Navy Blue - US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Sew On Patch Pair, CMSgt 1986-1992

Iron on/glue on/sew on military embroidered patch. Replica military patch. Navy Blue colored patch. Pictured on patch: Chief master sergeant insignia: 2 chevrons on top, 3 stripes in the middle, and 3 rockers on bottom, and a gray colored star in the center of the patch. NATO Code: OR-9. USAF - United States Air Force patch. Purchase is for two patches. US Air Force enlisted rank insignia. Patch can be used by both military personnel and the general public. Ideal for parades, war re-enactments, fashion, etc.

---

Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Master Sergeant, and is a non-commissioned officer. The official term of address is Chief Master Sergeant or Chief.

Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is the pinnacle of an Air Force enlisted member's career. Some Chief Master Sergeants manage the efforts of all enlisted personnel within their unit or major subsection thereof, while others run major staff functions at higher headquarters levels. All Chief Master Sergeants are expected to serve as mentors for company-grade and field-grade commissioned officers, as well as noncommissioned officers and junior enlisted members, and to serve as adviser to unit commanders and senior officers. By Federal law, only one percent of the Air Force enlisted force may hold the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.

Although the Air Force had been an independent service since 1947, the rank of Chief Master Sergeant did not come into being until the authorization of the Military Pay Act of 1958. This act established the pay grades of E-8 and E-9, but without specifying titles for those pay grades. It wasn't until late 1958 that the title of Chief Master Sergeant (and the accompanying rank insignia) was decided upon. The original Chief Master Sergeant rank insignia (1958-1994) consisted of 2 chevrons on top, 3 stripes in the middle, and 3 rockers on bottom.