United States Air Force

I

Introduction

United States Air Force, the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting military operations in air and space. The United States Air Force was formed from the Army Air Corps in 1947. The Air Force plays a critical role in the defense of the United States through control of air and space. The Air Force deploys aircraft to fight enemy aircraft, bomb enemy targets, provide reconnaissance, and transport soldiers for the other armed services. The Air Force also maintains most of the country’s nuclear forces, including a fleet of strategic bombers that carry nuclear weapons and land-based nuclear missiles. In addition, the Air Force launches and maintains a wide variety of military satellites.

II

Organization

The U.S. Air Force is under the control of the United States Department of the Air Force, which is led by the secretary of the air force, a civilian. The Air Force is divided into commands, organized on a functional basis in the United States and by geographic location overseas. Each major command is led by a four-star general and comprises numbered air forces (NAFs), which in turn are made up of air divisions (ADs), and two non-numbered air forces, which are based overseas.

The organization of operational Air Force units beneath each command varies widely, depending on the type of squadron (combat, air transport, or maintenance), aircraft, and mission. The squadron is the basic organizational unit. The number of aircraft in a squadron depends on the squadron’s purpose. There are generally 10 to 20 aircraft in a bomber squadron, 18 to 24 in a fighter squadron, and 8 to 16 in a transport squadron. Four or more squadrons form a wing, which usually includes separate operations, logistics, and support groups. Two or more wings form a division, and two or more divisions make a numbered air force.

Almost the entire Air Force—active force, reserve force, and air national guard—is divided into different Aerospace Expeditionary Forces (AEFs). Each AEF has its own aircraft for missions involving surveillance (systematically observing people, places, or things), reconnaissance (missions specifically intended to obtain information about an enemy), and electronic warfare (the use of special electronics to jam enemy communications and to cloak U.S. forces from detection by the enemy).

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III

Strategic Importance

The official mission of the United States Air Force is “to defend the United States through control and exploitation of air and space” as part of the nation’s joint military capabilities, which also include the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines. To fulfill that mission, the Air Force operates systems in the air, in space, and on the ground. The Air Force has modified its strategy of defense through the years and is evolving from an “air and space” force to one placing more emphasis on space-based operations. In addition to its core role of controlling the skies over combat zones and bombing enemy targets, the Air Force has a vital role in transporting American forces to conflicts. The other armed forces, particularly the Army, depend on this airlift capability to get soldiers and equipment into battle quickly, giving the United States an edge over the fighting forces of many other countries.

Another key role for the Air Force is strategic nuclear deterrence. The Air Force maintains bomb wings and missile wings that are capable of delivering nuclear weapons anywhere in the world. The Air Force shares control of the nation’s nuclear force with the United States Navy.

To protect America’s borders, the Air Force also keeps fighter-interceptors assigned to home defense commands in both the active-duty and Air National Guard forces. The Air Force’s role in deterrence and national defense extends far beyond America’s borders, however. There are Air Force bases located throughout Europe and Asia.

Most of these bases were established during the Cold War, a period after World War II (1939-1945) in which the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) vied for global dominance. The end of the Cold War in 1991 left the United States as the only military and economic superpower, and the Air Force continues to maintain many of its Cold War-era bases as a means of ensuring U.S. military dominance. In addition to their strategic value, the bases make it much easier for the Air Force to conduct humanitarian relief operations, peacekeeping and deterrent missions, drug smuggling interception, and other operations with U.S. allies.

The U.S. Air Force stands as the most powerful air force in the world. The Air Force boasts operational aircraft of all types, including bombers, cargo transports, ground-attack-fighter interceptors, and reserve-trainer aircraft. The Air Force also has a substantial number of helicopters for various missions such as search and rescue, cargo transport, and special operations.

No other country’s air force can match the combination of size, readiness, and training of the U.S. Air Force. Pilot training in the U.S. Air Force is extensive and realistic, and includes dissimilar combat training, in which the most modern U.S. aircraft are used to simulate dogfights against enemy aircraft. On average, U.S. Air Force pilots fly more than 200 hours per year.

IV

The Life of an Airman

United States Air Force airmen (a general term that includes both men and women) include commissioned officers and enlisted members. There is approximately one officer for every four enlisted members. Roughly one-fifth of all Air Force personnel are female. The Air Force policy on accepting homosexuals has been the subject of controversy over the years. For an explanation of the policy, see Homosexuality: Other Arenas of Activism.

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