A "Senior Airman" is what we used to call a Buck Sgt, but they don't
allow Buck Sgt's anymore, and an NCO is now a trained leader, and
usually on his/her second enlistment.

Actually SrA and Sgt were two different ranks. The SrA is not an NCO and the
Sgt wass. In 1976 they started the SrA program. An enlistee was to hold the
rank of SrA for one year before being promoted Sgt. Both were E-4s.

After 1 June 1977, Amn, A1C and SrA wore stripes with dark blue stars and Sgt
and above wore stripes with matching stars. After November 1980 the old style
Amn and A1C stripes were no longer authorized.

I don't recall exactly when they got rid of Sgt altogether, but it was in the
1988 - 1990 time frame. Now no USAF E-4 is an NCO and they have reinstituted
the old style stripes for Amn, A1C and SrA.

Oh, and while we referred to Sgt as "buck sergeant" there was no such rank.


Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired