Worn by Airmen in the E-5 pay grade, the U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant metal rank insignia features a “rocker” used to denote Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) status; along with E-6 Technical Sergeants, Staff Sergeants comprised what the Air Force defines as the NCO Tier, with NCOs in the grades of E-7 to E-9 making up the SNCO Tier. Interestingly, the Staff Sergeant insignia is the only NCO or SNCO rank insignia with a single rocker. With the elimination of the E-4 NCO position of Sergeant in 1991, E-5 Staff Sergeant became the first NCO position an enlisted Airman could be promoted to.
Staff Sergeants wear the metal rank insignia on epaulets of the Blue Cardigan, the White Cardigan (female-only garment worn only with Maternity clothing), and the Blue Pullover sweater, with the bottom of the insignia facing toward the seam of the shoulder and sleeve. Staff Sergeant metal insignia are also worn one inch from the bottom of the collars of the All-Weather Coat and the Topcoat and a half-inch above the name tag centered on the right side of the Surgical Scrub shirt.
More E-5 Staff Sergeant Insignia and Devices