Each Airman job in the Air Force is referred to as a mustering; for example, Aircraft Structural Fitter is a mustering. There are two types of entry into the Aircraft Structural Fitter mustering: General entry and Direct/Provisional entry.

General Entry (Technical Trainee).

Is the term used to describe the large number of technical jobs available to people entering the Air Force as Airmen (non-Officer entry) and for which trade training is provided.

Direct/Provisional Method of Entry to the Mustering.

Direct/Provisional entry will normally be based on the recruit having been issued an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) Trade Certificate obtained under the National Aerospace Competency Standards (NACS). However, additional vocational training may still be required, usually identified through a Recognition of Prior Learning and Recognition of Current Competencies (RPL/RCC) process.

Airmen and Airwomen graduate from recruit training with the rank of Aircraftsman / Aircraftswoman (AC/ACW) and progress to Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman (LAC/LACW) following completion of trade training and an additional year of work experience.

Further promotion to Corporal, Sergeant, Flight Sergeant and Warrant Officer is based on performance, time in rank and vacancies.

Corporals are referred to as Non-Commissioned Officers, or NCOs, while Sergeants and Flight Sergeants are called Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs). Warrant Officer is the most senior Airman rank. A Corporal will normally have some responsibility for the supervision of junior staff and this progressively increases on promotion to Sergeant and Flight Sergeant. A Warrant Officer normally has a substantial personnel management role.

The Air Force has a system whereby serving Airmen may, in certain circumstances, be appointed as Officers. The prerequisites vary depending on your mustering, the preferred Officer specialisation, your rank, performance history and a number of other factors.