United States Air Force
Seal of the Department of the Air Force United States Air Force portal
Active	18 September 1947[1] – Present
Country	United States
Type	Air force
Size	329,638 active personnel 68,872 reserve personnel 94,597 air guard personnel 60,000 Auxiliaries 5,573 aircraft 450 ICBMs 32 satellites
Part of	Department of the Air Force
Headquarters	The Pentagon
Motto	"Aim High ... Fly-Fight-Win[2]'also '"Above All" and "No One Comes Close"
Colors	Ultramarine Blue and Air Force Yellow[3]
March	The U.S. Air Force  Play (help·info)
Engagements	Korean War Vietnam War Panama War Gulf War Bosnian War Kosovo Campaign Afghanistan War Iraq War 2011 Libyan Civil War
Commanders
Secretary	Hon. Michael B. Donley
Chief of Staff	Gen Norton A. Schwartz
Vice Chief of Staff	Gen Philip M. Breedlove
Chief Master Sergeant	CMSAF James A. Roy
Insignia
United States Air Force Symbol
USAF "Hap" Arnold Symbol
Roundel
USAF Pipe Band Tartan
Aircraft flown
Attack	A-10, AC-130
Bomber	B-52H, B-1B, B-2
Electronic warfare	E-3, E-8, EC-130
Fighter	F-15C, F-15E, F-16, F-22
Helicopter	UH-1N, HH-60
Cargo helicopter	CV-22
Reconnaissance	U-2, RC-135, RQ/MQ-1, RQ-4, RQ-170
Trainer	T-6, T-38, T-1, TG-10
Transport	C-130, C-135, KC-135, C-5, C-9, KC-10, C-17, VC-25, C-32, C-37, C-21, C-12, C-40.

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947.^[1] It is the most recent branch of the U.S. military to be formed, and is the most technologically advanced air force in the world. The USAF articulates its core functions in its 2010 Posture Statement as Nuclear Deterrence Operations, Special Operations, Air Superiority, Global Integrated ISR, Space Superiority, Command and Control, Cyberspace Superiority, Personnel Recovery, Global Precision Attack, Building Partnerships, Rapid Global Mobility and Agile Combat Support.^[4]

As of 2009^[update] the USAF operates 5,573 manned aircraft in service (3,990 USAF; 1,213 Air National Guard; and 370 Air Force Reserve);^[5] approximately 180 unmanned combat air vehicles, 2,130 air-launched cruise missiles,^[6] and 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles. The USAF has 330,159 personnel on active duty, 68,872 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 94,753 in the Air National Guard as of September 2008. In addition, the USAF employs 151,360 civilian personnel,^[7] and has over 60,000 auxiliary members in Civil Air Patrol,^[8] making it the largest air force in the world.

The Department of the Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force, who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, and has the authority to conduct all of its affairs, subject to the authority, direction and control of the Secretary of Defense. The Department of the Air Force is a Military Department within the Department of Defense, and it includes all elements of the United States Air Force, i.e. the technical designation of the U.S. Air Force organization. The highest ranking military officer in the Department of the Air Force is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force who exercises supervision over Air Force units, and serves as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Air Force combat forces are assigned, as directed by the Secretary of Defense, to the Combatant Commanders, and neither the Secretary of the Air Force nor the Chief of Staff have operational command authority over them.

Mission, Vision, and Functions[link]

Mission[link]

According to the National Security Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 502), which created the USAF:

In general the United States Air Force shall include aviation forces both combat and service not otherwise assigned. It shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. The Air Force shall be responsible for the preparation of the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peacetime components of the Air Force to meet the needs of war.

§8062 of Title 10 US Code defines the purpose of the USAF as:^[9]

• to preserve the peace and security, and provide for the defense, of the United States, the Territories, Commonwealths, and possessions, and any areas occupied by the United States;
• to support national policy;
• to implement national objectives;
• to overcome any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the United States.

The stated mission of the USAF today is to "fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace".^[10]

Vision[link]

The United States Air Force will be a trusted and reliable joint partner with our sister services known for integrity in all of our activities, including supporting the joint mission first and foremost. We will provide compelling air, space, and cyber capabilities for use by the combatant commanders. We will excel as stewards of all Air Force resources in service to the American people, while providing precise and reliable Global Vigilance, Reach and Power for the nation".^[10]

Core Functions[link]

Recently the Air Force refined its understanding of the core duties and responsibilities it performs as a Military Service Branch, streamlining what previously were six distinctive capabilities and seventeen operational functions into twelve core functions to be used across the doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities spectrum. These core functions express the ways in which the Air Force is particularly and appropriately suited to contribute to national security, but they do not necessarily express every aspect of what the Air Force contributes to the nation. It should be emphasized that the core functions, by themselves, are not doctrinal constructs.^[11]

Nuclear Deterrence Operations[link]

The purpose of Nuclear Deterrence Operations (NDO) is to operate, maintain, and secure nuclear forces to achieve an assured capability to deter an adversary from taking action against vital US interests. In the event deterrence fails, the US should be able to appropriately respond with nuclear options. The sub-elements of this function are:^[11]

Assure/Dissuade/Deter is a mission set derived from the Air Force’s readiness to carry out the nuclear strike operations mission as well as from specific actions taken to assure allies as a part of extended deterrence. Dissuading others from acquiring or proliferating WMD, and the means to deliver them, contributes to promoting security and is also an integral part of this mission. Moreover, different deterrence strategies are required to deter various adversaries, whether they are a nation state, or non-state/transnational actor. The Air Force maintains and presents credible deterrent capabilities through successful visible demonstrations and exercises which assure allies, dissuade proliferation, deter potential adversaries from actions that threaten US national security or the populations and deployed military forces of the US, its allies and friends.^[11]

Nuclear strike is the ability of nuclear forces to rapidly and accurately strike targets which the enemy holds dear in a devastating manner. If a crisis occurs, rapid generation and, if necessary, deployment of nuclear strike capabilities will demonstrate US resolve and may prompt an adversary to alter the course of action deemed threatening to our national interest. Should deterrence fail, the President may authorize a precise, tailored response to terminate the conflict at the lowest possible level and lead to a rapid cessation of hostilities. Post-conflict, regeneration of a credible nuclear deterrent capability will deter further aggression. The Air Force may present a credible force posture in either the continental US, within a theater of operations, or both to effectively deter the range of potential adversaries envisioned in the 21st century. This requires the ability to engage targets globally using a variety of methods; therefore, the Air Force should possess the ability to induct, train, assign, educate and exercise individuals and units to rapidly and effectively execute missions that support US NDO objectives. Finally, the Air Force regularly exercises and evaluates all aspects of nuclear operations to ensure high levels of performance.^[11]

Nuclear surety ensures the safety, security and effectiveness of nuclear operations. Because of their political and military importance, destructive power, and the potential consequences of an accident or unauthorized act, nuclear weapons and nuclear weapon systems require special consideration and protection against risks and threats inherent in their peacetime and wartime environments. The Air Force, in conjunction with other entities within the Departments of Defense or Energy, achieves a high standard of protection through a stringent nuclear surety program. This program applies to materiel, personnel, and procedures that contribute to the safety, security, and control of nuclear weapons, thus assuring no nuclear accidents, incidents, loss, or unauthorized or accidental use (a Broken Arrow incident). The Air Force continues to pursue safe, secure and effective nuclear weapons consistent with operational requirements. Adversaries, allies, and the American people must be highly confident of the Air Force’s ability to secure nuclear weapons from accidents, theft, loss, and accidental or unauthorized use. This day-to-day commitment to precise and reliable nuclear operations is the cornerstone of the credibility of the NDO mission. Positive nuclear command, control, communications; effective nuclear weapons security; and robust combat support are essential to the overall NDO function.^[11]

Air Superiority[link]

Air Superiority is “that degree of dominance in the air battle of one force over another which permits the conduct of operations by the former and its related land, sea, air, and special operations forces at a given time and place without prohibitive interference by the opposing force” (JP 1-02).^[11]

Offensive Counterair (OCA) is defined as "offensive operations to destroy, disrupt, or neutralize enemy aircraft, missiles, launch platforms, and their supporting structures and systems both before and after launch, but as close to their source as possible" (JP 1-02). OCA is the preferred method of countering air and missile threats, since it attempts to defeat the enemy closer to its source and typically enjoys the initiative. OCA comprises attack operations, sweep, escort, and suppression/destruction of enemy air defense.^[11]

Defensive Counterair (DCA) is defined as “all the defensive measures designed to detect, identify, intercept, and destroy or negate enemy forces attempting to penetrate or attack through friendly airspace” (JP 1-02). A major goal of DCA operations, in concert with OCA operations, is to provide an area from which forces can operate, secure from air and missile threats. The DCA mission comprises both active and passive defense measures. Active defense is “the employment of limited offensive action and counterattacks to deny a contested area or position to the enemy” (JP 1-02). It includes both ballistic missile defense and air breathing threat defense, and encompasses point defense, area defense, and high value airborne asset defense. Passive defense is “measures taken to reduce the probability of and to minimize the effects of damage caused by hostile action without the intention of taking the initiative” (JP 1-02). It includes detection and warning; chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense; camouflage, concealment, and deception; hardening; reconstitution; dispersion; redundancy; and mobility, counter-measures, and stealth.^[11]

Airspace control is “a process used to increase operational effectiveness by promoting the safe, efficient, and flexible use of airspace” (JP 1-02). It promotes the safe, efficient, and flexible use of airspace, mitigates the risk of fratricide, enhances both offensive and defensive operations, and permits greater agility of air operations as a whole. It both deconflicts and facilitates integration of joint air operations.^[11]

Space Superiority[link]

Space superiority is “the degree of dominance in space of one force over another that permits the conduct of operations by the former and its related land, sea, air, space, and special operations forces at a given time and place without prohibitive interference by the opposing force” (JP 1-02). Space superiority may be localized in time and space, or it may be broad and enduring. Space superiority provides freedom of action in space for friendly forces and, when directed, denies the same freedom to the adversary.^[11]

Space Force Enhancement is defined as the “combat support operations and force-multiplying capabilities delivered from space systems to improve the effectiveness of military forces as well as support other intelligence, civil, and commercial users. This mission area includes: intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; integrated tactical warning and attack assessment; command, control, and communications; positioning, navigation, and timing; and environmental monitoring” (JP 1-02).^[11]

Space Force Application is defined as “combat operations in, through, and from space to influence the course and outcome of conflict. This mission area includes ballistic missile defense and force projection” (JP 1-02).^[11]

Space Control is defined as “operations to ensure freedom of action in space for the US and its allies and, when directed, deny an adversary freedom of action in space. This mission area includes: operations conducted to protect friendly space capabilities from attack, interference, or unintentional hazards (defensive space control); operations to deny an adversary’s use of space capabilities (offensive space control); and the requisite current and predictive knowledge of the space environment and the operational environment upon which space operations depend (space situational awareness)” (JP 1-02).^[11]

Space Support is defined as “operations to deploy and sustain military and intelligence systems in space. This mission area includes: launching and deploying space vehicles; maintaining and sustaining spacecraft on-orbit, rendezvous and proximity operations; disposing of (including de-orbiting and recovering) space capabilities; and reconstitution of space forces, if required” (JP 1-02).^[11]

Cyberspace Superiority[link]

Cyberspace Superiority is “the operational advantage in, through, and from cyberspace to conduct operations at a given time and in a given domain without prohibitive interference” (AFDD 3–12, Cyberspace Operations).^[11]

Cyberspace Force Application is combat operations in, through, and from cyberspace to achieve military objectives and influence the course and outcome of conflict by taking decisive actions against approved targets. It will incorporate computer network attack (CNA), computer network exploitation (CNE), and may involve aspects of influence operations. It is highly dependent on ISR, fused all-source intelligence, sophisticated attribution activities, situational awareness, and responsive C2.^[11]

This is the passive, active, and dynamic employment of capabilities to respond to imminent or on-going actions against Air Force or Air Force-protected networks, the Air Force's portion of the Global Information Grid, or expeditionary communications assigned to the Air Force. Cyberspace defense incorporates CNE, computer network defense (CND), and CNA techniques and may be a contributor to influence operations. It is highly dependent upon ISR, fused all-source intelligence, automated indications and warning, sophisticated attribution/characterization, situational awareness, assessment, and responsive C2.^[11]

Cyberspace Support is foundational, continuous, or responsive operations ensuring information integrity and availability in, through, and from Air Force-controlled infrastructure and its interconnected analog and digital portion of the battle space. Inherent in this mission is the ability to establish, extend, secure, protect, and defend in order to sustain assigned networks and missions. This includes protection measures against supply chain components plus critical C2 networks/communications links and nuclear C2 networks. The cyberspace support mission incorporates CNE and CND techniques. It incorporates all elements of Air Force Network Operations, information transport, enterprise management, and information assurance, and is dependent on ISR and all-source intelligence.^[11]

Command and Control[link]

Command and control is “the exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission. Command and control functions are performed through an arrangement of personnel, equipment, communications, facilities, and procedures employed by a commander in planning, directing, coordinating, and controlling forces and operations in the accomplishment of the mission” (JP 1-02). This core function includes all of the C2-related capabilities and activities associated with air, space, cyberspace, nuclear, and agile combat support operations to achieve strategic, operational, and tactical objectives.^[11]

At the Strategic Level Command and Control, the US determines national or multinational security objectives and guidance, and develops and uses national resources to accomplish these objectives. These national objectives in turn provide the direction for developing overall military objectives, which are used to develop the objectives and strategy for each theater.^[11]

At the Operational Level Command and Control, campaigns and major operations are planned, conducted, sustained, and assessed to accomplish strategic goals within theaters or areas of operations. These activities imply a broader dimension of time or space than do tactics; they provide the means by which tactical successes are exploited to achieve strategic and operational objectives.^[11]

Tactical Level Command and Control is where individual battles and engagements are fought. The tactical level of war deals with how forces are employed, and the specifics of how engagements are conducted and targets attacked. The goal of tactical level C2 is to achieve commander's intent and desired effects by gaining and keeping offensive initiative.^[11]

Global Integrated ISR[link]

Global Integrated Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) is the synchronization and integration of the planning and operation of sensors, assets, and processing, exploitation, dissemination systems across the globe to conduct current and future operations.^[11]

Planning and Directing is “the determination of intelligence requirements, development of appropriate intelligence architecture, preparation of a collection plan, and issuance of orders and requests to information collection agencies” (JP 2-01, Joint and National Intelligence Support to Military Operations). These activities enable the synchronization and integration of collection, processing, exploitation, analysis, and dissemination activities/resources to meet information requirements of national and military decision makers.^[11]

Collection is “the acquisition of information and the provision of this information to processing elements” (JP 2-01). It provides the ability to obtain required information to satisfy intelligence needs (via use of sources and methods in all domains). Collection activities span the ROMO.^[11]

Processing and exploitation is “the conversion of collected information into forms suitable to the production of intelligence” (JP 2-01). It provides the ability, across the ROMO, to transform, extract, and make available collected information suitable for further analysis or action.^[11]

Analysis and production is “the conversion of processed information into intelligence through the integration, evaluation, analysis, and interpretation of all source data and the preparation of intelligence products in support of known or anticipated user requirements” (JP 2-01). It provides the ability to integrate, evaluate, and interpret information from available sources to create a finished intelligence product for presentation or dissemination to enable increased situational awareness.^[11]

Dissemination and Integration is “the delivery of intelligence to users in a suitable form and the application of the intelligence to appropriate missions, tasks, and functions” (JP 2-01). It provides the ability to present information and intelligence products across the ROMO enabling understanding of the operational environment to military and national decision makers.^[11]

Global Precision Attack[link]

Global Precision Attack is the ability to hold at risk or strike rapidly and persistently, with a wide range of munitions, any target and to create swift, decisive, and precise effects across multiple domains.^[11] The USAF lacks sufficient survivable stealthy strategic range aircraft in order to deal with Iran, China or North Korea.^[12]

Strategic Attack is defined as “offensive action specifically selected to achieve national strategic objectives. These attacks seek to weaken the adversary's ability or will to engage in conflict, and may achieve strategic objectives without necessarily having to achieve operational objectives as a precondition” (AFDD 3–70, Strategic Attack).^[11]

Air Interdiction is defined as “air operations conducted to divert, disrupt, delay, or destroy the enemy's military potential before it can be brought to bear effectively against friendly forces, or to otherwise achieve JFC objectives. Air lnterdiction is conducted at such distance from friendly forces that detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of friendly forces is not required” (AFDD 3-03, Counterland Operations).^[11]

Close Air Support is defined as “air action by fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces and which require detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of those forces” (JP 1-02). This can be as a pre-planned event or on demand from an alert posture (ground or airborne). It can be conducted across the ROMO.^[11]

Special Operations[link]

Special Operations are “operations conducted in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments to achieve military, diplomatic, informational, and/or economic objectives employing military capabilities for which there is no broad conventional force requirement. These operations may require covert, clandestine, or low-visibility capabilities. Special operations are applicable across the ROMO. They can be conducted independently or in conjunction with operations of conventional forces or other government agencies and may include operations through, with, or by indigenous or surrogate forces. Special operations differ from conventional operations in degree of physical and political risk, operational techniques, mode of employment, independence from friendly support, and dependence on detailed operational intelligence and indigenous assets” (JP 1-02).^[11]

Agile Combat Support is the capability to effectively create, prepare, deploy, employ, sustain, and protect Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Airmen, assets, and capabilities throughout the ROMO at a chosen initiative, speed, and tempo.^[11]

Aviation Foreign Internal Defense operations directly execute US security and foreign policy as lead airpower elements that shape the battlefield and conduct stability operations to enable global reach and strike. This is accomplished by applying the mission set (assess, train, advise, and assist foreign aviation forces) across a continuum of operating venues described as indirect assistance, direct assistance (not including combat) and combat operations.^[11]

Battlefield Air Operations is a unique set of combat proven capabilities (combat control, pararescue, combat weather, and tactical air control party) provided by regular and reserve component special operations forces (SOF) Battlefield Airmen who integrate, synchronize, and control manned and unmanned capabilities to achieve tactical, operational, and strategic objectives.^[11]

Command and Control is the exercise of the commander’s authority and direction over assigned and attached forces by trained, organized, and equipped C2 elements. Operational C2 elements consist of personnel and equipment with specialized capability to plan, direct, coordinate, and control forces in the conduct of joint/combined special operations.^[11]

Information Operations is the integrated employment of the capabilities of influence operations, electronic warfare operations, and network warfare operations, in concert with specified integrated control enablers, to influence, disrupt, corrupt, or usurp adversarial human and automated decision making while protecting one’s own.^[11]

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance is the synchronization and integration of platforms and sensors with the planning and direction, collection, processing and exploitation, analysis, and production and dissemination processes. These activities provide actionable intelligence, weather, environmental awareness, and prediction across all SOF command echelons.^[11]

Military Information Support Operations are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups, and individuals. The purpose of military information support operations is to induce or reinforce foreign attitudes and behavior favorable to the originator's objectives.^[11]

Precision Strike provides CCDRs with an integrated capability to find, fix, track, target, engage, and assess targets using a single weapons system or a combination of systems. This includes close air support, air interdiction, and armed reconnaissance missions.^[11]

Specialized Air Mobility is the conduct of rapid, global infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of personnel, equipment, and materiel using specialized systems and tactics. These missions may be clandestine, low visibility, or overt and through hostile, denied, or politically sensitive airspace.^[11]

Specialized Refueling is the conduct of rapid, global refueling using specialized systems and tactics. This includes aerial refueling of vertical lift aircraft and ground refueling during forward arming and refueling point operations. These missions may be clandestine, low visibility, or overt and in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments.^[11]

Rapid Global Mobility[link]

An F-16 Falcon in OpFor colors soars over the Alaska Range 20 April 2010

Rapid Global Mobility is the timely deployment, employment, sustainment, augmentation, and redeployment of military forces and capabilities across the ROMO. It provides joint military forces the capability to move from place to place while retaining the ability to fulfill their primary mission. Rapid Global Mobility is essential to virtually every military operation, allowing forces to reach foreign or domestic destinations quickly, thus seizing the initiative through speed and surprise.^[11]

Airlift is “operations to transport and deliver forces and materiel through the air in support of strategic, operational, or tactical objectives” (AFDD 3–17, Air Mobility Operations). The rapid and flexible options afforded by airlift allow military forces and national leaders the ability to respond and operate in a variety of situations and time frames. The global reach capability of airlift provides the ability to apply US power worldwide by delivering forces to crisis locations. It serves as a US presence that demonstrates resolve and compassion in humanitarian crisis.^[11]

Air Refueling is “the refueling of an aircraft in flight by another aircraft” (JP 1-02). Air refueling extends presence, increases range, and serves as a force multiplier. It allows air assets to more rapidly reach any trouble spot around the world with less dependence on forward staging bases or overflight/landing clearances. Air refueling significantly expands the options available to a commander by increasing the range, payload, persistence, and flexibility of receiver aircraft.^[11]

Aeromedical Evacuation is “the movement of patients under medical supervision to and between medical treatment facilities by air transportation” (JP 1-02). JP 4-02, Health Service Support, further defines it as “the fixed wing movement of regulated casualties to and between medical treatment facilities, using organic and/or contracted mobility airframes, with aircrew trained explicitly for this mission.” Aeromedical evacuation forces can operate as far forward as fixed-wing aircraft are able to conduct airland operations.^[11]

Personnel Recovery[link]

Personnel Recovery (PR) is defined as “the sum of military, diplomatic, and civil efforts to prepare for and execute the recovery and reintegration of isolated personnel” (JP 1-02). It is the ability of the US government and its international partners to affect the recovery of isolated personnel across the ROMO and return those personnel to duty. PR also enhances the development of an effective, global capacity to protect and recover isolated personnel wherever they are placed at risk; deny an adversary‘s ability to exploit a nation through propaganda; and develop joint, interagency, and international capabilities that contribute to crisis response and regional stability.^[11]

Combat Search and Rescue is “the tactics, techniques, and procedures performed by forces to effect the recovery of isolated personnel during combat” (JP 1-02). Combat search and rescue is the primary Air Force recovery method utilized to conduct PR taskings.^[11]

Civil Search and Rescue is “the use of aircraft, surface craft, submarines, and specialized rescue teams and equipment to search for and rescue distressed persons on land or at sea in a permissive environment” (JP 1-02).^[11]

Disaster Response can be described as the capability to support and assist US government agencies and embassies during national and international disasters with rapidly deployable and flexible air/ground rescue forces.^[11]

Humanitarian Assistance Operations are “programs conducted to relieve or reduce the results of natural or manmade disasters or other endemic conditions such as human pain, disease, hunger, or privation that might present a serious threat to life or that can result in great damage to or loss of property. Humanitarian assistance provided by US forces is limited in scope and duration. The assistance provided is designed to supplement or complement the efforts of the host nation civil authorities or agencies that may have the primary responsibility for providing humanitarian assistance” (JP 1-02).^[11]

Medical evacuation refers to dedicated medical evacuation platforms staffed and equipped to provide en route medical care using predesignated tactical and logistic aircraft, boats, ships, and other watercraft temporarily equipped and staffed with medical attendants for en route care. Casualty evacuation involves the unregulated movement of casualties aboard ships, land vehicles, or aircraft (JP 4-02, Health Service Support).^[11]

Agile Combat Support[link]

Agile Combat Support (ACS) is the ability to field, protect, and sustain Air Force forces across the ROMO to achieve joint effects.^[11]

Ready the Total Force includes organizing, training, and equipping forces; establishing quality of life and maintaining core security; and fielding and planning for the use of operational and support forces to meet global mission requirements.^[11]

Prepare the Battlespace includes assessing, planning, and posturing for rapid employment; prepositioning resources and conditioning specific theaters and/or contingency locations in a manner to meet closure timing; and establishing sustainment levels for potential operations.^[11]

Position the Total Force includes preparing to deploy, deploying, receiving, and bedding down tailored and prioritized forces; establishing initial operations and support cadres in a joint operations area; distributing pre-positioned resources; establishing initial reachback connectivity; securing operating locations; and preparing for mission operations.^[11]

Protecting the Total Force key focus areas include personnel, critical assets, and information. These areas are the persistent detection and understanding of threats in the operational environment and the timely dissemination of accurate decisions, warnings and taskings to protect against attacks and/or threats.^[11]

Employ Combat Support Forces includes engaging support forces in support of mission operations; initializing, launching, recovering, and regenerating operational elements; executing support through supporting-supported relationships; and commencing reachback operations to strategic levels of support.^[11]

Sustain the Total Force includes producing assured capacities and levels of support; accomplishing the long term mastery of an operational environment (peacetime and wartime) requiring persistent and effective materiel and personnel support through both local and reachback processes.^[11]

Recover the Total Force includes preparing forces to remain in place, redeploy, relocate, and be reconstituted to prescribed levels of readiness; restoring operating locations and/or environments to planned conditions; protecting the dynamic levels of force structure; and ensuring Air Force mission elements can be effectively applied at the direction of national leadership.^[11]

Building Partnerships[link]

Building Partnerships is described as Airmen interacting with international airmen and other relevant actors to develop, guide, and sustain relationships for mutual benefit and security. Building Partnerships is about interacting with others and is therefore an inherently inter-personal and cross-cultural undertaking. Through both words and deeds, the majority of interaction is devoted to building trust-based relationships for mutual benefit. It includes both foreign partners as well as domestic partners and emphasizes collaboration with foreign governments, militaries and populations as well as US government departments, agencies, industry, and NGOs. To better facilitate partnering efforts, Airmen should be competent in the relevant language, region, and culture.^[11]

Communicate refers to developing and presenting information to domestic audiences to improve understanding. It is also the ability to develop and present information to foreign adversary audiences to affect their perceptions, will, behavior and capabilities in order to further US national security and/or shared global security interests.^[11]

Shape refers to conducting activities to affect the perceptions, will, behavior, and capabilities of partners, military forces, and relevant populations to further US national security or shared global security interests.^[11]

History[link]

The War Department created the first antecedent of the Air Force in 1907, which through a succession of changes of organization, titles, and missions advanced toward eventual separation 40 years later. In World War II, almost 68,000 U.S airmen died helping to win the war; only the infantry suffered more enlisted casualties.^[13] In practice, the USAAF was virtually independent of the Army during World War II, but officials wanted formal independence. The USAF became a separate military service on 18 September 1947, with the implementation of the National Security Act of 1947.^[14] The Act created the National Military Establishment (renamed Department of Defense in 1949), which was composed of three subordinate Military Departments, namely the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy and a newly-created Department of the Air Force.^[15] Prior to 1947, the responsibility for military aviation was shared between the Army (for land-based operations), the Navy (for sea-based operations from aircraft carriers and amphibious aircraft), and the Marine Corps (for close air support of infantry operations).

Roundels that have appeared on US aircraft
1) 5/17–2/18 2) 2/18–8/19 3) 8/19–5/42
4) 5/42–6/43 5) 6/43–9/43 6) 9/43–1/47
7) 1/47–

The predecessor organizations in the Army of today's Air Force are:

• Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps 1 August 1907 – 18 July 1914
• Aviation Section, Signal Corps 18 July 1914 – 20 May 1918
• Division of Military Aeronautics (20 May 1918 to 24 May 1918)
• U.S. Army Air Service (24 May 1918 to 2 July 1926)
• U.S. Army Air Corps (2 July 1926 to 20 June 1941) and
• U.S. Army Air Forces (20 June 1941 to 18 September 1947)

Recent history[link]

Since 2005, the USAF has placed a strong focus on the improvement of Basic Military Training (BMT). While the intense training has become longer it also has shifted to include a deployment phase. This deployment phase, now called the BEAST, places the trainees in a surreal environment that they may experience once they deploy. While the trainees do tackle the massive obstacle courses along with the BEAST, the other portions include defending and protecting their base of operations, forming a structure of leadership, directing search and recovery, and basic self aid buddy care. During this event, the Military Training Instructors (MTI) act as mentors and enemy forces in a deployment exercise.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, the USAF undertook a reduction-in-force. Because of budget constraints, the USAF planned to reduce the service's size from 360,000 active duty personnel to 316,000.^[16] The size of the active-duty force in 2007 was roughly 64% of that of the USAF at the end of the Gulf War in 1991.^[17] However, the reduction was ended at approximately 330,000 personnel in 2008 to meet mission requirements.^[16] These same constraints have seen a sharp reduction in flight hours for crew training since 2005^[18] and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel directing Airmen's Time Assessments.^[19]

On 5 June 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, accepted the resignations of both the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Wynne, and the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Gen. T. Michael Moseley. Gates in effect fired both men for "systemic issues associated with declining Air Force nuclear mission focus and performance". This followed an investigation into two embarrassing incidents involving mishandling of nuclear weapons, and were also the culmination of disputes between the Air Force leadership and Gates.^[20] To put more emphasis on nuclear assets, the USAF established the nuclear-focused Air Force Global Strike Command on 24 October 2008.^[21]

On 26 June 2009, the USAF released a force structure plan that cuts fighter aircraft and shifts resources to better support nuclear, irregular and information warfare.^[22] On 23 July 2009, The USAF released their Unmanned Aerial System Flight Plan, detailing UAV plans through 2047.^[23] One third of the planes that the USAF plans to buy in the future are to be unmanned.^[24]

In recent years the USAF has fumbled several high profile aircraft procurement projects, such as the failure to make the case for the Next-Generation Bomber, the failure to control costs on the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and the decade of failures on the KC-X program. Winslow Wheeler has written that this pattern represents "failures of intellect and – much more importantly – ethics."^[25] As a result the USAF fleet is setting new records for average aircraft age and needs to replace its fleets of fighters, bombers, airborne tankers, and airborne warning aircraft, in an age of restrictive defense budgets.^[26]

In 2011, the Air Force disallowed the wear of Friday Name Tags per the new dress and appearance standards.^[27] This has been a tradition regarding call signs that dates to WWI.^[28]

Conflicts[link]

The SR-71 Blackbird was a Cold War reconnaissance plane.

The F-117 Nighthawk was a stealth attack aircraft (retired from service on 22 April 2008).

The United States has been involved in many wars, conflicts and operations using military air operations. Air combat operations before, and since the official conception of the USAF include:

• World War I^[29] as Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
• World War II^[29] as United States Army Air Forces
• Cold War
• Korean War
• Vietnam War
• Operation Eagle Claw (1980 Iranian Hostage Rescue)
• Operation Urgent Fury (1983 US Invasion of Grenada)
• Operation El Dorado Canyon (1986 US Bombing of Libya)
• Operation Just Cause (1989–1990 US Invasion of Panama)
• Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990–1991 Persian Gulf War)
• Operation Southern Watch (1992–2003 Iraq No-Fly Zone)
• Operation Deliberate Force (1995 NATO bombing in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Operation Northern Watch (1997–2003 Iraq No-Fly Zone)
• Operation Allied Force (1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia)
• Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–present Afghanistan War)
• Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn (2003–2011)
• Operation Odyssey Dawn (2011 Libyan No-Fly Zone)

Humanitarian operations[link]

The USAF has also taken part in numerous humanitarian operations. Some of the more major ones include the following:^[30]

• Berlin Airlift (Operation Vittles), 1948–1949
• Operation Safe Haven, 1956–1957
• Operations Babylift, New Life, Frequent Wind, and New Arrivals, 1975
• Operation Provide Comfort, 1991
• Operation Sea Angel, 1991
• Operation Provide Hope, 1992–1993
• Operation Unified Assistance, December 2004 – April 2005
• Operation Unified Response, 14 January 2010–present
• Operation Tomodachi, 12 March 2011 – 1 May 2011

Organization[link]

Administrative organization[link]

The Department of the Air Force is one of three military departments within the Department of Defense, and is managed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force, under the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense. The senior officials in the Office of the Secretary are the Under Secretary of the Air Force, four Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force and the General Counsel, all of whom are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The senior uniformed leadership in the Air Staff is made up of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

The directly subordinate commands and units are named Field Operating Agency (FOA), Direct Reporting Unit (DRU), and the currently unused Separate Operating Agency.

The Major Command (MAJCOM) is the superior hierarchical level of command. Including the Air Force Reserve Command, as of 30 September 2006, USAF has ten major commands. The Numbered Air Force (NAF) is a level of command directly under the MAJCOM, followed by Operational Command (now unused), Air Division (also now unused), Wing, Group, Squadron, and Flight.

Headquarters Air Force[link]

• Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
• 20px The Air Staff, The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia

Major Commands (Force Structure)[link]

• Air Combat Command (ACC), headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
  • First Air Force, headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City, Florida
  • Ninth Air Force, headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
  • Twelfth Air Force, headquartered at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona
  • United States Air Forces Central, headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
  • United States Air Force Warfare Center, headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
• Air Education and Training Command (AETC), headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
  • Second Air Force, headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi
  • Nineteenth Air Force, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
  • 20px Air Force Recruiting Service, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
  • The Air University, headquartered at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama
  • Wilford Hall Medical Center, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
• Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
  • Eighth Air Force, headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
  • Twentieth Air Force, headquartered at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio
  • Aeronautical Systems Center, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio
  • Air Force Flight Test Center, headquartered at Edwards Air Force Base, Palmdale, California
  • Air Force Global Logistics Support Center, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois
  • Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Air Force Research Laboratory, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio
  • Air Force Security Assistance Center, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio
  • Air Armament Center, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, Florida
  • Arnold Engineering Development Center, located at Arnold Air Force Base, Manchester, Tennessee
  • Electronic Systems Center, headquartered at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts
• Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), headquartered at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
  • Fourth Air Force, headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California
  • Tenth Air Force, headquartered at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas
  • Twenty-Second Air Force, headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia
  • Air Reserve Personnel Center, headquartered at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado

Senior Airman Nayibe Ramos runs through a checklist during Global Positioning System satellite operations. The operations center here controls a constellation of 29 orbiting satellites that provides navigation data to military and civilian users worldwide. Airman Ramos is a satellite system operator for the 2d Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colorado.

• Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Fourteenth Air Force, headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lompoc, California
  • Twenty-Fourth Air Force, headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
  • Space and Missile Systems Center, headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, California
  • Space Innovation and Development Center, headquartered at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado
  • Air Force Network Integration Center, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois

Several aircraft in a squadron at Hurlburt Field

• Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida
  • Twenty-Third Air Force, headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida
  • Special Operations Training Center, headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida
• Air Mobility Command (AMC), headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois
  • Eighteenth Air Force, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois
  • United States Air Force Expeditionary Center, headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
• United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany
  • Third Air Force, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany
  • Seventeenth Air Force, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany
• Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
  • Fifth Air Force, headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan
  • Seventh Air Force, headquartered at Osan Air Base, South Korea
  • Eleventh Air Force, headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska
  • Thirteenth Air Force, headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

The major components of the U.S. Air Force, as of 30 September 2006, are the following:^[31]

• Active duty forces
  • 57 flying wings, eight space wings, and 55 non-flying wings
  • nine flying groups, eight non-flying groups
    • 134 flying squadrons, 43 space squadrons
• Air Force Reserve
  • 35 flying wings, one space wing
  • four flying groups
    • 67 flying squadrons, six space squadrons
• Air National Guard
  • 87 flying wings
    • 101 flying squadrons, four space squadrons

The USAF, including its Air Force Reserve components, possesses a total of 302 flying squadrons.^[32]

Operational organization[link]

List of active United States Air Force aircraft squadrons

The organizational structure as shown above is responsible for the peacetime organization, equipping, and training of aerospace units for operational missions. When required to support operational missions, the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) directs the Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF) to execute a Change in Operational Control (CHOP) of these units from their administrative alignment to the operational command of a Regional Combatant Commander (CCDR). In the case of AFSPC, AFSOC, PACAF, and USAFE units, forces are normally employed in-place under their existing CCDR. Likewise, AMC forces operating in support roles retain their componency to USTRANSCOM unless chopped to a Regional CCDR.

Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force[link]

"Chopped" units are referred to as forces. The top-level structure of these forces is the Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (AETF). The AETF is the Air Force presentation of forces to a CCDR for the employment of Air Power. Each CCDR is supported by a standing Component Numbered Air Force (C-NAF) to provide planning and execution of aerospace forces in support of CCDR requirements. Each C-NAF consists of a Commander, Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) and AFFOR/A-staff, and an Air Operations Center (AOC). As needed to support multiple Joint Force Commanders (JFC) in the COCOM's Area of Responsibility (AOR), the C-NAF may deploy Air Component Coordinate Elements (ACCE) to liaise with the JFC. If the Air Force possesses the preponderance of air forces in a JFC's area of operations, the COMAFFOR will also serve as the Joint Forces Air Component Commander (JFACC).

Commander, Air Force Forces[link]

The Commander, Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) is the senior USAF officer responsible for the employment of air power in support of JFC objectives. The COMAFFOR has a special staff and an A-Staff to ensure assigned or attached forces are properly organized, equipped, and trained to support the operational mission.

Air Operations Center[link]