Taking charge of men and management, a Group Captain, a Director level officer, may command a medium-sized Air Force Station or be an important link in decision making mechanism at various IAF formations.

An Air Commodore is the next rank and of a Principal Director. An Air Commodore may command a large Air Force Station, or hold Staff Appointments (senior level) at Air HQ/Command HQ.

Only the daring few climb this high, in the Air Force hierarchy.  An Air Vice Marshal is responsible for taking strategic decisions.

Just one step below the pinnacle of hierarchy, the Air Marshal commands a lot of power. However, the promotion opportunity in these ranks is on “select” basis which depends on number of vacancies available for each branch vis-à-vis the performance standing of an officer amongst his peer group