Air force captain rank insignia

United States Air Force officer rank insignia. The ranks are divided into three sections: company grade, field grade, and general officers. Company grade officers are those officers of grades O-1 to O Field grade officers are those of grades O-4 to O General officers are those of O-7 and above. Currently, promotion from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant is virtually guaranteed after two years of satisfactory service.

Air force officer ranks

Promotion to Captain is virtually guaranteed after another two years of satisfactory service. Previously there was a Promotion Board to Captain, but that was discontinued in This process occurs approximately between the nine- and eleven-year mark, where a certain percentage of Captains will be selected for Major. This process will repeat at the year mark for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and then around the twenty-year mark for promotion to Colonel.

Federal law currently contains no provisions to promote an officer to five-star grade.