The position of First Sergeant exists in three Senior Noncommissioned Officer (SNCOs) pay grades in the Air Force—E-7 to E-9—with commensurate levels of responsibilities. At each of these grades, the First Sergeant serves an enlisted advisor, a liaison between the enlisted Airmen and the Command staff of a particular unit or organization, including SNCOs serving as Group Superintendents, Commandants. At the highest-level commands, E-9 First Sergeants will also work with fellow SNCOs serving as Air Force Career Field Managers and Command Chief Master Sergeants to ensure the holistic needs of the enlisted cadre—health, professional development, morale, morale, and so forth—are being met in a way that ensures maximum mission effectiveness.
With its distinctive diamond (“lozenge”) serving as a centerpiece (it's sometimes called the "CMSgt with diamond"), the E-9 First Sergeant metal rank insignia is worn on the epaulets of outer garments such as sweaters and coats. On the Blue or White Cardigan and the Blue Pullover, the insignia is positioned on the epaulets 5/8 of an inch from the shoulder-sleeve seam with the bottom of the insignia facing the shoulder. On the Topcoat and All-Weather Coat, the insignia are pinned one inch from the bottom of the collars.
More E-9 First Sergeant Insignia and Devices