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United States Air Force

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Article Genealogy
Parent: Cold War Hop 2
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United States Air Force
Unit nameUnited States Air Force
Start date18 September 1947
CountryUnited States
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare, space warfare, cyber warfare
Size329,614 active duty personnel
Command structureUnited States Department of Defense
GarrisonThe Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
Garrison labelHeadquarters
Motto"Aim High ... Fly-Fight-Win" and "Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do"
ColorsUltramarine blue, Air Force yellow
Anniversaries18 September
Commander1Frank Kendall III
Commander1 labelSecretary of the Air Force
Commander2General Charles Q. Brown Jr.
Commander2 labelChief of Staff
Commander3CMSAF JoAnne S. Bass
Commander3 labelChief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Identification symbol labelRoundel

United States Air Force. It is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services. Established as a separate branch on 18 September 1947 by the National Security Act of 1947, it traces its lineage to the United States Army Air Forces of World War II. The service's core missions are to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace, providing rapid global mobility, global strike, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

History

The origins of American military aviation lie with the United States Army Signal Corps, which formed an Aeronautical Division in 1907. Aviation played a pivotal role in World War I under the Air Service, United States Army, and later evolved into the United States Army Air Corps and then the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, where leaders like Henry H. Arnold oversaw massive strategic bombing campaigns such as the Combined Bomber Offensive. Its independent status was solidified post-war, with the Korean War proving the value of jet airpower in battles like MiG Alley. The Cold War saw the development of strategic nuclear deterrence through aircraft like the B-52 Stratofortress and the stand-up of North American Aerospace Defense Command. Conflicts from the Vietnam War to Operation Desert Storm and the Global War on Terrorism have continually shaped its doctrine and technology.

Organization

The service is a component of the United States Department of Defense and is administered by the Secretary of the Air Force under civilian leadership. Military leadership is provided by the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The primary operational structure is built around ten major commands, including Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, and the Space Force-associated United States Space Command. These commands are further divided into numbered air forces, such as Eighth Air Force and Ninth Air Force, wings, groups, and squadrons. Key field operating agencies include the Air Force Materiel Command and the Air Force Global Strike Command.

Personnel

As of 2023, it consists of over 329,000 active duty airmen, complemented by approximately 172,000 personnel in the Air National Guard and 105,000 in the Air Force Reserve Command. Commissioned officers are primarily trained at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps programs at universities like The Ohio State University, or via the Officer Training School. Enlisted members receive basic training at Joint Base San Antonio and technical instruction at schools like the Air University. The highest enlisted rank is the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.

Aircraft and equipment

It operates one of the world's most technologically advanced fleets, featuring aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, and B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. Key assets include the E-3 Sentry for airborne warning and control, the KC-46 Pegasus for aerial refueling, and the C-17 Globemaster III for strategic airlift. It also manages a significant portion of the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile force, including the LGM-30G Minuteman III. Support aircraft like the U-2 Dragon Lady and RQ-4 Global Hawk provide critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

Bases and facilities

Its installations are located worldwide, with major hubs within the Continental United States including Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Key overseas bases are found at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Kadena Air Base in Japan, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. These facilities host operational wings, training centers, testing ranges like the Nevada Test and Training Range, and major acquisition centers such as the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Operations and missions

Its operations encompass air superiority, global strike, rapid global mobility, and command and control. It provides critical support to United States Northern Command for homeland defense and to United States European Command and United States Indo-Pacific Command for deterrence. Daily missions include aerospace control alert, combat search and rescue, and worldwide airlift via Air Mobility Command. It also plays a central role in nuclear deterrence operations under the triad managed by United States Strategic Command and conducts extensive space operations in partnership with the United States Space Force.

Category:United States Air Force Category:1947 establishments in the United States