United States Air Force

USAF redirects here. For other uses, see USAF (disambiguation).

The U.S. Air Force redirects here. For the song, see The U.S. Air Force (song).

The United States Air Force (USAF) is one of the seven Uniformed services of the United States whose primary mission focus is on air superiority. Previously part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947.

The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world, with about 6013 manned aircraft in service (4,282 USAF; 1,321 Air National Guard; and 410 Air Force Reserve); approximately 160 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles, 2161 Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, and 580 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles; and as of 2006, had 334,200 personnel on active duty, 120,369 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 107,000 in the Air National Guard. An additional 10,675 personnel were in the Standby Reserve, and the Air Force employed 168,558 civilian personnel.

The USAF is currently undergoing a massive Reduction-in-Force (RIF). Because of budget constraints, the USAF will reduce the service's current size by 40,000 full time equivalent positions by 2011, with approximately half to be eliminated in FY 2007. Approximately 35,000 active duty positions, or one year's cycle of enlistments and retirements, will be eliminated over 5 years. The current size of the active-duty force is roughly 70% of that of the USAF at the end of the first Gulf War in 1991.

Not all of the United States' military combat aircraft are operated by the USAF. The United States Army operates its own helicopters, mostly for support of ground combatants; it as well maintains a small fleet of fixed wing aircraft (mostly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The Navy is responsible for the aircraft operating on its aircraft carriers and Naval air stations, and the Marine Corps operates its own combat and transport aircraft. The Coast Guard also maintains transport and search-and-rescue aircraft, which may be used in a combat and law enforcement role. All branches of the U.S. military operate helicopters.

The Department of the Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force who heads administrative affairs. The Department of the Air Force is a division of the United States Department of Defense which is headed by the United States Secretary of Defense. The highest ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Mission

1. According to the National Security Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 502) which created the Air Force:

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.

2. §8062 of Title 10 US Code (10 USC 8062) defines the purpose of the Air Force as:

• 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.

Template:Infobox Military Unit 3. The stated mission of the USAF today is to "deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests — to fly and fight in Air, Space, and Cyberspace".

Search and rescue

The National Search and Rescue Plan designates the United States Coast Guard as the federal agency responsible for maritime search-and-rescue (SAR) operations, and the United States Air Force as the federal agency responsible for inland SAR. Both agencies maintain Rescue Coordination Centers to coordinate this effort.[2]

• U.S. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center

History

The United States Air Force became a separate military service on September 18 1947, with the implementation of the National Security Act of 1947. The Act created the United States Department of Defense, which was composed of three branches, the Army, Navy and a newly-created Air Force. Prior to 1947, the responsibility for military aviation was divided between the Army (for land-based operations) and the Navy, for sea-based operations from aircraft carrier and amphibious aircraft. The Army 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. The predecessor organizations of today's U.S. Air Force are:

• Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps (1907 to 1914)
• Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps (1914 to 1918)
• Division of Military Aeronautics (1918)
• U.S. Army Air Service (1918 to 1926)
• U.S. Army Air Corps (1926 to 1941) and
• U.S. Army Air Forces (AAF) (1941 to 1947)

Wars

The Air Force has been involved in many wars, conflicts, and operations since its conception; these include:

• World War I [Aviation Section, US Army Signal Corps]
• World War II, air war(Army Air Forces, AAF)
• The Cold War
• The Korean War
• The Vietnam War
• Operation Eagle Claw
• Operation Urgent Fury
• The United States invasion of Panama
• Operation Eldorado Canyon
• The Gulf War
• Operation Northern Watch
• Operation Southern Watch
• The Kosovo War
• Operation Enduring Freedom
• Operation Iraqi Freedom

Humanitarian operations

The U.S. Air Force has taken part in numerous humanitarian operations. Some of the more major ones include the following:

• 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

Administrative organization

The Air Force is one of three service departments, and is managed by the (civilian) Department of the Air Force. Guidance is provided by the Secretary of the Air Force(SECAF) and the Secretary's staff and advisors. The military leadership is the Air Staff, lead by the Chief of Staff.

USAF direct subordinate commands and units are the 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. 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.

Operational organization

The above organizational structure is responsible for the peacetime Organization, Equipping, and Training of aerospace units for operational missions. When required to support operational missions, the National Command Authority directs a Change in Operational Control (CHOP) of these units from their peacetime alignment to a geographic or functional Unified Combatant Command (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.

See air warfare planning for a general view of air warfare doctrine and missions.

Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force

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 most strategic air assets in a JFC's area of operations, the COMAFFOR will also serve as the Joint Forces Air Component Commander (JFACC).

Commander, Air Force Forces

The Commander, Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) is the senior Air Force 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

The Air Operations Center (AOC) is the JFACC's Command and Control (C²) center. This center is responsible for planning and executing air power missions in support of JFC objectives.

Air Expeditionary Wings/Groups/Squadrons

The AETF generates air power to support COCOM objectives from Air Expeditionary Wings (AEW) or Air Expeditionary Groups (AEG). These units are responsible for receiving combat forces from Air Force MAJCOMs, preparing these forces for operational missions, launching and recovering these forces, and eventually returning forces to the MAJCOMs. Theater Air Control Systems control employment of forces during these missions.

Vocations

The vast majority of Air Force members remain on the ground. There are hundreds of support positions which are necessary to the success of a mission.

The classification of an Air Force job is the Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). They range from flight combat operations such as a gunner, to working in a dining facility to ensure that members are properly fed. There are many different jobs in fields such as computer specialties, mechanic specialties, enlisted aircrew, medical specialties, civil engineering, public affairs, hospitality, law, drug counseling, mail operations, security forces, and search and rescue specialties.

Perhaps the most dangerous Air Force jobs are Pararescue, Combat Control, Combat Weather and Tactical Air Control Party, who deploy with infantry and special operations units who rescue downed or isolated personnel, call in air strikes and set up landing zones in forward locations. Most of these are enlisted positions.

Nearly all enlisted jobs are "entry level," meaning that the Air Force provides all training. Some enlistees are able to choose a particular job, or at least a field before actually joining, while others are assigned an AFSC at Basic Training. After Basic Military Training, new Air Force members attend a technical training school where they learn their particular AFSC. Second Air Force, a part of Air Education and Training Command is responsible for nearly all technical training.

Training programs vary in length; for example, 3M0X1 (Services) has 31 days of tech school training, while 1C2X1 (Combat Control) is 35 weeks long with 10 separate courses. 1N3X4 (Cryptologic Linguist) and 1A8X1 (Airborne Linguist) requires a language course ranging from 23 to 63 weeks, and a 4 to 5 month course. Some AFSC's have even longer training.

Aircraft

Boeing B-52 strategic bomber taking off

The United States Air Force has over 7,500 aircraft commissioned as of 2004. Until 1962, the Army and Air Force maintained one system of aircraft naming, while the U.S. Navy maintained a separate system. In 1962, these were unified into a single system heavily reflecting the Army/Air Force method. For more complete information on the workings of this system, refer to United States Department of Defense Aerospace Vehicle Designations.

Historic aircraft

• P-47, Thunderbolt, WW2 fighter
• P-51, Mustang, WW2 fighter
• B-17, WW2 heavy bomber
• B-29, WW2 heavy bomber
• B-52

Current aircraft of the USAF:

O/A-10A/C Thunderbolt An-26 B-1B Lancer B-2A Spirit B-52H Stratofortress C-5A/B/C/M Galaxy KC-10A Extender C-12C/D/F Huron C-17A Globemaster III C-20A/B/C Gulfstream III C-20H Gulfstream IV C-21A Learjet C-22B VC-25A (Air Force One) C-26B C-29A (HS.125-800) C-32A C-37A Gulfstream V C-38A Astra C-40B

C-41A C-130E/H/J Hercules AC-130H/U Spectre/Spooky II EC-130 Commando Solo HC-130H/N LC-130H MC-130E/H/W Combat Talon/Combat Spear WC-130J C-135C/E/K Stratolifter NC-135B/E/W RC-135 KC-135E/R/T Stratotanker EC-137D Stratoliner VC-137C CN-235-100 E-3B/C Sentry E-4B E-8C JSTARS E-9A F-15A/B/C/D Eagle F-15E Strike Eagle

F-16A/B/C/D Fighting Falcon F-22A Raptor F-117A Nighthawk MH-53J/M Pave Low III/IV HH-60G Pave Hawk Mi-8 NCH-53A Sea Stallion NT-39A/B Sabreliner OC-135B M/RQ-1A/B Predator RQ-4A Global Hawk MQ-9 Reaper T-1A Jayhawk T-6 Texan II T-37B Tweet (A)T-38A/B/C Talon

Boeing T-43 TC-18E TC-135S/W TE-8A TG-3A TG-4A TG-7A TG-9A TG-10B/C/D TG-11A TG-15A/B UH-1N Iroquois U-2R/S Dragon Lady UC-26C UV-18A/B Twin Otter UV-20A Chiricua CV-22B Osprey U-28A WC-135C/W

Culture

Uniforms

United States Air Force personnel wear uniforms which are distinct from those of the other branches of the United States Armed Forces. The current uniform is an olive drab/black/brown and tan combination called the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). Members deployed to an AOR wear a variation of the BDU, tan/brown and black in color, called the Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU). A new uniform called the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) is currently being distributed some bases, and in a memo from HQ AFPC at Randolph AFB dated September 2007, will be distributed to basic trainees in their clothing issue starting October 2007. The ABU is already authorized for wear, and is scheduled to completely replace the BDU and DCU by November 2011.

Awards and badges

In addition to basic uniform clothing, various badges are used by the USAF to indicate a job assignment or qualification-level for a given assignment. Badges can also be used as merit-based or service-based awards. Over time, various badges have been discontinued and are no longer distributed.

Grade Structure and Insignias

See also: United States Air Force officer rank insignia

See also: United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia

The standard USAF uniform is also decorated with an insignia to designate rank. USAF rank is divided between enlisted airmen, non-commissioned officers, and commissioned officers, and ranges from "airman basic" to the commissioned rank of general. Promotions are granted based on a combination of test scores, years of experience, and selection board approval. Promotions among enlisted men and non-commissioned officers rankings are generally designated by increasing numbers of insignia chevrons. Commissioned officer rank is designated by bars, oak leaves, a silver eagle, and anywhere from one to five (only in war-time) stars.

For cadet rank at the U.S. Air Force Academy, see United States Air Force Academy Cadet Insignia.

Motto

The United States Air Force does not have an official motto, but there are numerous unofficial slogans such as "Nothing Comes Close" and Un Ab Alto (Latin for "One Over All"). For many years, the U.S. Air Force used "Aim High" as its recruiting motto; more recently, they have used "Cross Into the Blue", "We've been waiting for you" and "Do Something Amazing".

Each wing, group, or squadron usually has its own motto(s). Information and logos can usually be found on the wing, group, or squadron websites.

The Airman's Creed is a statement introduced in the spring of 2007 to summarize the culture of the Air Force.

The USAF and UFOs

In 1947, the USAF began Project Sign, a study of unidentified flying objects that would be twice revived (first as Project Grudge and finally as Project Blue Book) and which would last until 1969. The USAF's institutional attitude towards UFOs would vary drastically over the years, but the Air Force remains strongly associated with at least the early years of the "flying saucer" era: the term "unidentified flying object" was coined by U.S. Air Force officer Edward J. Ruppelt. Project Twinkle, mostly unrelated to other UConsistSAF UFO studies, was set up in the late 1940s to investigate the mysterious "green fireballs" which appeared over several Air Force facilities.

Notes and References

References to U.S. Army predecessors of today's U.S. Air Force are cited under their respective articles.

See also

• Air Force Aeronautical Ratings
• Air Force Association
• Air Force Combat Ammunition Center
• Air Force Medical Service
• Air Force Knowledge Now
• Air Force Specialty Code
• Air National Guard
• Aviation Nation
• Civil Air Patrol
• Comparative military ranks
• List of active United States military aircraft
• List of air forces
• List of Famous Airmen
• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of U.S. Air Force bases
• List of Wings of the United States Air Force
• National Museum of the United States Air Force
• Ranks and Insignia of NATO
• U.S. Air Force Band
• Strategic Air Command
• "The U.S. Air Force", the official song of the USAF
• United States Air Force Academy
• U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

Bibliography

• Boyne, Walter J. Beyond the Wild Blue: A History of the U.S. Air Force, 1947-2007 (2007), popular excerpt and text search
• Buckley, John. Air Power in the Age of Total War (1999) excerpt and text search
• Budiansky, Stephen. Air Power: The Men, Machines, and Ideas That Revolutionized War, from Kitty Hawk to Iraq (2005) excerpt and text search
• Clodfelter, Mark. The Limits of Air Power: The American Bombing of North Vietnam (2006) online edition
• John T. Correll, The Air Force and the Cold War (2002), short official history of USAF
• Correll, John T. "The EAF in Peace and War." Air Force Magazine 85:24-31 July 2002 on WW1
• Daso, Dik, ed. U.S. Air Force: A Complete History (2006), 640pp; large format, illustrated with 1500 photos excerpt and text search
• Futrell, Robert F. Ideas, Concepts, Doctrine: A History of Basic Thinking in the United States Air Force, 1907-1984 (2 vols., Air University) vol 1, vol 2 comprehensive history of doctrine
• Futrell, Robert F. The United States Air Force in Korea; 1950–1953 (1983).
• Alfred Goldberg. A History of the United States Air Force, 1907-1957 (ISBN 0-405-03763-5) (1972)
• Maj Roger F. Kropf, "The US Air Force in Korea: Problems That Hindered the Effectiveness of Air Power," Airpower Journal (spr 1990)
• Gross, Charles Joseph. American Military Aviation: The Indispensable Arm (2005)
• Mets, David R. and William P. Head. Plotting a True Course: Reflections on USAF Strategic Attack Theory and Doctrine: The Post World War II Experience, (2003) online edition
• Mets, David R. Master of Airpower: General Carl A. Spaatz, (1998) online edition
• Sherry, Michael S. The Rise of American Air Power: The Creation of rmageddon (1989), 435pp; history of ideas excerpt and text search
• Tilford Jr. Earl H. Crosswinds: The Air Force's Setup in Vietnam (1993) online edition
• United States Air Force: History and Guide to Resources (ISBN 1-4116-3638-4)
• Air Force official histories (mostly pamphlets)

World War II

see World War II, air war/Bibliography

• Craven, Wesley and James Cate, eds. The Army Air Forces In World War II official history. (1948-55; also reprinted)
  • Volume One: Plans and Early Operations January 1939 to August 1942
  • Volume Two: Europe: Torch to Pointblank August 1942 to December 1943
  • Volume Three: Europe: Argument to V-E Day January 1944 to May 1945
  • Volume Four: The Pacific: Guadalcanal to Saipan August 1942 to July 1944
  • Volume Five: The Pacific: Matterhorn to Nagasaki June 1944 to August 1945
  • Volume Six: Men and Planes
  • Volume Seven: Services Around the World
• Air Force official histories (mostly pamphlets)