Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs) classify every job based on duties and requirements. To manage the progression of personnel, the Air Force uses a standardized skill level system to track proficiency and experience. This numerical system determines an Airman’s capability, directly impacting their career progression, pay, and level of responsibility. The designation an Airman holds dictates their role in the unit and their potential for advancement.
Understanding Air Force Skill Levels
The Air Force utilizes a five-tiered numerical system to standardize the assessment of an Airman’s capability across all AFSCs. This structure begins with the 1-level, which signifies a Trainee new to the career field who has not yet completed initial technical training. Following initial training, the Airman is awarded the 3-level, officially designating them as an Apprentice capable of performing basic tasks under supervision.
The 5-level is the next stage, representing the Journeyman status, which signifies technical proficiency. Beyond the Journeyman is the 7-level Craftsman, who possesses advanced technical and supervisory knowledge. The structure culminates in the 9-level Superintendent, who serves in a senior management and leadership capacity, overseeing the entire function of an occupational field. This progression provides a clear path for Airmen to advance their technical skills and leadership responsibilities.
Defining the 5-Level Journeyman Status
The achievement of the 5-level Journeyman status represents a formal declaration that an Airman is fully qualified and competent to operate within their specific AFSC. At this stage, the Airman is expected to perform all routine tasks associated with their job independently. This designation marks a significant transition point, moving the Airman from being primarily a student or trainee to becoming a fully operational member of the unit’s workforce.
Journeymen are technically proficient in the core elements of their job, having demonstrated mastery over the procedures, equipment, and troubleshooting required for daily operations. Earning this status confirms the Airman’s ability to apply theoretical knowledge gained during technical school to real-world scenarios. The 5-level Airman is a technical expert within their functional area, expected to maintain high standards of performance and efficiency. This qualification is recognized across the entire Air Force, assuring commanders that the Airman can immediately contribute to mission requirements upon arrival at any duty station.
The Training Path to Achieving 5-Level
The journey to earning the 5-level begins with the successful completion of the initial technical school for the Airman’s specific AFSC, which grants the initial 3-level Apprentice designation. Following technical school, the Airman enters a period of structured on-the-job training (OJT) at their first duty station. This OJT process typically requires a minimum of 12 to 15 months of time-in-training, though the exact duration can vary based on the complexity of the job.
During this period, the Airman must demonstrate proficiency in a comprehensive list of mandatory and core tasks specific to their career field, with each task requiring certification by a qualified trainer. Concurrently with the OJT, the Airman is required to complete Career Development Courses (CDCs), which are self-study materials designed to provide the theoretical knowledge underpinning the hands-on work. The CDCs cover advanced concepts necessary for full job competency.
The final requirement for the 5-level is the successful completion of a written end-of-course test covering the material presented in the CDCs. This examination serves as the final validation that the Airman has absorbed both the practical skills and the theoretical understanding necessary to operate independently. Only after the required time has passed, all tasks have been certified, and the final written examination has been successfully completed is the 5-level Journeyman status awarded.
Responsibilities and Supervisory Role of a 5-Level Airman
Holding the 5-level designation alters an Airman’s responsibilities. Having demonstrated their technical mastery, Journeymen are primarily expected to execute their duties without direct supervision. This increased independence comes with the expectation that they will maintain complex or specialized equipment and execute technical procedures with minimal error.
One of the most significant shifts in responsibility for a 5-level Airman is the assumption of a training and mentoring role for newly arrived 3-level Apprentices. Journeymen often serve as OJT trainers, using their certified expertise to guide, instruct, and evaluate the technical performance of junior personnel. They are responsible for signing off on tasks and providing the foundational knowledge that allows apprentices to progress in their careers.
The rank associated with achieving the 5-level is typically Senior Airman, or sometimes Staff Sergeant, as the Airman promotes shortly after meeting the time-in-service and training requirements. This progression is often accompanied by an increase in pay, reflecting the greater technical complexity and supervisory duties now assigned. In many units, 5-level Journeymen may be tasked with shift supervision, managing small teams, or overseeing specific operational segments, gaining initial experience in leadership roles.
Progression Beyond the 5-Level to Craftsman
The 5-level Journeyman status is the necessary prerequisite for advancement to the 7-level Craftsman. Progression to the 7-level requires the Airman to hold a specific rank, typically Staff Sergeant or Technical Sergeant, and meet additional time-in-service and time-in-grade requirements.
The 7-level Craftsman role is fundamentally a transition into supervisory and management functions, requiring a broader perspective beyond individual technical tasks. Achieving this level involves advanced technical training, specialized leadership courses, and a demonstration of the ability to manage resources and personnel effectively. While the 5-level proves an Airman’s technical mastery of their job, the 7-level validates their capability to lead, manage and train others.