Military Customs and Courtesies
Definitions Rank Recognition Rendering Courtesies General Courtesies Reporting Procedures Customs and Courtesies
Custom – act or ceremony stemming from tradition Courtesy – written guidanceDefinitions
Airmen Rank Recognition
Airman Basic (AB) – Does not wear any rank insignia – Addressed as “Airman Basic” or “Airman” – Pay grade is E-1 Rank Recognition
Airman (Amn) – Chevron of 1 stripe with star – Addressed as “Airman” – Pay grade is E-2 Rank Recognition
Airman First Class (A1C) – Chevron of 2 stripes with star – Addressed as “Airman First Class” or “Airman” – Pay grade is E-3 Rank Recognition
Senior Airman (SrA) – Chevron of 3 stripes with star – Addressed as “Senior Airman” or “Airman” – Pay grade is E-4 Rank Recognition
Noncommissioned Officers (NCO) Rank Recognition
Staff Sergeant (SSgt) – Chevron of 4 stripes with star – Addressed as “Staff Sergeant” or “Sergeant” – Pay grade is E-5 Rank Recognition
Technical Sergeant (TSgt) – Chevron of 5 stripes with star – Addressed as “Technical Sergeant” or “Sergeant” – Pay grade is E-6 Rank Recognition
Senior Noncommissioned Officers (SNCO) Rank Recognition
Master Sergeant (MSgt) – Chevron of 6 stripes with star – Addressed as “Master Sergeant” or “Sergeant” – Pay grade is E-7 Rank Recognition
Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) – Chevron of 7 stripes with star – Addressed as “Senior Master Sergeant” or “Sergeant” – Pay grade is E-8 Rank Recognition
Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) – Chevron of 8 stripes with star – Addressed as “Chief Master Sergeant” or “Chief” – Pay grade is E-9 Rank Recognition
First Sergeant (1 st Sgt) Rank Recognition – Special Positions
Command Chief Master Sergeant (CCM) Rank Recognition – Special Positions
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) Rank Recognition – Special Positions
Company Grade Officers (CGO) Rank Recognition
Second Lieutenant (2d Lt) – Wears 1 gold bar – Addressed as “Second Lieutenant” or “Lieutenant” – Pay grade is O-1 Rank Recognition
First Lieutenant (1st Lt) – Wears 1 silver bar – Addressed as “First Lieutenant” or “Lieutenant” – Pay grade is O-2 Rank Recognition
Captain (Capt) – Wears 2 silver bars connected – Addressed as “Captain” – Pay grade is O-3 Rank Recognition
Field Grade Officers (FGO) Rank Recognition
Major (Maj) – Wears 1 gold oak leaf – Addressed as “Major” – Pay grade is O-4 Rank Recognition
Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) – Wears 1 silver oak leaf – Addressed as “Lieutenant Colonel” or “Colonel” – Pay grade is O-5 Rank Recognition
Colonel (Col) – Wears one silver eagle – Addressed as “Colonel” – Pay grade is O-6 Rank Recognition
General Officers (GO) Rank Recognition
Brigadier General (Brig Gen) – Wears 1 silver star – Addressed as “Brigadier General” or “General” – Pay grade is O-7 Rank Recognition
Major General (Maj Gen) – Wears 2 silver stars – Addressed as “Major General” or “General” – Pay grade is O-8 Rank Recognition
Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) – Wears 3 silver stars – Addressed as “Lieutenant General” or “General” – Pay grade is O-9 Rank Recognition
General (Gen) – Wears 4 silver stars – Addressed as “General” – Pay grade is O-10 Rank Recognition
Rank Recognition – Special Positions
Army/Marines Rank Recognition
Navy/Coast Guard Rank Recognition
Identifying Officers Service Cap Rendering Courtesies 2d Lt - Capt Maj - Col All Generals
Identifying Officers Flight Cap ABU Cap Rendering Courtesies
Identifying Officers ABUs Service Uniform Rendering Courtesies
Saluting Rendering Courtesies
Saluting Special Considerations Rendering Courtesies
Saluting Special Considerations Rendering Courtesies
Saluting Entering a Military Installation Rendering Courtesies
Saluting Staff Cars Rendering Courtesies
Saluting U.S. Flag Rendering Courtesies
Reveille and Retreat Rendering Courtesies
The National Anthem and To the Colors Rendering Courtesies
Ruffles and Flourishes Rendering Courtesies
Pledge of Allegiance Rendering Courtesies
Air Force Song Other Service Songs Individual Courtesies – Manners – Appropriate Titles – Gossip General Courtesies
Professionalism Position of Honor Senior Officer Enters Proper Telephone Etiquette General Courtesies
Entrance Procedures – Prepare mentally and physically – Knock once on the door – When told to enter, use the most direct route and march at attention – Position yourself centered to within two paces of the desk Reporting Procedures
– Once centered and halted at attention, salute, and render a reporting statement – Hold salute until it is returned – Remain standing at attention until given direction Reporting Procedures
Departure Procedures – Once you have been dismissed, resume the position of attention and salute – Once the senior ranking officer returns your salute, drop yours – Execute the appropriate facing movement and exit using the most direct route Reporting Procedures
Definitions Rank Recognition Rendering Courtesies General Courtesies Reporting Procedures Customs and Courtesies