An airman is a member of an air force or air arm of a nation's armed forces. In certain air forces, it can also refer to a specific enlisted rank.[1] An airman can also be referred to as a soldier in other definitions.[2] As a military rank designation, the male form of address also applies to women.
In civilian aviation usage, the term airman is analogous to the term "sailor" in nautical usage. In the American Federal Aviation Administration usage, an airman is any holder of an airman's certificate, male or female. This certificate is issued to those who qualify for it by the Federal Aviation Administration Airmen Certification Branch.
New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Air Force
"Airman" was a former general term used to describe service members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Following the Royal Air Force, the RNZAF now refers to its personnel as “aviators.”
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force
"Airman" and "airwoman" were formerly general terms used to describe members of the Royal Air Force, particularly other ranks. In 2021 those terms were changed for the gender-neutral term "aviator".[3]
In the U.S. Air Force, "airman" is a general term which can refer to any member of the United States Air Force, regardless of rank, but is also a specific enlisted rank in the Air Force. The rank of airman (abbreviated "Amn") is the second enlisted rank from the bottom, just above the rank of Airman Basic, and just below that of Airman First Class. Since the Air Force was established in 1947, all of the various ranks of "airman" have always included women, and in this context, the word "man" means "human being". Former U.S. Air Force ranks included Airman Second Class and Airman Third Class.[Note 1] The current E-2 pay grade rank of Airman was called Airman Third Class from 1952 to 1967.
A person with the rank of Airman Basic is typically promoted to the rank of Airman after six months of active duty service in the Air Force, if that member had signed up for an enlistment period of at least four years of active duty. On the other hand, an enlistee could be promoted to the rank of Airman immediately after completing Air Force basic training (and thus paid somewhat more) given one of several additional qualifications:
Having earned 20 college semester credit hours (30 quarter hours).
Those enlistees who have qualified for these early promotions to the rank of Airman are allowed to wear their single airman insignia stripe during the Air Force basic training graduation ceremony at Lackland Air Force Base at Joint Base San Antonio in Texas. Where they also receive a retroactive pay increment that brings them up to the pay grade for an Airman upon their completion of basic training. (Thus, it is as if they have enlisted as Airmen on the first day, as far as their pay is concerned. However, if they do not complete basic training and are discharged, they do not receive the extra pay.)
While at the rank of Airman, the duties of enlisted personnel include adjusting to the Air Force way of military life and becoming proficient in their Air Force duty specialties. Note that upon leaving basic training, all Airmen enter a period of many weeks or many months of training at Air Force schools in their duty specialties that they and the Air Force have selected for them depending on their aptitudes and interests, and the needs of the Air Force. For Airmen with high aptitudes, some of these training programs include more than one school and take a year or more to complete.
Airmen are often nicknamed “mosquito wings" due to the insignia's resemblance to a mosquito's small wings.
Army Air Corps
From 1926 to 1941, the Army Air Corps served as the armed service for aviation, the now diminished service, referenced the term airman for its primary operating roles. In the former Army Air Corps the term of aviator applies to navigators, air crew, mechanics, flight instructors, nurses, chefs, and support personnel. Historically it is mentioned when referring to the Tuskegee Airman, which was a squadron of African American pilots in World War ᛁᛁ.[4] By the end of World War ᛁᛁ the Army Air Corps would be diminished, and in 1947 the Air Force was founded and adopted the term of Airmen, and used it for members of its service.
In the U.S. Navy, Airman is the enlisted rank that corresponds to the pay grade of E-3 in the Navy's aviation field, but it is just below the rank of Petty Officer Third Class, pay grade E-4.[Note 2] The name of Airman though different in duties it is loosely related to that of Seamen.[5] This term is also referred to a fireman, in engineering, and hospitalman in medical duties, respectively. The Airman rank is identified by its distinct green stripes.[6] Particularly, opposite that of Seamen, it's duties since 1922 when the very first aircraft carrier was established[7] in the first world war have been air bases, maintaining navy aircraft, and that of aircraft carriers through tieing down and refueling planes both domestically and abroad.[Note 3][8]
Regarding the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps,[Note 4] a U.S Navy youth development program the term: "Airman" explicitly refers to a participant who participates in flight school with U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel and reservist.[Note 5] The term is often tied to the own division's website, alternatively referred to as a squadron.[Note 6][9][10] The common and correct terminology for the flight school participants is the terminology of "Sea Cadet" or "Seamen" which is referred to by multiple magazines,[11] media outlets,[12] personal journals,[13] and newspapers.[14] The term in particular in the public-eye is almost never used and is most often never referred to in un-involved Sea Cadet organizations in the United States[15] (i.e. Colorado Sea Cadet Corps as of 2025).[16] Most credibly, it is within papers such as legal documents,[17] where it is mentioned by the official 9 latin characters,[18] as "Sea Cadets"[19] and the longform with 13 characters as "Sea Cadet Corps". While uncommon in popular culture as a terminology it does in turn offer benefits for its participants, including a possibleprivate pilot license (PPL) though this amount of training is commonly portrayed as unachievable for most Sea Cadets unless well educated or gifted. The FAA's requirements have often made it stringent for most international Sea Cadets in their exchange program, as per a 2022 statement by the FAA requiring them to be well knowledgeable in reading, writing, and understanding english.[20] This claim has been discredited by other Sea Cadets, instead stating it only takes time, dedication and hard work.[21]
Coast Guard
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The U.S. Coast Guard rank of airman is identical to the pay grade and naval rank of the U.S Navy.[22] Coast Guard Airman corresponds to the pay grade of E-3 in the Coast Guard's aviation field respectively. Airman is classified as the rank above the Coast Guard rank of airman apprentice, Seaman Apprentice, Fireman Apprentice which is the E-2 pay grade, but it is directly below the rank of Petty Officer Third Class, E-4 pay grade.[23]
↑ In 1967, there was significant reorganization of the enlisted ranks, and the former rank of "Airman First Class" became an "Air Force Sergeant"; the former "Airman" became the new "Airman First Class"; the former "Airman Second Class" became an "Airman"; and the former "Airman Third Class" became an "Airman Basic". All of the pay and fringe benefit grades remained as they were, just associated with new and less cumbersome rank names.
↑ The following Navy rates (actual job names and functions) fall within the category of "Airman" and are all at the E-3 pay grade:
↑ The official terminology is unit, though the units referred to will operate completely differently than the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps though still under their legal ownership.
↑ "AVIATION". Marvin Shields. Retrieved 2025-08-14. Cadets in advanced airman training may...
↑ "Sea Cadet Advancement". FDR Sea Cadets. Retrieved 2025-08-14. Although the coursework is entitled "Seamen," Cadets in FD Roosevelt are "Airmen" because we are a squadron and on an air base.
↑ "America's Sea Cadets - The US Navy's youth development program". America's Sea Cadets. Arlington Virginia: United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, (Owner United States Navy League). Retrieved 2025-08-14. ...Sea Cadets wear uniforms, work as teams in a disciplined environment, and adhere to our core values of honor, respect, commitment, and service.
↑ "Home". Colorado Sea Cadets. Retrieved 2025-08-14. ...Sea Cadets through classroom and appl...
For the Army and Air Force, first sergeants are temporary and lateral ranks and are senior to their non-diamond counterparts, while Marine Corps first sergeants have no lateral movement within paygrade and is a permanent rank.
The rank insignia is used by other Coast Guard senior enlisted leaders.
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