Military CustomsMilitary Customs and Courtesies and Courtesies
Customs and CourtesiesCustoms and Courtesies
• Definitions• Rank Recognition• Rendering Courtesies• General Courtesies• Reporting Procedures
Overview
DefinitionsDefinitions
• Custom – act or ceremony stemming from tradition
• Courtesy – written guidance
Airman Insignia
Rank Recognition
Airmen Basic (AB)•Does not wear any rank insignia •Addressed as “Airman Basic” or “Airman”
•Pay grade is E-1
Rank Recognition
Airmen (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
Junior Noncommissioned Officers
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 Officer
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 (1st 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
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
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
Brigadier General Major General
Lieutenant General
General
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
Chaplains and Doctors
Rank Recognition – Special Positions
Army / Marines
Rank Recognition
Navy/ Coast Guard
Rank Recognition
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Identifying Officers
2d Lt - Capt Maj - Col All Generals
Service Cap
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Identifying Officers
Flight Cap
ABU Cap
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Identifying Officers
ABUs
Service uniform
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Saluting
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Saluting
Special Considerations
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Saluting Special Considerations
Groups
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Staff Cars
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
U.S. Flag
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Reveille and Retreat
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Reveille and Retreat
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
The National Anthem and To the Colors
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Ruffles and Flourishes
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Ruffles and Flourishes
Rendering CourtesiesRendering Courtesies
Pledge of Allegiance
General CourtesiesGeneral Courtesies
• Air Force Song
• Other Service Songs
• Individual Courtesies
• Manners
•Appropriate Titles
•Gossip
General CourtesiesGeneral Courtesies
Individual Courtesies
• Professionalism
• Position of Honor
• Senior Officer Enters
• Proper Telephone Etiquette
Reporting ProceduresReporting Procedures
Purpose of Reporting
•Demonstrates respect for senior ranking officers and their position
•Use formal reporting procedures when told to report to any senior ranking officer
Reporting ProceduresReporting Procedures
Entrance Procedures• Prepare mentally and physically• Entering• When told to enterWhen told to enter
Reporting ProceduresReporting Procedures
Reporting Once centered and halted at attention,
salute, and render a reporting statement
Reporting ProceduresReporting 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
Customs and CourtesiesCustoms and Courtesies
• Definitions• Rank Recognition• Rendering Courtesies• General Courtesies• Reporting Procedures
Summary