2.svg USASF-OR-7 v2.svg USASF-OR-6 v2.svg USASF-OR-5 v2.svg USASF-OR-4 v2.svg USASF-OR-3 v2.svg USASF-OR-2 v2.svg
Version 3 USASF-OR-9 v3.svg USASF-OR-8 v3.svg USASF-OR-7 v3.svg USASF-OR-6 v3.svg USASF-OR-5 v3.svg USASF-OR-4 v3.svg USASF-OR-3 v3.svg USASF-OR-2 v3.svg
Version 4 USASF-OR-9 v4.svg USASF-OR-8 v4.svg USASF-OR-7 v4.svg USASF-OR-6 v4.svg USASF-OR-5 v4.svg USASF-OR-4 v4.svg USASF-OR-3 v4.svg USASF-OR-2 v4.svg
Title Chief master sergeant Senior master sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Sergeant Specialist 4 Specialist 3 Specialist 2 Specialist 1
Abbreviation CMSgt SMSgt MSgt TSgt Sgt Spc4 Spc3 Spc2 Spc1

Timeline of changes[]

US DoD pay grade E-9 E-8 E-7 E-6 E-5 E-4 E-3 E-2 E-1
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
April 2020 USAF SEAC.svg USSF SEASF.svg E9a USAF CMSGT.svg E8a USAF SMSGT.svg E7a USAF MSGT.svg E6 USAF TSGT.svg E5 USAF SSGT.svg E4 USAF SAM.svg E3 USAF AM1.svg E2 USAF AM.svg No insignia
Senior Enlisted Advisor
to the Chairman 		Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Space Force Chief master sergeant Senior master sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Senior airman Airman first class Airman Airman basic
January 2021 Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Sergeant Specialist 4 Specialist 3 Specialist 2 Specialist 1
September 2021 No insignia released USSF CMSSF Flat.svg USSF CMSgt Flat.svg USSF SMSgt Flat.svg USSF MSgt Flat.svg USSF TSgt Flat.svg USSF Sgt Flat.svg USSF Specialist 4.svg USSF Specialist 3 Flat.svg USSF Specialist 2 Flat.svg USSF Specialist 1 Flat.svg
Senior Enlisted Advisor
to the Chairman 		Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Chief master sergeant Senior master sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Sergeant Specialist 4 Specialist 3 Specialist 2 Specialist 1

See also[]

  • Ranks and insignia of space forces

References[]

  1. ^ "CMSgt Towberman sworn in as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor for the United States Space Force". United States Space Force. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b Seck, Hope Hodge (17 January 2020). "Space Force Offers First Peek at Camouflage Uniform". Military.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  3. ^ "AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 36-2903" (PDF). 7 February 2020.
  4. ^ Erwin, Sandra (13 February 2020). "Space Force soliciting opinions on members' name and ranks". Space News. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  5. ^ Cohen, Rachel S. "USAFA Graduates First Space Force Lieutenants". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  6. ^ "General Officer Announcements".
  7. ^ "Senate.gov - Nominations".
  8. ^ "Congress.gov, PN2172 — Space Force".
  9. ^ a b Kirby, Lynn (1 September 2020). "2.4k Airmen to transfer into Space Force beginning Sept. 1". United States Space Force. Space Force Public Affairs. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  10. ^ White, Kayla (3 September 2020). "AUAB Airmen make history as first deployed Space Force members". United States Space Force. 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  11. ^ {cCite news|author-last=Pawlyk |author-first=Oriana |date=27 August 2020 |title=Space Force Was Set to Announce Its New Rank Structure. Then, Congress Stepped In |work=Military.com |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/08/27/space-force-was-set-announce-its-new-rank-structure-then-congress-stepped.html |access-date=15 October 2020}}
  12. ^ Erwin, Sandra (27 July 2020). "Legislation passed by the House requires the Space Force to use the Navy's rank structure". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  13. ^ Pawlyk, Oriana (21 July 2020). "Space Admiral? House Lawmakers Want Navy Ranks for Space Force". Military.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  14. ^ "How will the Space Force impact me". spaceforce.mil. United States Space Force. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  15. ^ a b "H.R.6395 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 - All Actions". Congress.gov. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  16. ^ "H. Rept. 116-617 - Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of Conference" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020. Rank and grade structure of the United States Space Force - The House bill contained a provision (sec. 927) that would require the Space Force to use a system of ranks and grades that is identical to the system of ranks and grades used by the Navy. The Senate amendment contained no similar provision. The House recedes.
  17. ^ Pawlyk, Oriana (4 December 2020). "Space Force Won't Be Forced to Use Navy Ranks, Lawmakers Decide". Military.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  18. ^ Pawlyk, Oriana (29 January 2021). "These Are the Official Space Force Ranks". Military.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  19. ^ Cohen, Rachel S. (29 January 2021). "Space Force to Adopt 'Specialist,' Other New Ranks Feb. 1". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 29 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ @SpaceForceDOD (20 September 2021). "Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman announced today the new design of the #SpaceForce's enlisted rank insignia" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Hadley, Greg (20 September 2021). "Space Force Reveals Insignia for Enlisted Ranks". airforcemag.com. Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  22. ^ Toropin, Konstantin (20 September 2021). "The Space Force Finally Has Its Own Rank Insignia". Military.com. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  23. ^ Altman, Howard (4 March 2021). "Guardians, the Space Force wants you to help determine your enlisted rank insignia". Air Force Times. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
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