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The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. Previously part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947. [1] The USAF is the largest and the most technologically advanced air force in the world, with about 6057 manned aircraft in service (4,273 USAF; 1,313 Air National Guard; and 400 Air Force Reserve); approximately 160 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles, 2161 Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, and 1900 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles;[2] and as of September 30, 2005, had 351,800 personnel on active duty, 122,750 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 106,800 in the Air National Guard. An additional 14,000 personnel were in the Standby Reserve and the Air Force employed 166,730 civilian personnel. [2]
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." 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".[5] 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. 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.
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.[6] The Act created the United States Department of Defense, which was composed of three branches, the Army, Navy and a newly-created Air Force.[7] 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:
The United States Air Force has been involved in many wars, conflicts, and operations since its conception; these include: Humanitarian OperationsThe U.S. Air Force has taken part in numerous humanitarian operations. Some of the more major ones include the following:[8] Berlin Airlift (Operation Vittles), 1948-1949The Soviet blockade of Berlin closed off all surface access to the city of Berlin. If left unchallenged the Soviet Union would have permanent control of all of Berlin. In the Berlin Airlift the USAF built a "Luftbrücke" or air bridge to provide relief. For 15 months, the 2.2 million inhabitants of the Western sectors of Berlin were sustained by air power alone as the operation flew in 2.33 million tons of supplies on 277,569 flights. The Soviets' eventual capitulation and dismantling of the surface blockade represented one of the great Western victories of the cold war-without a bomb having been dropped-and laid the foundation for NATO. Operation Safe Haven I and II, 1956-1957Military Air Transport Service's (MATS) 1608th Air Transport Wing from Charleston AFB, South Carolina and 1611th Air Transport Wing from McGuire AFB, New Jersey airlifted over 10,000 Hungarian refugees to the United States. President Eisenhower approved asylum for the refugees who fled Hungary after Soviet forces crushed an anti-communist uprising there. Operations Babylift, New Life, Frequent Wind, and New Arrivals, 1975Following the fall of Cambodia and South Vietnam to Communist forces, transports from 11 Air Force wings and other units airlifted over 50,000 refugees to the United States. These airlifts constituted the largest aerial evacuation in history. Air Force units also moved 5,000 relief workers and more than 8,500 tons of supplies. Operation Provide Comfort, 1991Following the Persian Gulf War, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein attacked the Kurdish population in northern Iraq. In response to the unfolding human tragedy, Air Force transports in support of the operation provided more than 7,000 tons of blankets, tents, food, and more to the displaced Kurds and airlifted thousands of refugees and medical personnel. Operation Sea Angel, 1991An airlift of 3,000 tons of supplies to Bangladesh following a Typhoon. Operation Provide Hope, 1992-1993Provided 6,000 tons of food, medicine, and other cargo to republics of the former Soviet Union. Administrative OrganizationThe Air Force is managed by the (civilian) Department of the Air Force, one of the three service departments, and led by the Secretary of the Air Force(SECAF) and the uniformed Air Staff. SECAFThe Headquarters (HQ) of the SECAF includes the Secretary, Under Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, General Counsel, the Inspector General, Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee, and other offices and positions established by law or the SECAF. The Office of the SECAF has responsibility for acquisition and auditing, comptroller issues (including financial management), inspector general matters, legislative affairs, and public affairs. The current Secretary of the Air Force is Michael Wynne. Air StaffThe Air Staff primarily consists of military advisors to the CSAF and the SECAF. This includes the Chief of Staff, Vice Chief of Staff, and Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF), four deputy chiefs of staff (DCS), the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General, The Judge Advocate General, the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, and additional military and civilian personnel as the SECAF deems necessary. The current Chief of Staff of the Air Force is General T. Michael Moseley. The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is the senior enlisted person in the Air Force. Currently, the position is held by Chief Master Sergeant Rodney J. McKinley. Subordinate Commands and echelonsUSAF subordinate commands and echelons are the Major Commands (MAJCOMs), field operating agencies (FOA), and direct reporting units (DRU). Major CommandsThe USAF is organized on a functional basis in the United States and a geographical basis overseas. A major command (MAJCOM) represents a major Air Force subdivision having a specific portion of the Air Force mission. Each MAJCOM is directly subordinate to HQ USAF. MAJCOMs are interrelated and complementary, providing offensive, defensive, and support elements. An operational command consists (in whole or in part) of strategic, tactical, space, or defense forces; or of flying forces that directly support such forces. A support command may provide supplies, weapon systems, support systems, operational support equipment, combat material, maintenance, surface transportation, education and training, or special services and other supported organizations. The USAF experienced its last major reorganization of commands in 1992. On July 5, 2006, the USAF stood up the Air Force Network Operations (AFNETOPS) Command at Barksdale Air Force Base; on November 2, 2006, it was announced that this organization would be transformed into a new major command, the Air Force Cyberspace Command.[9] The USAF is currently organized into ten MAJCOMS (8 Functional and 2 Geographic), with the Air National Guard component reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HQ USAF). [10]
Direct Reporting UnitsA Direct Reporting Unit (DRU) is a specialized, single purpose agency outside the bounds of the standard organizational hierarchy. A DRU reports to the Air Force Air Staff (or a designated representative) directly, and has a specific, specialized, restricted mission, independent and separate from from the standard organizational structure and supervision.
Field Operating Agencies (FOA)Field operating agencies (FOA) are a subdivision of the Air Force and report directly to a HQ USAF functional manager. FOAs perform field activities beyond the scope of any of the major commands. Their activities are specialized or associated with an Air Force wide mission. Numbered Air Forces (NAF)
The NAF is a level of command directly under a MAJCOM (Major Command). NAFs are tactical echelons that provide operational leadership and supervision. They are not management headquarters and do not have complete functional staffs. Many NAFs are responsible for MAJCOM operations in a specific geographic region or theater of operations. A NAF is assigned subordinate units, such as wings, groups, and squadrons. Wings
The wing is a level of command below the NAF. A wing has approximately 1,000 to 5,000 personnel. It is responsible for maintaining the installation and may have several squadrons in more than one dependent group. A wing may be an operational wing, an air base wing, or a specialized mission wing. It is usually commanded by a Colonel or Brigadier General. Operational WingAn operational wing is one that has an operations group and related operational mission activity assigned to it. When an operational wing performs the primary mission of the base, it usually maintains and operates the base. In addition, an operational wing is capable of self-support in functional areas like maintenance, supply, and munitions, as needed. When an operational wing is a tenant organization, the host command provides it with base and logistics support. Air Base WingSome bases which do not have operational wings or are too large or diverse for one wing will have an Air Base Wing (ABW). The ABW performs a support function rather than an operational mission. It maintains and operates a base. An air base wing often provides functional support to a MAJCOM headquarters. Wings are composed of several groups with different functional responsibilities. Groups are composed of several squadrons, each of which has one major responsibility or flying one type of aircraft. Squadrons are composed of two or more flights. Independent Groups
The last level of independent operation is the group level. When an organization is not part of the primary mission of the base it will be made an independent group. They may report to a wing (the 23rd Fighter Group at Pope AFB belongs to the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB) or they may be completely independent (the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess AFB). They may also be organized as an expeditionary unit, independent but too small to warrant a wing designation. The organization of the independent group is usually similar to the operations group, but with a few squadrons or flight from the support side added to make the organization more self-sufficient, but not large enough to become a wing. Operational OrganizationThe 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 (COCOM). In the case of AFSPC, AFSOC, PACAF, and USAFE units, forces are normally employed in-place under their existing COCOM. Likewise, AMC forces operating in support roles retain their componency to USTRANSCOM unless chopped to a Regional COCOM. Aerospace Expeditionary Task ForceCHOPPED 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 COCOM for the employment of Air Power. Each COCOM is supported by a standing Numbered Air Force - Component (NAF-C) to provide planning and execution of aerospace forces in support of COCOM requirements. Each NAF-C 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 NAF-C may deploy Air Component Coordinate Elements (ACCE) to liaise with the JFC. Commander, Air Force ForcesThe Commander, Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) is the senior Air Force officer responsible for the employment of Air Power is 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 CenterThe Air Operations Center (AOC) is the COMAFFOR'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/SquadronsThe 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. Core valuesIn 1995, the Secretary of the Air Force Sheila E. Widnall and the Air Force Chief of Staff General Ronald R. Fogleman approved the following core values for the United States Air Force:[11]
The Air Education and Training Command along with the USAF Academy are responsible for teaching these principles throughout the Air Force. VocationsThe 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 mechanic type jobs. There are members in computer specialties, medical specialties, public relations, 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 special forces units to 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. Some AFSCs have even longer training. AircraftImage:B52.climbout.arp.jpg 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. Current aircraft of the USAF: Gallery of imagesUniformsMess DressImage:US Air Force Mens Mess Dress.jpg Examples of officer (left) and enlisted Mess Dress (right). The Mess Dress Uniform is used for formal or semi-formal occasions such as Dining ins, the annual Air Force Ball, graduations, award cermonies and weddings. The uniform consists of dark blue waist-length tuxedo coat and matching trousers with silver buttons, miniature medals, blue bow-tie and cummerbund, and shoulder boards and silver wrist braids for officers. No cover (hat) or name-tag is worn with the Air Force Mess Dress Uniform. When wearing the blue tie and cummerbund, the uniform is considered equivalent to black-tie formal wear. For white-tie occasions, a white bow-tie and waistcoat are worn. Service DressImage:US Air Force Mens Service Dress.jpg Current Service Dress uniforms: Officer on the left, enlisted on the right. Taken from AFI 36-2903 Prior to 1993, all Air Force personnel wore Air Force Blue uniforms very similar in appearance to that of the U.S. Army. The current U.S. Air Force 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." 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. Air Force personnel assigned to honor guard duties wear, for dress occasions, a modified version of the standard service dress uniform, but with silver or white trim on the sleeves and trousers, with the addition of medals, sword belt, wheel cap with silver trim and AF Symbol, and a silver shoulder cord.[12] The service dress uniform pictured is a modification of the original version envisioned by Merrill McPeak, which featured no epaulets for any rank, and silver braid loops on the lower sleeves denoting officer rank. This style of rank insignia for officers, while used by British Royal Air Force officers and air force officers of other commonwealth nations, is the style of the U.S. Navy service dress uniform. For this reason and others, the insignia was immensely unpopular and many senior Air Force Generals commented that the uniforms of the Air Force now looked identical to those of airline pilots. The McPeak uniform was abolished in 1999 and remains the shortest issued military insignia series in the history of the United States armed forces. Epaulets were put back on the coat for metal rank insignia but the compromise uniform continued to be unpopular, primarily from its civilian-style cut. Several additional changes were made to make the jacket seem more military in appearance. On May 18, 2006, the Department of the Air Force unveiled two prototypes of new service dress uniforms, one resembling the stand-collar uniform worn by U.S. Army Air Corps officers prior to 1935, called the "Billy Mitchell heritage coat," and another, resembling the Army Air Force's Uniform of World War II and named the "Hap Arnold heritage coat". If the stand-collar coat is selected, it will be the first stand-collar "everyday" uniform to be issued since the 1930's (the Navy's male dress white and the U.S. Marine Corps' dress blue uniform stand-collar coats are worn for formal occasions only). [13] Utility UniformImage:Battle Dress.jpg Staff Sergeant in Battle Dress Uniform Image:USAF Airman Battle Uniform.jpg Airman Battle Uniform For combat and work duty, ground crews wear the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), which will be phased out in favor of the Airman Battle Uniform.[14] The Airman Battle Uniform will be issued to Airmen deploying as part of AEFs 7/8 in Spring 2007. In October 2007, they will be issued to Basic Trainees, and will be available for purchase at AAFES outlets by the rest of the Air Force in June 2008.[15] The expected mandatory wear date for the Airman Battle Uniform is October 2011.[16] Pilots, air crews and missile crews, wear olive green or desert tan one-piece flight suits made of Nomex for fire protection. Women's UniformsWomen's service dress uniforms are similar in color and style to the men's service dress uniforms, but can also include additional articles including a skirt, stockings, and women's style garrison cap. Currently, women wear the same utility uniforms as men; either the BDU or the flight suit, both of which come in unisex sizes. Desert UniformsImage:Airmen in DCUs.jpg Deployed Airmen in Desert Camouflage Uniforms stopped enroute at Shannon Ireland Airport When serving in a desert climate (such as the Persian Gulf region), Air Force personnel wear tan colored uniforms rather than the customary green. These uniforms consist of the Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU), and the tan nomex flight suit for aircrew members. PRT UniformImage:USAF PT Uniform.jpg Air Force members wearing the new PRT Uniform The Air Force designed a new PRT (Physical Readiness Training) uniform that became mandatory for wear in October 2006. The uniform consists of shorts, t-shirt, jacket and pants. The shorts are AF blue with silver reflective stripes on the leg, a key pocket attached to the inner liner and an ID pocket on the outside of the lower right leg. The t-shirt is a moisture wicking fabric with reflective Air Force logos on the upper left portion of the chest and across the back. The jacket is blue with silver reflective piping and a reflective chevron on the back. The pants are blue with silver piping and reflective stripes. Awards and badges
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