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United States Air Force

 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:

United States Air Force

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United States Air Force
Major component of the U.S. military organization, with primary responsibility for air warfare, air defense, and military space research. It also provides air services in coordination with the other military branches. U.S. military activities in the air began with army use of balloons for reconnaissance during the Civil War and the Spanish-American War; in 1907 the Aeronautical Division of the Signal Corps was created. In 1920 the Army Reorganization Act created the Air Service (after 1926, Air Corps) as a unit of the Army; in 1941 it became the Army Air Forces. In 1947 the independent U.S. Air Force was created and became part of the newly created Department of Defense in 1949. The Department of the Air Force is headquartered at the Pentagon. Separate operating agencies of the Air Force include the Air Force Reserve, the Air Force Intelligence Service, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. In 2000 there were over 350,000 Air Force personnel on active duty.

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US History Encyclopedia:

United States Air Force

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The National Security Act of 1947 created the United States Air Force (USAF) after nearly three decades of debate within the government and the military about how best to integrate airpower into an overarching national defense structure. With its ability to project power rapidly across the globe, the air service also reflected greater U.S. involvement in the geopolitical arena. Several themes framed airpower's development and employment. First, technology permeates airpower history. Regardless of the vehicle—airplane, spacecraft, guided missile, or satellite—U.S. airmen consistently sought to expand existing technological boundaries. Second, organization and doctrine fueled debates regarding how best to employ airpower to achieve national policy goals. Third, the expanding nuclear inventory thrust airpower to the forefront of strategy calculations. Finally, dramatically changing diplomatic contexts compelled airmen to adapt to shifts in strategy, operations, and tactics. Thus USAF history is more than an account of a series of wars and operations; it reflects a fundamental transformation in the U.S. conception of war fighting.

Early Cold War

In the aftermath of World War II, USAF leaders believed airpower had proven decisive. The large bomber formations that devastated German and Japanese cities appeared to confirm interwar theories proposed by such individuals as the Italian theorist Giulio Douhet, the Royal Air Force leader Sir Hugh Trenchard, the maverick American airman Brigadier General William "Billy" Mitchell, and the instructors at the U.S. Army's Air Corps Tactical School. The new service's leaders framed their institutional identity in terms that emphasized airpower's strategic role. This produced a force structure that favored long-range heavy bombers and nuclear weaponry at the expense of tactical platforms. Airpower enthusiasts argued that the nuclear bomber's "city-busting" capability rendered traditional armies and navies obsolete as long as the United States maintained a nuclear monopoly. In the early postwar years, this perspective engendered animosity among air, land, and sea service leaders. Tensions peaked in 1949 over the decision to procure the intercontinental B-36 bomber. In what became known as the "Re-volt of the Admirals," sea service leaders argued vehemently against the B-36 program because it threatened navy plans for a supercarrier with expanded naval aviation roles.

In the early Cold War years, geopolitical crises intensified debates regarding the air force's role in national defense. In 1948, the Berlin crisis signaled increasing tensions between the Soviet Union and the West. The USAF launched Operation Vittles to supply Soviet-blockaded Berlin, thus offering wider possibilities for employing military forces in conflicts short of war. When the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic device in 1949, U.S statesmen realized they could no longer rely on nuclear monopoly and strategic bombing to protect the nation and its allies. On 25 June 1950, North Korean forces attacked South Korea and ushered in a new era of limited war, one operating below the Cold War's nuclear threshold. USAF forces applied the full range of conventional airpower—strategic bombing, interdiction, close air support, reconnaissance and surveillance, and search and rescue—to support United Nations operations on the Korean peninsula. In Korea, airpower proved less decisive than the strategic bombing campaigns of World War II, although in many ways it kept U.S. forces from being overrun at the outset of the war. In this war along the periphery of great power conflict, U.S. leaders refused to introduce nuclear weapons for fear of provoking a general war with the Soviet Union and China. The Korean War also witnessed a technological shift as jet aircraft revolutionized the quest to dominate the skies.

Technological developments characterized the remainder of the 1950s as the USAF sponsored research into new airframe designs, engine technologies, and guided missile systems. The Eisenhower administration's "New Look" strategy shaped an aviation force structure that employed both long-range bomber aircraft and nuclear weapons. The Strategic Air Command (SAC), equipped with weapons systems like the B-47 Stratojet, the B-58 Hustler, and the B-52 Stratofortress, formed the nuclear deterrent force's backbone, giving the USAF a true "global strike" capability. Later in the decade, re-search into missile technology promised to add medium-range and intercontinental missiles to the arsenal. Following SAC's lead, tactical forces mirrored the strategic fleet's nuclear emphasis. Fighter and fighter-bomber designs, including the F-100, F-104, and F-105, represented attempts to reconcile tactical and theater needs with nuclear battlefield requirements. The emphasis on deterrence and nuclear operations, however, created a void in the USAF's conventional war-fighting capability.

Vietnam

The Vietnam War shaped a generation of American airmen's views about how to employ airpower. USAF leaders entered the conflict convinced that airpower could be most effective when employed against strategic industrial targets. In 1964, when President Lyndon B. Johnson committed U.S. forces to support the South Vietnamese government, USAF planners proposed attacks against ninety-four strategic targets in the North. Johnson opted for a more limited campaign—Operation Rolling Thunder—designed to coerce communist leaders to the negotiating table while simultaneously confining the war to Southeast Asia. Johnson and his defense secretary, Robert S. McNamara, envisioned a gradually escalating airpower campaign that increased the pressure on North Vietnamese leaders. U.S. leaders expended the bulk of American air strikes in vain attempts to interdict men and materiel destined for the battlefields of the South along the Ho Chi Minh trail. In the South, General William Westmoreland used airpower, including B-52 strikes, in concert with land forces in large-scale "search and destroy" sweeps designed to eradicate Viet Cong guerrilla units. The twin culminating points—the siege at Khe Sanh and the Tet Offensive—that signaled the failure of the Johnson administration's strategy occurred in 1968. Airpower, working in close cooperation with ground forces, ended a siege by 40,000 North Vietnamese soldiers of the Marine firebase at Khe Sanh. The strength of the Khe Sanh siege coupled with the general uprising during Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, convinced the American public that Johnson's gradualist strategy had failed. Republican Richard M. Nixon rose to the presidency with a mandate to extract the United States from the Vietnam quagmire.

In 1971 and 1972 Nixon took advantage of improved relations with the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China to unleash airpower first against North Vietnamese conventional forces moving south in Operation Linebacker I, and later against communist industrial centers of gravity in Operation Linebacker II. New technologies including precision-guided munitions and more capable airframes combined with traditional bombing raids in short, violent campaigns that apparently helped bring the North Vietnamese back to the peace talks in Paris, although they did not prevent the North from achieving its overall goals in the war. USAF leaders argued that the Linebacker campaigns confirmed strategic bombing doctrine despite the U.S. failure in Vietnam and the dramatic changes in the international political context.

Desert Storm and the End of the Cold War

For the remainder of the 1970s and into the 1980s the USAF honed its tactical proficiency. The Vietnam experience indicated that a pilot or aircrew's chances of surviving aerial combat increased dramatically after the first ten missions. Red Flag, centered at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, emerged as the USAF's aerial combat training center to simulate those first ten combat missions. Its value became apparent in 1990–1991.

In August 1990, Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein occupied the Persian Gulf nation of Kuwait. The UN provided a mandate for coalition action to restore Kuwait's sovereignty and to reduce the Iraqi military threat. In the largest airlift since Operation Vittles, Military Airlift Command's (MAC) C-5, C-141, and C-130 and SAC's KC-135 and KC-10 fleets created an air bridge that deployed materiel to bases in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries. The USAF's complete offensive airpower capability—B-52, F-117 Stealth, F-111, F-15, F-16, EF-111, F-4, and Special Operations forces—also deployed to support the coalition. A robust support fleet, including KC-135 and KC-10 refueling tankers, E-3A airborne warning and control aircraft, and intelligence-gathering and command and control assets, bolstered the offensive capabilities brought to bear against Iraq. United States Central Command's joint force air component commander, Lieutenant General Charles Horner, led efforts to create an air strategy to isolate Iraqi ground forces, defeat Iraqi air defense networks, destroy nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons facilities, and reduce Iraqi ground forces' combat effectiveness. Although Desert Storm left Saddam Hussein's regime intact and his weapons programs still dangerous enough to necessitate UN weapons inspections, its success showcased USAF planning, command and control, precision weaponry, and space support, and above all it vindicated post-Vietnam investments in training and exercises. Many observers concluded that Desert Storm represented the first wave of a revolution in military affairs.

The end of the Cold War and the Soviet Union's collapse ushered in a host of changes for the USAF. Nuclear weapons no longer provided the air service's raison d'être. While nuclear deterrence remained vital to U.S. national security, the Defense Department leaders aligned the strategic forces under a separate unified command in 1992. The organizational scheme that had served the service since its inception also changed as SAC, MAC, and Tactical Air Command (TAC) stood down. The twenty-first century's streamlined air force integrated all combat forces under a single command, Air Combat Command (ACC). All airlift and air refueling assets came under the command of Air Mobility Command (AMC). Paradoxically, the Cold War victory did not decrease the USAF's operations tempo or its deployment commitments. Since 1991, USAF personnel served around the globe to keep the peace, offer humanitarian assistance, deter aggression, and enforce UN resolutions. The hallmarks of USAF air-power reside in the service's core competencies—air and space superiority, global attack, rapid global mobility, precision engagement, information superiority, and agile combat support. These six competencies reflect more than fifty years of institutional continuity and development.

Bibliography

Clodfelter, Mark. The Limits of Air Power: The American Bombing of North Vietnam. New York: Free Press, 1989.

Futrell, Robert Frank. Ideas, Concepts, Doctrine: Basic Thinking in the United States Air Force. 2d ed. 2 vols. Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.: Air University Press, 1989.

———. The United States Air Force in Korea. 1950–1953. Rev. ed. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, 2000.

Hallion, Richard P. Storm over Iraq: Air Power and the Gulf War. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1992.

Lambeth, Benjamin S. The Transformation of American Air Power. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 2000.

Melinger, Phillip S., ed. The Paths of Heaven: The Evolution of Airpower Theory. Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.: Air University Press, 1997.

Thompson, Wayne. To Hanoi and Back: The United States Air Force and North Vietam, 1966–1973. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program, 2000.

—Anthony Christopher Cain

Wikipedia:

United States Air Force

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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
"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).
United States Air Force
Seal of the US Air Force.svg

United States Air Force portal
Active 18 September 1947[1] - Present
Country United States of America
Branch Air Force
Role "To fly, fight and win ... in air, space and cyberspace."[1]
Size 327,452 active personnel
5,573 aircraft, of which 2,132 are fighters
450 ICBMs
32 satellites
Part of Department of Defense
Department of the Air Force
Headquarters The Pentagon
Motto "Above All" (as of 19 Feb. 2008)
Colors Ultramarine Blue & Air Force Yellow[2]         
March The U.S. Air Force
Engagements Korean War
Vietnam War
Gulf War
NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
Afghanistan War
Iraq War
Commanders
Chief of Staff Gen Norton A. Schwartz
Vice Chief of Staff Gen Carrol H. Chandler
Chief Master Sergeant CMSAF James A. Roy
Insignia
United States Air Force Symbol USAF logo.png
Roundel USAF roundel 1947.svg
Aircraft flown
Attack A-10, AC-130
Bomber B-52H, B-1B, B-2
Electronic
warfare		 E-3, E-8, EC-130, EC-135
Fighter F-15C, F-15E, F-16, F-22
Helicopter UH-1N, HH-60
Reconnaissance U-2, RC-135, RQ-4, RQ-1
Trainer T-6, T-38, T-43, T-1, TG-10
Transport C-130, C-135, KC-135, C-5, C-9, KC-10, C-17, VC-25, C-32, CV-22, C-37, C-21, C-12, C-40,

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare, space warfare, and cyberwarfare branch of the U.S. armed forces and one of the 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.

The USAF provides Global Vigilance, Global Reach, and Global Power,[3] with 5,573 manned aircraft in service (3,990 USAF; 1,213 Air National Guard; and 370 Air Force Reserve);[4] approximately 180 unmanned combat air vehicles, 2,130 air-launched cruise missiles,[5] and 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles. The USAF has 327,452 personnel on active duty, 115,299 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 106,700 in the Air National Guard as of September 2008. In addition, the USAF employs 171,313 civilian personnel,[6] and has 57,000 auxiliary members in the Civil Air Patrol.[7]

The Department of the Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force who oversees all administrative and policy affairs. The Department of the Air Force is a division of the Department of Defense, headed by the Secretary of Defense. The highest ranking military officer in the Department of the Air Force is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Contents

Mission

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[8] 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.

The stated mission of the USAF today is to "fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace".[9]

Search and rescue

See also: United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center

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 USAF as responsible for aeronautical SAR in the continental U.S. with the exception of Alaska.[10] Both agencies maintain Joint Rescue Coordination Centers to coordinate this effort.[11] To help the USAF with the vast number of search and rescue operations, the USAF tasks the Civil Air Patrol—the official United States Air Force Auxiliary—in over 80% of inland search and rescue missions.

Air sovereignty

The USAF, through the Air National Guard, is the lead agency to maintain control of America's airspace.

On 30 July 2009, Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, director of the Air National Guard said that "Technologies needed for the mission include an active, electronically scanned array radar (which can be used to detect small and stealthy air threats including cruise missiles), infrared search and track systems and beyond-line-of-sight communications".[12]

On 14 September 2009, Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, chief of staff of the USAF, said that he hopes "to bring a combination of F-22, F-35, legacy aircraft, including upgraded F-15 and F-16 fighters, and unmanned aircraft to the [air sovereignty alert] ASA mission."[13]

Even so, the USAF plans to retire up to 80% of their total force air sovereignty mission aircraft, which would leave no viable aircraft at 18 current air sovereignty sites after 2015.[14][15][16] The GAO found that 17 of the 20 commanders of the ASA units "stated that the Air Force treats ASA operations as a temporary mission and has not provided sufficient resources."[17]

Irregular warfare

In response to the conflicts in which the United States has been engaged since the end of the Cold War, on 1 August 2007, Air Force Doctrine Document 2-3 was released showing how air power could be used to support or defeat an insurgency.[18]

In order to help support these missions the USAF is considering outfitting a counter-insurgency wing with small, ground attack aircraft that can also be used for training USAF and allied pilots in addition to counterinsurgency operations.[19]

Airlift

The USAF provides both strategic and tactical airlift in support of wartime, peacetime, and humanitarian efforts of the Department of Defense.

The GAO found that Air Force plans should cover strategic airlift, but that it may fall short in providing tactical airlift in support of the United States Army.[20]

History

Main article: History of the United States Air Force

The Army created the first antecedent of the USAF in 1907, which through a succession of changes of organization, titles, and missions advanced toward eventual separation 40 years later. The USAF became a separate military service on 18 September 1947, with the implementation of the National Security Act of 1947.[21] The Act created the United States Department of Defense, which was composed of three subordinate departments, namely the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy and a newly-created Department of the Air Force.[22] 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 of today's USAF are:

Recent history

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.[23] 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.[24] However, the reduction was ended at approximately 330,000 personnel in 2008 to meet mission requirements.[23] These same constraints have seen a sharp reduction in flight hours for crew training since 2005[25] and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel directing Airmen's Time Assessments[26].

On 5 June 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, accepted the resignations of both the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael W. 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.[27] To put more emphasis on nuclear assets, the USAF established the nuclear-focused Air Force Global Strike Command on 24 October 2008.[28]

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.[29] On 23 July 2009, The USAF released their Unmanned Aerial System Flight Plan, detailing UAV plans through 2047.[30] One third of the planes that the USAF plans to buy in the future are to be unmanned.[31]

Conflicts

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:

Humanitarian operations

The USAF has also taken part in numerous humanitarian operations. Some of the more major ones include the following:[33]

Organization

Main article: Organizational structure and hierarchy of the United States Air Force

Administrative organization

The USAF 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, led 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. Including the Air Force Reserve Command, as of 30 September 2006, USAF has nine 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.

Force structure (Major Commands)

Seal of the US Air Force.svg Headquarters, United States Air Force, The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia

Several aircraft in a squadron at Hurlburt Field

The permanent establishment of the USAF, as of 30 September 2006,[34] consisted of:

  • Active duty forces:
    • 57 flying wings, 8 space wings, and 55 non-flying wings
    • 9 flying groups, 8 non-flying groups
      • 134 flying squadrons, 43 space squadrons
  • Air Force Reserve
    • 35 flying wings, 1 space wing
    • 4 flying groups
      • 67 flying squadrons, 6 space squadrons
  • Air National Guard
    • 87 flying wings
      • 101 flying squadrons, 4 space squadrons

The USAF, including its air reserve components, field a total of 302 flying squadrons.[35]

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 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

"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

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

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.

Personnel

The classification of any USAF 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, communication systems, avionics technicians, medical specialties, civil engineering, public affairs, hospitality, law, drug counseling, mail operations, security forces, and search and rescue specialties.[36]

Perhaps the most dangerous USAF jobs are Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Combat rescue officer, Pararescue, Security Forces, Combat Control, Combat Weather and Tactical Air Control Party, who deploy with infantry and special operations units who disarm bombs, rescue downed or isolated personnel, call in air strikes and set up landing zones in forward locations. Most of these are enlisted positions. Other jobs have seen increasing combat, including engineers, vehicle operators, and OSI.

Nearly all enlisted jobs are "entry level," meaning that the USAF 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 Military Training (BMT). After BMT, new airmen 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 3E8X1 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) is one year of training with a preliminary school and a main school consisting of over 10 separate divisions, sometimes taking students close to two years to complete.

USAF rank is divided between enlisted airmen, non-commissioned officers, and commissioned officers, and ranges from the enlisted Airman Basic (E-1) to the commissioned rank of General (O-10). Enlisted promotions are granted based on a combination of test scores, years of experience, and selection board approval while officer promotions are based on time-in-grade and a promotion board. Promotions among enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers 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 four stars (one to five stars in war-time).

Commissioned officers

Main article: United States Air Force officer rank insignia

The commissioned officer ranks of the USAF are divided into three sections: company grade, field grade, and general officers. Company grade officers are those officers in pay grades O-1 to O-3, while field grade officers are those in pay grades O-4 to O-6, and general officers are those in pay grades of O-7 and above.

Currently, promotion from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant is virtually guaranteed after two years of satisfactory service. The promotion from First Lieutenant to Captain is competitive after successfully completing another two years of service. Promotion to Major and above is through a board process. An officer's record is reviewed by a selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. This process occurs approximately between the seven- and ten-year mark, where a certain percentage of Captains will be selected for Major. This process will repeat at the 11-14 year mark for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, and then around the eighteen-year mark for promotion to Colonel.

Pay grade O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6 O-7 O-8 O-9 O-10 Special1
Insignia US-OF1B.svg US-OF1A.svg US-O3 insignia.svg US-O4 insignia.svg US-O5 insignia.svg US-O6 insignia.svg US-O7 insignia.svg US-O8 insignia.svg US-O9 insignia.svg US-O10 insignia.svg US-O11 insignia.svg
Title Second
Lieutenant		 First
Lieutenant		 Captain Major Lieutenant
Colonel		 Colonel Brigadier
General		 Major
General		 Lieutenant
General		 General General
of the Air Force
Abbreviation2 2d Lt 1st Lt Capt Maj Lt Col Col Brig Gen Maj Gen Lt Gen Gen GOAF
NATO Code OF-1 OF-2 OF-3 OF-4 OF-5 OF-6 OF-7 OF-8 OF-9 OF-10

1 Awarded as an honorary rank or during periods of a declared war.
2 No periods are used in actual grade abbreviation.

Warrant officers

Although provision is made in regulations for them, the USAF does not use Warrant Officer grades (the only US service to not do so). The last Air Force Warrant Officer, CWO4 James H. Long, retired in 1980, and the last Air Force Reserve Warrant Officer, CWO4 Bob Barrow, in 1992.[37]

Enlisted airmen

USAF enlisted members in the foreground
Main article: United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia

Enlisted members of the USAF have pay grades from E-1 (entry level) to E-9 (senior enlisted). While all USAF military personnel are referred to as Airmen, the term also refers to the pay grades of E-1 through E-4, which are below the level of non-commissioned officers (NCOs). Above the pay grade of E-4 (i.e., pay grades E-5 through E-9) all ranks fall into the category of NCO and are further subdivided into NCOs (pay grades E-5 and E-6) and Senior NCOs (pay grades E-7 through E-9); the term Junior NCO is sometimes used to refer to staff sergeants and technical sergeants (pay grades E-5 and E-6).[38]

The USAF is the only of the five branches of the United States military where NCO status is not achieved until an airman reaches the pay grade of E-5. In all other branches, NCO status is generally achieved at the pay grade of E-4 (e.g., a Corporal in the Army and Marine Corps, Petty Officer Third Class in the Navy and Coast Guard). However, E-4s in the Army with the rank of Specialist are not considered NCOs. The Air Force mirrored the Army from 1976 to 1991 with an E-4 being either a Senior Airman wearing three stripes without a star or a Sergeant (referred to as "Buck Sergeant"), which was noted by the presence of the central star and considered an NCO. Despite not being an NCO, a Senior Airman who has completed Airman Leadership School can be a supervisor.

US DoD Pay grade E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 E-6 E-7 E-8 E-9
Insignia No Insignia E2 USAF AM.svg E3 USAF AM1.svg E4 USAF SAM.svg E5 USAF SSGT.svg E6 USAF TSGT.svg E7a USAF MSGT.svg E7b USAF 1STSGT1.svg E8a USAF SMSGT.svg E8b USAF 1STSGT2.svg E9a USAF CMSGT.svg E9b USAF 1STSGT3.svg E9c USAF CCMS.svg E9d USAF CMSAF new.svg
Title Airman
Basic		 Airman Airman First
Class		 Senior
Airman		 Staff
Sergeant		 Technical
Sergeant		 Master
Sergeant¹		 Senior Master
Sergeant¹		 Chief Master
Sergeant¹		 Command Chief
Master Sergeant		 Chief Master Sergeant
of the Air Force
Abbrevi- ation AB Amn A1C SrA SSgt TSgt MSgt SMSgt CMSgt CCM CMSAF
NATO Code OR-1 OR-2 OR-3 OR-4 OR-5 OR-6 OR-7 OR-8 OR-9 OR-9 OR-9

¹ The USAF does not have a separate First Sergeant rank; it is instead a duty denoted by a diamond within the upper field.

Uniforms

Main article: United States Air Force uniform

USAF personnel wear uniforms that are distinct from those of the other branches of the United States armed forces. The first USAF dress uniform, in 1947, was dubbed and patented "Uxbridge Blue" after "Uxbridge 1683 Blue", developed at the former Bachman-Uxbridge Worsted Company.[39] The current Service Dress Uniform, which was adopted in 1993 and standardized in 1995, consists of a three-button, pocketless coat, similar to that of a men's "sport jacket" (with silver "U.S." pins on the lapels), matching trousers, and either a service cap or flight cap, all in Shade 1620, "Air Force Blue" (a darker purplish-blue). This is worn with a light blue shirt (Shade 1550) and Shade 1620 herringbone patterned necktie. Enlisted members wear sleeve insignia on both the jacket and shirt, while officers wear metal rank insignia pinned onto the coat, and Air Force Blue slide-on epaulet loops on the shirt. USAF personnel assigned to Base Honor Guard duties wear, for certain occasions, a modified version of the standard service dress uniform, but with silver trim on the sleeves and trousers, with the addition of a ceremonial belt (if necessary), wheel cap with silver trim and Hap Arnold Device, and a silver aiguillete placed on the left shoulder seam and all devices and accouterment.

The current utility uniform is called the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU). The previous utility uniform called the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) is still authorized for wear but is becoming less common. The ABU is scheduled to completely replace the BDU by 1 October 2011 (Fiscal Year 2012).

Awards and badges

Main articles: Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force and Badges of the United States Air Force

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. Authorized badges include the Shields of USAF Fire Protection, and Security Forces, and the Missile badge, which is given after working on a missile system for over a year.

Training

All non-prior service enlisted Airmen must undergo basic military training (BMT), which takes place at Lackland AFB, Texas. All officers are commissioned through the United States Air Force Academy, Officer Training School, Academy of Military Science, or the AFROTC program.

Air Force Fitness Test

USAF members training at Lackland AFB
Main article: United States Air Force Fitness Test

The US Air Force Fitness Test (AFFT) is designed to test the body composition, muscular strength/endurance and cardiovascular respiratory fitness of airmen in the USAF. As part of the Fit to Fight program, the USAF adopted a more stringent physical fitness assessment; the new fitness program was established on 1 January 2004, and replaces the annual ergo-cycle test that the USAF had used for several years. In the AFFT, airmen are given a score based on performance consisting of four components: waist circumference, the crunch, the push-up, and a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) run. Airmen can potentially earn a score of 100; while a passing score is 75 points.

Aircraft inventory

Main article: Aircraft of the United States Air Force

The US Air Force has over 5,778 aircraft commissioned as of 2004.[citation needed] 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 designation. The various aircraft of the Air Force include:

A - Ground attack

A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft.

The ground-attack aircraft of the USAF are designed to attack targets on the ground and are often deployed as close air support for, and in proximity to, U.S. ground forces. The proximity to friendly forces require precision strikes from these aircraft that are not possible with bomber aircraft listed below. They are typically deployed as close air support to ground forces, their role is tactical rather than strategic, operating at the front of the battle rather than against targets deeper in the enemy's rear.

B - Bombers

B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bomber.
B-1 Lancer supersonic strategic bomber.

In the US Air Force, the distinction between bombers, fighter-bombers, and attack aircraft has become blurred. Many attack aircraft, even ones that look like fighters, are optimized to drop bombs, with very little ability to engage in aerial combat. Many fighter aircraft, such as the F-16, are often used as 'bomb trucks,' despite being designed for aerial combat. Perhaps the one meaningful distinction at present is the question of range: a bomber is generally a long-range aircraft capable of striking targets deep within enemy territory, whereas fighter bombers and attack aircraft are limited to 'theater' missions in and around the immediate area of battlefield combat. Even that distinction is muddied by the availability of aerial refueling, which greatly increases the potential radius of combat operations. The US is the only country, besides Russia, that operates strategic bombers.

The majority of the USAF's dedicated bombers are rapidly aging. The B-52 Stratofortress airframe is over 50 years old, and are scheduled to remain in service for another 30 years, which would keep the airframe in service for over 90 years, an unprecedented length of service for any aircraft. Plans for successors to the current strategic bomber force remain only paper projects, and political and funding pressures suggest that they are likely to remain paper-bound for the foreseeable future.

C - Cargo transport

C-17 Globemaster III, the USAF's newest and most versatile transport plane.
C-5 Galaxy heavy airlift.
V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

The Air Force can provide rapid global mobility, which lies at the heart of U.S. strategy in this environment—without the capability to project forces, there is no conventional deterrent. As U.S. forces stationed overseas continue to decline, global interests remain, making the unique mobility capabilities of the USAF even more in demand. Air mobility is a national asset of growing importance for responding to emergencies and protecting American interests around the globe.

Cargo and transport aircraft are typically used to deliver troops, weapons and other military equipment by a variety of methods to any area of military operations around the world, usually outside of the commercial flight routes in uncontrolled airspace. The workhorses of the USAF Air Mobility Command are the C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, and C-5 Galaxy. These aircraft are largely defined in terms of their range capability as strategic airlift (C-5), strategic/tactical (C-17), and tactical (C-130) airlift to reflect the needs of the land forces which they most often support. The CV-22 is used by the Air Force for the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). It conducts long-range, special operations missions, and is equipped with extra fuel tanks and terrain-following radar.

E - Special electronic missions

E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system.

The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent an advantage in the EMS and ensure friendly, unimpeded access to the EM spectrum portion of the information environment. Electronic warfare aircraft are used to keep airspaces friendly, and send critical information to anyone who needs it. They are often called "The Eye in the Sky."

F - Fighters

F-22 Raptor stealth air superiority fighter.
F-15 Strike Eagle strike fighter.

The fighter aircraft of the USAF are small, fast, and maneuverable military aircraft primarily used for air-to-air combat. Many of these fighters have secondary ground-attack capabilities, and some are dual-roled as fighter-bombers (e.g., the F-16 Fighting Falcon); the term "fighter" is also sometimes used colloquially for dedicated ground-attack aircraft. Other missions include interception of bombers and other fighters, reconnaissance, and patrol. Out of the 5,778 manned aircraft in service, 2,402 are fighters, and 1,245 of those are variants of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

From 2006 to 2025 the USAF plans to reduce its inventory of tactical aircraft by 28%.[41]

H - Search and rescue, Medevac (Help)

These craft are used for search and rescue on land.

K - Tanker, Kerosene

KC-10 Extender tri-jet air-to-air tanker.

The USAF's aerial refueling aircraft are derivatives of civilian jets. Usually, the aircraft providing the fuel is specially designed for the task, although refueling pods can be fitted to existing aircraft designs if the "probe and drogue" system is to be used. There is no known regular civilian in-flight refueling activity. In large-scale operations (and even daily air operations), air-to-air refueling is extensively used; fighters, bombers, and cargo aircraft rely heavily on the lesser-known "tanker" aircraft. This makes these aircraft an essential part of the Air Force's global mobility and the U.S. force projection.

L - Laser-equipped

Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser.

Airborne Laser (ABL) weapons system with a megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) mounted inside a modified Boeing 747-400F. It is primarily designed as a missile defense system to destroy tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs) in boost phase.

M - Multi-mission

Specialized mutli-mission aircraft provide support for global special operations missions. These aircraft conduct infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, and refueling for SOF teams from improvised or otherwise short runways.

Multi-mission UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)

MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle.

Initial generations of UAVs were primarily surveillance aircraft, but some were fitted with weaponry (such as the MQ-1 Predator, which utilized AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles). An armed UAV is known as an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV).

O - Observation

These aircraft are modified to observe (through visual or other means) and report tactical information concerning composition and disposition of forces.

R - Reconnaissance

RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle reconnaissance aircraft.
Lockheed U-2 spy plane.

The reconnaissance aircraft of the USAF are used for monitoring enemy activity, originally carrying no armament. Several unmanned remotely-controlled reconnaissance aircraft (UAVs) have been developed and deployed. Recently, the UAVs have been seen to offer the possibility of cheaper, more capable fighting machines that can be used without risk to aircrews.

Note: Although the U-2 is designated as a 'utility' aircraft, it is indeed a reconnaissance platform.

T - Trainer

The Air Force's trainer aircraft are used to train pilots, navigators, and other aircrew in their duties.

U - Utility

Utility aircraft are used basically for what they are needed for at the time. For example, a Huey may be used to transport personnel around a large base or launch site, while it can also be used for evacuation. These aircraft are all around use aircraft.

V - VIP staff transport

VC-25A (Air Force One).

These aircraft are used for the transportation of Very Important Persons. Notable people include the President, Vice President, secretaries, government officials (e.g., senators and representatives), the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other key personel.

W - Weather reconnaissance

These aircraft are used to study meteorological events such as hurricanes and typhoons.

Undesignated foreign aircraft used by Special Operations Squadrons

Culture

The culture of the United States Air Force is primarily driven by pilots and so the pilots of various aircraft types have driven its priorities over the years. At first there was a focus on bombers (driven originally by the Bomber mafia), followed by a focus on fighters (Fighter Mafia and following).[43]

In response to the 2007 United States Air Force nuclear weapons incident the leadership of the USAF was changed, and for the first time a Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force was chosen who did not have a background as a fighter or bomber pilot.[44]

Daniel L. Magruder, Jr defines USAF culture as a combination of the rigorous application of advanced technology, individualism and progressive airpower theory.[45] Major General Charles J. Dunlap, Jr. adds that Air Force culture includes an egalitarianism bred from officers as warriors who work with small groups of enlisted airmen either as the service crew or onboard crew of their aircraft.[46]

Slogans and creeds

The United States Air Force has had numerous recruiting slogans including "No One Comes Close" and "Uno Ab Alto". For many years, the U.S. Air Force used "Aim High" as its recruiting slogan; more recently, they have used "Cross into the Blue", "We've been waiting for you" and "Do Something Amazing",[47] and the newest one, "Above All".[48] Each wing, group, or squadron usually has its own slogan(s). Information and logos can usually be found on the wing, group, or squadron websites.[49]

The Airman's Creed is a statement introduced in the spring of 2007 to summarize the culture of the Air Force. The Air Force Core Values are: "Integrity First", "Service Before Self", "Excellence In All We Do".[50]

To help further knowledge of their mission and functions, the Air Force has also produced videos, such as "Setting the Conditions for Victory" and "How We Fight",[51] to outline the Air Force role in the war on terrorism and how the service succeeds in its domains of air, space, and cyberspace. The Above All campaign continues to support the message of "air, space and cyberspace" dominance.

First Friday

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First Friday is a long-standing tradition at fighter squadrons. Spouses, friends and family are welcomed into the squadron on the first Friday of the month for a social gathering involving good food, drink, conversation and much carousing. The main purpose of such a gathering is for esprit de corps and to inculcate a sense of family in the squadron. This is important since life in the military can often stress a military family more than a civilian one. The less advertised, but perhaps more important reason for First Friday is that it forces squadron members to actually clean out the refrigerators, get rid of the trash, and make their place of work more habitable for humans lest they face the wrath of their significant others.

See also

Military of the United States portal
United States Air Force portal

References

  1. ^ a b c United States Air Force (September 2009). "The U.S. Air Force". United States Air Force website. Washington, DC: self-published. http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  2. ^ "The Air Force Flag". Air Force Historical Research Agency. United States Air Force. 24 March 2007. http://www.lackland.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070324-002.pdf. Retrieved 27 March 2009. 
  3. ^ UNITED STATES AIR FORCE POSTURE STATEMENT 2009
  4. ^ "2009 Air Force Almanac", AIR FORCE Magazine, May 2009, p. 48.
  5. ^ "Gallery of USAF Weapons, 2009 Air Force Almanac". AIR FORCE Magazine, May 2009, pp. 137-138. USAF plans to retire all 460 AGM-129, and all but 528 ALCM by 2012.
  6. ^ "2009 Air Force Almanac - Facts and Figures". AIR FORCE Magazine, May 2009, p. 34. The foreign hire figure is 6,595 persons.
  7. ^ CAP Fact Sheet at August 2009
  8. ^ 10 USC 8062
  9. ^ Air Force Link, (2008). [1]. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  10. ^ National Search and Rescue Plan (USA) 2007
  11. ^ [2]
  12. ^ U.S. Air National Guard Struggles With Fighter Gap
  13. ^ Air Force Chief Calls for Collaboration Between Guard, Active Duty
  14. ^ Questions On U.S. Air Sovereignty Mission
  15. ^ Air Force urged to consider Navy F-18s
  16. ^ ANG chief discusses air sovereignty missions with Congress
  17. ^ GAO-09-612T Homeland Defense: Actions Needed to Address Management of Air Sovereignty Alert Operations to Protect U.S. Airspace
  18. ^ Air Force Doctrine Document 2-3
  19. ^ AF Mulls COIN Wing, New Planes
  20. ^ Defense Acquisitions: Strategic Airlift Gap Has Been Addressed, but Tactical Airlift Plans Are Evolving as Key Issues Have Not Been Resolved
  21. ^ U.S. Intelligence Community (October 2004). National Security Act of 1947. Retrieved 14 April 2006.
  22. ^ U.S. Department of State(2006). National Security Act of 1947. Retrieved 14 April 2006.
  23. ^ a b Needed: 200 New Aircraft a Year, Air Force Magazine, October 2008.
  24. ^ "2008 USAF Almanac: People" (pdf). AIR FORCE Magazine. http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2008/May%202008/0508facts_figs.pdf.  1991: 510,000; 2007: 328,600
  25. ^ 2008/0108scarce.aspx Scarce Flying Hours
  26. ^ Airmen's time tour makes follow-up visits
  27. ^ "Washington watch", AIR FORCE Magazine, July 2008, Vol. 91 No. 7, pp. 8.
  28. ^ Chavanne, Bettina H. "USAF Creates Global Strike Command". Aviation Week, 24 October 2008.
  29. ^ Plan reshapes U.S. air power
  30. ^ Unmanned aircraft take on increased importance
  31. ^ http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2009/1007_defense_prioirties_chat.aspx
  32. ^ a b "Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241". USAF, 1 July 2007.
  33. ^ The primary source for the humanitarian operations of the USAF is the United States Air Force Supervisory Examination Study Guide (2005)
  34. ^ "2007 USAF Almanac: Major Commands" (PDF). AIR FORCE Magazine. http://www.afa.org/magazine/may2007/0507majcoms.pdf. Retrieved 9 February 2008. 
  35. ^ "2007 USAF Almanac: USAF Squadrons By Mission Type" (PDF). AIR FORCE Magazine. http://www.afa.org/magazine/may2007/0507structure.pdf. Retrieved 9 February 2008. 
  36. ^ [3] Air Force Specialty Code Information, United States Air Force, July 2008.
  37. ^ http://www.militaryranks.us/us-military-warrant-officer.htm
  38. ^ http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/enlisted.html
  39. ^ "Getting the Blues, by Tech. Sgt. Pat McKenna". Air Force Link. http://www.af.mil/news/airman/1296/duds.htm. Retrieved 24 September 2007. 
  40. ^ http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=hurlburt+field,&sll=30.427609,-86.693217&sspn=0.001723,0.002406&ie=UTF8&radius=0.07&rq=1&ev=zi&hq=hurlburt+field,&hnear=&ll=30.427859,-86.693601&spn=0.001723,0.002406&t=h&z=19
  41. ^ GAO: April 2007: Tactical Aircraft: DOD Needs a Joint and Integrated Investment Strategy
  42. ^ Photos: Airtech CN-235 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
  43. ^ Air Force Culture and Conventional Strategic Airpower
  44. ^ A different type of Air Force leader
  45. ^ The US Air Force and Irregular Warfare: Success as a Hurdle
  46. ^ Understanding Airmen: A primer for soldiers
  47. ^ "Do Something Amazing" web site
  48. ^ "Air Force rolls out new advertising campaign", Airforcetimes.com, 2 March 2008.
  49. ^ US Air Force Mottos. Military-quotes.com, Retrieved 4 June 2006.
  50. ^ Our Mission - Learn About The U.S. Air Force. AirForce.com.
  51. ^ "'Setting the Conditions for Victory' video premieres online". USAF, 3 October 2007

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

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