Evoulution of an Airman

E-1 Airman Basic - You've been in the Air Force all of one day and don't know squat. You're being taught how to fold your underwear and that silver bars is a captain, not a colonel.

E-2 Airman - You still don't know squat, however, you are going to technical school, completing CDC's, and doing the most simplest tasks in your new career field.

E-3 Airman First Class - You're now upgraded to a 3 - level. Although you now know which end of the screwdriver to hold in your hand and that it's righty tighty, left loosey, you've still got a long way to go before anyone will believe you know what you're doing.

E-4 Senior Airman - Now you're a 5 - level. You can remove and replace an aircraft component so long as there are no more than 4 bolts, but throw in a few lock washers or some safety wire and you're looking for help.

E-5 Staff Sergeant - After completing more CDC's, you're upgraded to a 7 - level. Now that you have a rocker, you think you should have more responsibility as a leader of men. The shop chief agrees, so he names you a vehicle crew chief.

E-6 Technical Sergeant - You've been in the Air Force about 10 years and feel that the Air Force could not get along without you. Lower ranking airmen look to you for expertise in fixing more difficult problems. You now have one hell of a chip on your shoulder and feel that you are God's gift to the Air Force.

E-7 Master Sergeant - You've made it to the top three and feel you're going to take on the world and make Chief. You complete the Senior NCO Academy by correspondence. You're now given more responsibility and are leading a shift, or duty section. You seldom do more than write performance reports, or decide who works the grave yard shift.

E-8 Senior Master Sergeant - You attend the in-residence Senior NCO Academy, and will never touch a tool box again the rest of your Air Force career. Lower ranking airmen know better than to ask you about difficult tasks in the career field, because they know you forgot most of it by know. They realize that you are only concerned about keeping your nose clean, getting attention for that endorsement, and making Chief.

E-9 Chief Master Sergeant - You've made it to where very few men in the Air Force do. You are a Chief. It's been between 5 and 10 years since you've carried a tool box and by now you've forgotten the names of most of the tools. Your job now is simply to be present, listen to the airman's concerns, act like you actually do care, and delegate. You reach your 30 year mark and are refused the 3 year extension beyond High Year of Tenure. You have a retirement ceremony, listen to all the compliments that people had to dream up about you and drive out the gate. The Air Force returns you to society the same way they got you. Once again, you don't know squat.