United States Space Force rank insignia

United States Space Force rank insignia are used to indicate the rank and status of the United States Space Force officers and enlisted personnel. Equivalency between the military services is indicated by associated NATO code and pay grade.^[1]

Insignia

Officer insignia

US DoD pay grade	O-10	O-9	O-8	O-7	O-6	O-5	O-4	O-3	O-2	O-1	Officer candidate
NATO code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)
Insignia											Various insignia
Service dress uniform (Class A)
Service uniform (Class B)
Mess dress uniform
OCP uniform
Title	General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	First lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Cadet / Officer trainee
Abbreviation	Gen	Lt Gen	Maj Gen	Brig Gen	Col	Lt Col	Maj	Capt	1st Lt	2d Lt	Cdt / OT

Enlisted insignia

US DoD pay grade	Special		E-9	E-8	E-7	E-6	E-5	E-4	E-3	E-2	E-1
NATO code	OR-9			OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Insignia
Title	Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman	Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force	Chief master sergeant	Senior master sergeant	Master sergeant	Technical sergeant	Sergeant	Specialist 4	Specialist 3	Specialist 2	Specialist 1
Abbreviation	SEAC	CMSSF	CMSgt	SMSgt	MSgt	TSgt	Sgt	Spc4	Spc3	Spc2	Spc1

Rank insignia wear

A Space Force general's OCP uniform.^[2]

On the service dress uniform, metal rank insignia is worn on the shoulder straps.^[3] On the OCP uniform, the Space Force's combat utility uniform, embroidered navy blue rank insignia is worn on an OCP patch on the center of the chest.^[2]

History

The creation of the Space Force marked the first time since the 1947 creation of the Air Force that a new branch was created. This created an interest in the rank structure and insignia. In February 2020, it was announced that the Space Force would ask military space professionals for opinions on ranks.^[4]

Eighty-six graduates of the United States Air Force Academy class of 2020 commissioned directly into the USSF, becoming the service's first new officers and second lieutenants.^[5] On July 28, 2020, four general officers from the Air Force were nominated to transfer to the Space Force in their current grade of major general, and then be promoted to lieutenant general.^[6][7] On August 6, 2020, a number of Air Force officers were transferred to the Space Force in the ranks of major, lieutenant colonel and colonel. ^[8] On September 1, 2020, the Air Force transferred 2410 active-duty airmen to the Space Force to become enlisted space professionals.^[9] The space professionals were all transferred to the Space Force in their current enlisted ranks.^[9][10]

The Space Force was set to announce its new rank structure in late August 2020 but decided to delay it temporarily,^[11] as a proposed amendment included in the United States House of Representatives's version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act would require the Space Force to adopt a rank structure based on that of the United States Navy for its officers and enlisted space professionals.^[12][13] The Space Force decided to wait until after the 2021 NDAA was passed, before moving forward with their permanent rank structure. While awaiting the passage of the NDAA, all members of the Space Force retained their respective grade and rank carried over from the Air Force.^[14] On November 16, 2020, the United States Senate passed the House of Representatives' version of the NDAA, but attached an amendment which would remove the clause requiring the Space Force to adopt naval ranks, and sent it back to the House for consideration.^[15] The House unanimously disagreed with the Senate's amendment and sent the amended bill back to their armed services committee on November 18, for consideration of passage.^[15] The final version of the NDAA removed any requirement for the Space Force to adopt naval ranks.^[16][17] The official rank structure became effective on 1 February 2021,^[18] which includes the rank of specialist being used for paygrades E-1 to E-4 for the first time since the Army discontinued its use of multiple specialist ranks in 1985.^[19] The rank of 'Sergeant' replaces 'Staff Sergeant' as used by the Air Force in the pay grade of E-5.

On 20 September 2021, Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, Roger A. Towberman, announced the selected insignia.^[20][21][22]

In May 2022, changes to the interim officer uniform were introduced. Buttons were changed from the Hap Arnold star and wings to the Space Force Delta.^[23]

Enlisted rank insignia development

On 2 March 2021, the Space Force released a survey for guardians to give feedback on four sets of enlisted rank insignia. One version of the proposed enlisted rank insignia mirrored the current Air Force design, but with the Air Corps star replaced by the Delta, Globe, and Orbit. Another version resembled Army and Marine Corps enlisted insignia, but with the Delta, Globe, and Orbit at the bottom of the design. A third inverted the Army/Marine Corps' styled chevrons. A fourth option resembled Navy and Coast Guard rank insignia.^[24]

US DoD pay grade	E-9	E-8	E-7	E-6	E-5	E-4	E-3	E-2	E-1
NATO code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Version 1									No insignia
Version 2
Version 3
Version 4
Title	Chief master sergeant	Senior master sergeant	Master sergeant	Technical sergeant	Sergeant	Specialist 4	Specialist 3	Specialist 2	Specialist 1
Abbreviation	CMSgt	SMSgt	MSgt	TSgt	Sgt	Spc4	Spc3	Spc2	Spc1

Timeline of changes

US DoD pay grade	E-9			E-8	E-7	E-6	E-5	E-4	E-3	E-2	E-1
NATO code	OR-9			OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
April 2020											No insignia
	Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman	Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Space Force	Chief master sergeant	Senior master sergeant	Master sergeant	Technical sergeant	Staff sergeant	Senior airman	Airman first class	Airman	Airman basic
January 2021											No insignia
	Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman	Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force	Chief master sergeant	Senior master sergeant	Master sergeant	Technical sergeant	Sergeant	Specialist 4	Specialist 3	Specialist 2	Specialist 1
September 2021
	Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman	Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force	Chief master sergeant	Senior master sergeant	Master sergeant	Technical sergeant	Sergeant	Specialist 4	Specialist 3	Specialist 2	Specialist 1

See also

• Uniforms of the United States Space Force
• Ranks and insignia of space forces

References

1. "CMSgt Towberman sworn in as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor for the United States Space Force". United States Space Force. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
2. Seck, Hope Hodge (17 January 2020). "Space Force Offers First Peek at Camouflage Uniform". Military.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
3. "AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 36-2903" (PDF). 7 February 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
4. Erwin, Sandra (13 February 2020). "Space Force soliciting opinions on members' name and ranks". Space News. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
5. Cohen, Rachel S. (18 April 2020). "USAFA Graduates First Space Force Lieutenants". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
6. "General Officer Announcements".
7. "Senate.gov - Nominations".
8. "Congress.gov, PN2172 — Space Force". 30 September 2020.
9. Kirby, Lynn (1 September 2020). "2.4k Airmen to transfer into Space Force beginning Sept. 1". United States Space Force. Space Force Public Affairs. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
10. White, Kayla (3 September 2020). "AUAB Airmen make history as first deployed Space Force members". United States Space Force. 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
11. Pawlyk, Oriana (27 August 2020). "Space Force Was Set to Announce Its New Rank Structure. Then, Congress Stepped In". Military.com. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
12. Erwin, Sandra (27 July 2020). "Legislation passed by the House requires the Space Force to use the Navy's rank structure". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
13. Pawlyk, Oriana (21 July 2020). "Space Admiral? House Lawmakers Want Navy Ranks for Space Force". Military.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
14. "How will the Space Force impact me". spaceforce.mil. United States Space Force. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
15. "H.R.6395 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 - All Actions". Congress.gov. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
16. "H. Rept. 116-617 - Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of Conference" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020. Rank and grade structure of the United States Space Force - The House bill contained a provision (sec. 927) that would require the Space Force to use a system of ranks and grades that is identical to the system of ranks and grades used by the Navy. The Senate amendment contained no similar provision. The House recedes.
17. Pawlyk, Oriana (4 December 2020). "Space Force Won't Be Forced to Use Navy Ranks, Lawmakers Decide". Military.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
18. Pawlyk, Oriana (29 January 2021). "These Are the Official Space Force Ranks". Military.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
19. Cohen, Rachel S. (29 January 2021). "Space Force to Adopt 'Specialist,' Other New Ranks Feb. 1". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
20. @SpaceForceDOD (20 September 2021). "Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman announced today the new design of the #SpaceForce's enlisted rank insignia" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
21. Hadley, Greg (20 September 2021). "Space Force Reveals Insignia for Enlisted Ranks". airforcemag.com. Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
22. Toropin, Konstantin (20 September 2021). "The Space Force Finally Has Its Own Rank Insignia". Military.com. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
23. Novelly, Thomas (24 May 2022). "Space Force Will Allow Neck Tattoos, Longer Mustaches and More Makeup Options for Guardians". military.com/. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
24. Altman, Howard (4 March 2021). "Guardians, the Space Force wants you to help determine your enlisted rank insignia". Air Force Times. Retrieved 6 March 2021.