<P> Senior Airmen must attend the six - week Airman Leadership School, the first course of the Air Force's college of enlisted professional military education, before being promoted to staff sergeant . SrA with no projected promotion and between three and six years TIS, may attend Airman Leadership School . </P> <P> Formerly, from 1976 to 1991, this grade was divided into ranks with separate titles: sergeant (referred to unofficially but almost universally within the USAF as "Buck Sergeant" or simply "Buck"), a non-commissioned officer; and Senior Airman, which is the equivalent of Specialist, a non-supervisory rank . Senior Airmen were promoted to Sergeant after 12 months' time in grade and completion of the now - defunct Non-Commissioned Officer Preparatory Course . This schism reflected a desire by the Air Force in 1976 to subdivide enlisted ranks into a three - tier organization, a move which was resisted by the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, resulting in the compromise dual - rank that lasted fifteen years . The last Air Force promotions to Sergeant were effective 1 April 1991 . Those personnel who had been promoted to Sergeant prior to this cut off date retained the rank until being promoted to a higher rank or leaving the service . There are no longer any personnel on active duty who hold this rank . Due to high year of tenure rules in effect at the time, the last person to hold the rank was forced out of the Air Force on 23 March 1998 . Sergeants wore the same chevrons as present - day senior airmen . Senior airmen wore similar chevrons, but with a blue (green on the fatigue or battle dress uniform) subdued central star, as did all airmen in the lowest tier . </P> <P> The ranks of Senior Airman and Sergeant held the same pay grade, but Sergeants were expected to supervise other airmen as part of their duties as non-commissioned officers . As with any change in policy, many Airmen supported this change, while others protested . Those Air Force members against the change protested that the rank of Sergeant prepared Airmen for transition to Staff Sergeant, and that new Staff Sergeants would therefore be less well - trained for their new position . In addition, Senior Airmen who complete Airman Leadership School may be expected to supervise lower - ranking Airmen but are not considered non-commissioned officers and therefore have limited authority . Air Force personnel who supported the change argued that proper leadership training eliminated the need for a separate rank within the pay grade; moreover, the rank created disparity between individuals earning the same pay and benefits and, often, performing the same duties, since often there were no additional junior airmen in a given duty section for a new buck sergeant to supervise . </P> <P> Senior Airmen are the lowest USAF rank eligible for selection as a USAF recruiter, and (before Fall of 2013) as a military training instructor for USAF basic military training . </P>

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