Airman
Template:Short descriptionTemplate:About
An airman is a member of an air force or air arm of a nation's armed forces. In certain armed air forces, it may pertain to a defined and established enlisted rank.<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> An airman might occasionally referred to as a soldier in different definitions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1873 it referred only to males who flew balloons during the beginning of modern aviation history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For a official military position, it conforms to the conventions of Standard English, and in turn, both male, and female participants.
A subtype, referred to as an aviator, is often designated for civilian use.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since the United States Air Force was established in 1947,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> all of the various ranks of "airman" have always included women, and in this context, the word "man" means "human being".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Notably the term airman is commonly known as "dirtbag airman" in the United States after a United States Air Force aviator used urine to stop a fire while fighting Nazi planes in Nazi Germany and later received the Medal of Honor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is common for ones Navy to refer to a airman as a aviator.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Etymology and mainstream usage
.jpg){kind=link}
The English word airman was derived from aer, and man in Old English is a word for an individual who served roles in the air or took place in the sky during medieval times. In civilian aviation, the term airman is analogous to the term "sailor" in nautical usage. In 1873, "airman" was first mentioned in a former British monthly newspaper referred to as the Cassell's Magazine, written by John Cassel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Today, "airman" is a term common throughout the world and particularly in the English speaking countries, "aviator" is used primarily in New Zealand and the United States, and "airwomen" formally in the United Kingdom. The term "airwomen" had a less-well documented early historical role, but in the modern world work at identical tasks and have obtained considerable respect for their achievements in aviation. "Airman" is also used by the Federal Aviation Administration. Because of the time and physical ability also needed to develop necessary skills, historic aviators often began flying as young men serving military roles including both World War I and World War II. Today, an airman is usually an adult. Responsibility for flying and managing and maintaining aircraft is considered inappropriate for children or early adolescents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Boys and girls growing up in an aircraft environment may learn to fly and perform basic aviation skills as soon as they are physically able, usually under adult supervision at the age of 13 but may be at any age.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Such youths, by their late teens, are often given responsibilities after prolonged exposure and can fly without supervision by adults.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Airmen skills
Template:Military ranksArmed aviators in the sky flying during wartime can be more difficult than knowing how to operate all the crucial buttons and advanced systems, it requires critical training and time. And listening to air traffic controllers. It requires the basics of aviation and following orders. In many countries, the flight regulating body rules the sky whether military or not.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Physical skill
A military aviator is limited to their physical skill with the ability to turn maneuver and turn direction at a moment notice. For example, a Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk pilot serving under the Army Air Corps of the United Kingdom, British Army requirements can range from a mid thigh pull, and a medicine ball throw.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Mental skill
Preventing an emergency situation and preparing for the event of an emergency requires strict rules:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Observing the environment for other aircraft traffic, commercial or foreign weather conditions, and other hazards
- Spatial contextual awareness, especially in a war zone
- Making good and quick decisions based on factors such as fire and wind conditions
- Evasive maneuvering
- Understanding basic and advanced branches of aerodynamics
Safety
Safety issues in driving include:
- Flying in poor conditions and low visibility
- Experiencing high g−forces
- Risk of being in a dogfight
- Distracted flying
Distractions can compromise a airman's mental skills, as can any altered state of consciousness. Mental factors might play in, PTSD and CPTSD is often seen after increased levels of trauma after being exposed to war. Seizure disorders are among the leading medical causes of mental impairment within civilian aviation the armed forces and military aviation in the United States and Europe. The possibility of the aircraft malfunctioning is always a risk.
By country
New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Air Force
"Airman" was a former general term used to describe service members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Following the Royal Air Force, the RNZAF now refers to its personnel as “aviators.”
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force
"Airman" and "airwoman" were formerly general terms used to describe members of the Royal Air Force, particularly other ranks. In 2021 those terms were changed for the gender-neutral term "aviator".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
United States
United States Air Force
Template:See alsoTemplate:Infobox military rank
In the U.S. Air Force, "airman" is a general term which can refer to any member of the United States Air Force, regardless of rank, but is also a specific enlisted rank in the Air Force. The rank of airman (abbreviated "Amn") is the second enlisted rank from the bottom, just above the rank of Airman Basic, and just below that of Airman First Class. Since the Air Force was established in 1947, all of the various ranks of "airman" have always included women, and in this context, the word "man" means "human being". Former U.S. Air Force ranks included Airman Second Class and Airman Third Class.<ref group=Note>In 1967, there was significant reorganization of the enlisted ranks, and the former rank of "Airman First Class" became an "Air Force Sergeant"; the former "Airman" became the new "Airman First Class"; the former "Airman Second Class" became an "Airman"; and the former "Airman Third Class" became an "Airman Basic". All of the pay and fringe benefit grades remained as they were, just associated with new and less cumbersome rank names.</ref> The current E-2 pay grade rank of Airman was called Airman Third Class from 1952 to 1967.
A person with the rank of Airman Basic is typically promoted to the rank of Airman after six months of active duty service in the Air Force, if that member had signed up for an enlistment period of at least four years of active duty. On the other hand, an enlistee could be promoted to the rank of Airman immediately after completing Air Force basic training (and thus paid somewhat more) given one of several additional qualifications:
- Having completed at least two years of a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Junior ROTC) while in high school.
- Having achieved the Eagle Scout rank from the Boy Scouts of America, or the Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
- Having earned 20 college semester credit hours (30 quarter hours).
Those enlistees who have qualified for these early promotions to the rank of Airman are allowed to wear their single airman insignia stripe during the Air Force basic training graduation ceremony at Lackland Air Force Base at Joint Base San Antonio in Texas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Where they also receive a retroactive pay increment that brings them up to the pay grade for an Airman upon their completion of basic training. (Thus, it is as if they have enlisted as Airmen on the first day, as far as their pay is concerned. However, if they do not complete basic training and are discharged, they do not receive the extra pay.)
While at the rank of Airman, the duties of enlisted personnel include adjusting to the Air Force way of military life and becoming proficient in their Air Force duty specialties. Note that upon leaving basic training, all Airmen enter a period of many weeks or many months of training at Air Force schools in their duty specialties that they and the Air Force have selected for them depending on their aptitudes and interests, and the needs of the Air Force. For Airmen with high aptitudes, some of these training programs include more than one school and take a year or more to complete.
Airmen are often nicknamed “mosquito wings" due to the insignia's resemblance to a mosquito's small wings.
Army Air Corps
From 1926 to 1941, the Army Air Corps served as the armed service for aviation, the now diminished service, referenced the term airman for its primary operating roles. In the former Army Air Corps the term of aviator applies to navigators, air crew, mechanics, flight instructors, nurses, chefs, and support personnel. Historically it is mentioned when referring to the Tuskegee Airman, which was a squadron of African American pilots in World War ᛁᛁ.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By the end of World War ᛁᛁ the Army Air Corps would be diminished, and in 1947 the Air Force was founded and adopted the term of Airmen, and used it for members of its service.
Navy
Template:See alsoIn the U.S. Navy, Airman is the enlisted rank that corresponds to the pay grade of E-3 in the Navy's aviation field, but it is just below the rank of Petty Officer Third Class, pay grade E-4.<ref group=Note>The following Navy rates (actual job names and functions) fall within the category of "Airman" and are all at the E-3 pay grade:
|
|
|
</ref> The name of Airman though different in duties it is loosely related to that of Seamen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This term is also referred to a fireman, in engineering, and hospitalman in medical duties, respectively. The Airman rank is identified by its distinct green stripes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Particularly, opposite that of Seamen, it's duties since 1922 when the very first aircraft carrier was established<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in the first world war have been air bases, maintaining navy aircraft, and that of aircraft carriers through tying down and refueling planes both domestically and abroad.<ref group="Note">"Class" E.g. B (Bomber), F (Fighter), notable ones include B-2, Stealth Bomber, F-15, Fighting Falcon.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Regarding the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps,<ref group="Note">A United States youth program sponsored and managed by the U.S Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, often referred to as USNSCC or NSCC.</ref> a U.S Navy youth development program the term: "Airman" explicitly refers to a participant who participates in flight school with U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel and reservist.<ref group="Note">Also referred to as airman</ref> The term is often tied to the own division's website, alternatively referred to as a squadron.<ref group="Note">The official terminology is unit, though the units referred to will operate completely differently than the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps though still under their legal ownership.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The common and correct terminology for the flight school participants is the terminology of "Sea Cadet" or "Seamen" which is referred to by multiple magazines,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> media outlets,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> personal journals,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and newspapers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The term in particular in the public-eye is almost never used and is most often never referred to in un-involved Sea Cadet organizations in the United States<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (i.e.. Colorado Sea Cadet Corps as of 2025).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Most credibly, it is within papers such as legal documents,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> where it is mentioned by the official 9 latin characters,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as "Sea Cadets" <ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and the longform with 13 characters as "Sea Cadet Corps". While uncommon in popular culture as a terminology it does in turn offer benefits for its participants, including a possible private pilot license (PPL) though this amount of training is commonly portrayed as unachievable for most Sea Cadets unless well educated or gifted. The FAA's requirements have often made it stringent for most international Sea Cadets in their exchange program, as per a 2022 statement by the FAA requiring them to be well knowledgeable in reading, writing, and understanding English.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This claim has been discredited by other Sea Cadets, instead stating it only takes time, dedication and hard work.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard rank of airman is identical to the pay grade and naval rank of the U.S Navy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Coast Guard Airman corresponds to the pay grade of E-3 in the Coast Guard's aviation field respectively. Airman is classified as the rank above the Coast Guard rank of airman apprentice, Seaman Apprentice, Fireman Apprentice which is the E-2 pay grade, but it is directly below the rank of Petty Officer Third Class, E-4 pay grade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A airman may be tasked with maintaining and stowing aircraft to gain experience.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
.svg){kind=link}
.svg){kind=link}
.svg){kind=link}
.svg){kind=link}
.svg){kind=link}
.svg){kind=link}
.svg){kind=link}
