New CMSAF insignia debuts Nov. 1

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  • By Tech. Sgt. David A. Jablonski
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  A new chief master sergeant of the Air Force insignia debuts Nov. 1, and stands out as a highly distinguished symbol representative of all Airmen, officials said.

The new insignia contains the Great Seal of the United States of America and two stars in the upper blue field. The chevrons and the laurel wreath surrounding the star in the lower blue field remain unchanged to retain the legacy of the stripe worn by all 14 chief master sergeants of the Air Force.

The decision for the re-design came from a number of factors, officials said. Air Force enlisted insignias have evolved over the years, while maintaining the historical roots of the Airman star and chevrons. Today, each grade has a definable rank. Some positions such as command chiefs and first sergeants have additional distinguishing features.

Senior Air Force leaders, former chief master sergeants of the Air Force and Airmen throughout the service encouraged a re-design of the CMSAF insignia. In 2002, the process began to select a stripe that would be an even stronger representation of our enlisted force.

“A lot of people, including my predecessors, have said that the current stripe, although it is a distinctive stripe, may not be easily recognized,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray. “Many young Airmen thought the stripe should have more or be more. They tell me, ‘It’s hard to tell the difference between you and other chiefs.’”

That distinction is important, Chief Murray said, because the chief master sergeant of the Air Force is the senior representative of more than 300,000 enlisted Airmen.

“One of the foundations of the enlisted corps is that every Airman should have the same equal opportunity to promote through the ranks and to achieve (his or her) goals,” Chief Murray said.

“One of our Airmen serving today will be the 15th CMSAF and then the 16th and so on,” the chief said. “This honorable position provides not only something for Airmen to look up to, but provides a goal and motivation for their service. When they see our nation’s emblem in the new stripe, it will help them to realize this position, and the person who holds it, has the ultimate responsibility of leading and representing all of our Airmen -- America’s Airmen. This new stripe clearly identifies who represents them to the chief of staff, the secretary, Congress and the American people.”

A new insignia is not a new idea, nor is it something Chief Murray said he devised alone.

“In 2003, a formal statement was made in a meeting between the Air Force chief of staff and former chief master sergeants of the Air Force that we should change the insignia,” Chief Murray said.

“The first CMSAF, Paul Airey, truly embraced this and has been a leading proponent for change,” Chief Murray said. “It is something that has been supported by those before me and is something I believe is more for our Airmen to identify with, in what we stand for, in support of our nation.”

“It was definitely time to update the stripe,” retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Eric W. Benken said.

Chief Benken is also a strong supporter for the latest change. During his tenure, he created the command chief master sergeant position out of the former major command senior enlisted advisers and gave them a star in the top field of their insignia. Many people said that insignia began to overshadow the CMSAF insignia.

“The old one served us well, but the change is necessary, and it’s for the better. The new stripe also aligns us more with the other services’ senior enlisted leaders and that is a clear benefit as we go down the joint service path,” Chief Benken said.

Inspiration for the re-design came from the CMSAF’s official emblem, which contains the seal that has been the official national symbol since 1787.

Insignia of the top enlisted leaders from the other services provided additional inspiration. The insignia of the sergeant major of the Army also contains the seal. The insignia of the master chief petty officers of the Navy and of the Coast Guard contain an eagle with three stars above it. The sergeant major of the Marine Corps’ insignia uses its service emblem and two stars. All stand out from the ranks of their peers and subordinates.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said he liked the new stripe so much he wanted Chief Murray to put it on as soon as possible.

“This is the right time, and the right level of attention has been brought to it,” Chief Murray said. “Even though (he) had already made his decision, (General Jumper) introduced it first to all of our senior officers at Corona. They warmly embraced it and, in fact, they said 'sew it on immediately.'”

”As we continue to evolve as an Air Force, we must always preserve the honor of those who served before us,” Chief Murray said. “It will be a privilege to be the first of many to wear this stripe that maintains our heritage, yet provides an element of distinction to the highest enlisted position.”