I dont understand the rank structure at the Academy or in the Air Force. What are the different ranks?
The military is organized into an officer corps and an enlisted corps. Commissioned officers outrank all enlisted personnel. Enlisted personnel are required to salute all commissioned officers and commissioned officers are required to salute superior commissioned officers. Responsibility and accountability increase commensurate with rank. The Air Force insignia system is broken down into two major categories: officer ranks and enlisted ranks (the Air Force does not have warrant officers). The enlisted ranks are further divided into Airmen and NCO (Noncommissioned Officer) ranks. There are four Airman ranks, and five NCO ranks. Additionally, there is one special NCO rank (Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force). Officers progress from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant, then Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel and finally, four General ranks. As a commissioned officer in the Air Force, immediately upon graduation, you will enter the Air Force as an O-1, which is a Second Lieu
