Editing Senior master sergeant (section)

===Historical note===
[[File:E8 USAF SMSgt 1967-1991.svg|85px|thumb|Senior master sergeant insignia (obsolete).]]

Although the Air Force has been an independent service since 1947, the rank of senior master sergeant did not come into being until the authorization of the [[Military Pay Act of 1958]]. This act established the pay grades of E-8 and E-9 but without title. It was not until late 1958 that the title of "senior master sergeant" (and the accompanying rank insignia) was decided upon after the enlisted force was polled. At that time, the senior master sergeant rank had only a single chevron above and six below, and a chief master sergeant two above and six below. In 1994 the Air Force changed its non-commissioned officer insignia so that a maximum of five stripes were placed on the bottom of the chevrons, adding one above to each of the top three grades, resulting in the present form.