How many Air Force wings are there?
There are 144 wings in the U.S. Air Force. All of them trace their history to the 1st Pursuit Wing, formed in France by the American Expeditionary Forces of the U.S. Army in July 1918.
How many Majcoms are in the Air Force 2022?
nine MAJCOMSCurrently, the USAF is organized into nine MAJCOMS (seven functional and two geographic), with the Air National Guard component reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF).
How many types of Air Force are there?
The USAF has three basic types of wings: operational, air base, and specialized mission. An operational wing 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.
How many Air Force squadrons are there?
Combat units in the Air Force are generally organized as squadrons of aircraft. Those squadrons vary widely in size—with anything from 8 to 24 aircraft being common—as well as in types of aircraft.
Who has the strongest Air Force 2022?
Top 10 Strongest Air Forces of the WorldUnited States Air Force.Russian Air Force.Indian Air Force.People's Liberation Army Air Force (China)Japan Air Self-Defense Force.Israeli Air Force.French Air Force.British Royal Air Force.More items...•
What is a 7 level in the Air Force called?
In this case, the “7” skill level is a “craftsman.” Upon promotion to E-5, Airmen begin training for the “7” (craftsman) skill level. This level of training includes correspondence courses, more on-the-job training, and for some jobs, a 7-level technical school.
What are the top 3 air forces?
United States Air Force - 242.9. United States Navy - 142.4. Russian Air Force - 114.2. United States Army Aviation - 112.6.
Who is No 1 in Air Force?
11. Summary of top 10 strongest Air Force of the WorldS.No.Cities1United States Air Force-America2Russian Air Force-Russia3Israeli Air Force-Israel4Indian Air Force6 more rows
Which branch is best in Air Force?
Air Chief Marshal: The top of the rank for the best of the best from the flying branch. The Air Chief Marshal heads the Air Force family and is responsible for all strategic and tactical decisions in times of peace and war.
What are Air Force soldiers called?
airmenMembers of the Air Force are airmen. Members of the Navy are sailors.
What is the largest squadron in the Air Force?
The 23rd Fighter Group directs the flying operations for the USAF's largest A-10C fighter group, consisting of two combat-ready A-10C squadrons and an operations support squadron.
What are Air Force cadets called?
the Cadet WingThe student body of the academy is known as the Cadet Wing. The students, called "cadets", are divided into four classes, based on their year in school, much like a civilian college.
How many F 16s does the U.S. have?
One of the most versatile aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory, the F-16 Fighting Falcon has been the mainstay of the Air Force aerial combat fleet. With over 1,000 F-16s in service, the platform has been adapted to complete a number of missions, including air-to-air fighting, ground attack and electronic warfare.
How many fighter aircraft does U.S. have 2022?
Current Active Inventory: 5,209 Aircraft. The following represents an overview of the modern aerial fighting capabilities of the United States Air Force (2022). The service currently counts 5,209 total units in its active aircraft inventory.
How many C 5 Galaxies does the Air Force have?
52 C-5BCurrently the U.S. Air Force owns and operates 52 C-5B/C/M. They are stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware; Travis AFB, California; Lackland AFB, Texas; and Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts.
How many COCOMs are there?
There are currently nine COCOMs: USSOCOM: U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, FL. USSTRATCOM: U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, NE. USTRANSCOM: U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, IL.
What is the NAF?
The numbered air force (NAF) is a tactical echelon directly under an operational MAJCOM that provide operational leadership and supervision. NAFs are structured to perform an operational or warfighting mission, often oriented to a specific geographic region.
How many people can fly in the Air Force?
Flight. A flight is the smallest official capacity in the Air Force and usually ranges from a dozen people to over a hundred, or typically four aircraft. The flight commander or OIC is a company-grade officer which can be described as a 2nd lieutenant (O-1), 1st lieutenant (O-2), or captain (O-3).
What is FOA in the Air Force?
The field operating agency (FOA) is a subdivision of the Air Force, directly subordinate to an HQ USAF functional manager. A FOA performs field activities beyond the scope of any of the major commands. The activities are specialized or associated with an Air Force-wide mission, and do not include functions performed in management headquarters, unless specifically directed by a DoD authority.
What are the wings of the USAF?
Wings have a distinct mission with a specific scope, reporting to the NAF or HQ USAF. Wings are made up of one or more groups, consisting of several squadrons, and usually commanded by a colonel (O-6), but high visibility wings can have a brigadier general (O-7) in command. Second in command to the Wing Commander is the Deputy Wing Commander who is and only can be a colonel. The senior enlisted personnel of a wing can be known as the Command Chief who holds the rank of command chief master sergeant (E-9). Wings now encompass both operations and support activities (maintenance groups, mission support groups), and are usually one of three major types: operational wing, air base wing, and specialized mission wing. As of 30 September 2006 USAF had 120 wings, including 57 flying (manned aircraft) wings.
How long have air divisions existed?
Air divisions have existed since World War II when many of the Numbered Air Divisions began as wings. There were both named and numbered divisions, mostly air divisions. Recently HQ USAF gradually inactivated or redesignated divisions in an effort to encourage rapid decision-making and to create a more flat organizational structure without "middle management" units, and as such air divisions are rarely used.
Why is the Air Force a DRU?
It is a DRU because the unit's specific and focused duties, legal issues that necessitate the unit's independence, or other factors such as national security concerns. The Air Force has a very limited number of direct reporting units: DRU. Location.
What is the structure of the Air Force?
The structure of the United States Air Force refers to the unit designators and organizational hierarchy of the United States Air Force , which starts at the most senior commands. The senior headquarters of the Department of the Air Force, Headquarters Air Force (HAF) consists of two staffs in the Pentagon: the Office of the Secretary ...
List of Numbered Air Forces
The table below lists current and historical numbered air forces of the US Air Force, their C-NAF designation (if applicable), their current shield and station, and the major command (MAJCOM) to which they are currently assigned.
Named Air Forces
Named Air Forces operate at the same level as Numbered Air Forces. General Headquarters Air Force, the first named air force of the United States Army 's air arm, began operations in 1935. The GHQ Air Force became the Air Force Combat Command in 1941. Several of the numbered air forces began as named air forces.
How many Airmen are in the 18th Air Force?
The 18th Air Force, headquartered at Scott AFB, is charged to present air mobility forces to AMC and combatant commanders by ensuring readiness and sustainment of approximately 36,000 active duty, Reserve and civilian Airmen.
Where is the Air Force Expeditionary Center?
Located at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the center provides administrative control for five wings and two groups within AMC, to include the 87th Air Base Wing and the 621st Contingency Response Wing at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst; the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing at JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; the 521st AMOW at Ramstein AB; the 628th ABW at JB Charleston; the 43rd AMOG at Pope Army Airfield; and 627th Air Base Group at JB Lewis-McChord.
What is an airlift?
Airlift provides the capability to deploy U.S. armed forces anywhere in the world within hours and help sustain them in a conflict. AMC also supports presidential and senior leader airlift. Air refuelers are the backbone of global reach, increasing coalition and U.S. aircraft’s range mid-air. Aeromedical evacuation ensures wounded warriors get the care they deserve and today have sustained the survival rate of 97 percent. In addition to enabling the force to respond to an enemy attack and sustain operations, Rapid Global Mobility brings humanitarian supplies and assistance to those in need who may live in austere locations.
Where is the 18th Air Force?
The 18th Air Force, headquartered at Scott AFB, is charged to present air mobility forces to AMC and combatant commanders by ensuring readiness and sustainment of approximately 36,000 active duty, Reserve and civilian Airmen. U. S. Air Force Expeditionary Center.
When was Air Mobility Command established?
PRINT | E-MAIL. Air Mobility Command was activated June 1, 1992, with headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and is one of 11 major Air Force commands. On Oct. 1, 2016, AMC consolidated with Military Air Command making AMC the oldest major command in the Air Force tracing its history to the establishment of the Air Corps Ferrying Command ...
How many people are in the AFSVA?
AFSVA has approximately 750 Air Force military and civilian people assigned.
How many directorates are there in the AFSVA?
The AFSVA is composed of seven directorates to oversee Services and Force Support operations worldwide: The Directorate of Financial Management and Comptroller manages, supports, and provides quality financial service to the AFSVA, major commands, and NAF instrumentalities worldwide. It provides treasury management service, ...
What is the AF NAF procurement office?
The Directorate of NAF Purchasing, also known as the AF NAF Purchasing Office, provides Global Strategic Sourcing support to the Air Force Services Agency and Forces Support organizations worldwide. AFNAFPO also provides NAF contracting officer certification, training, and guidance on NAF procurement policy and procedures. Its primary mission is to provide value (quality, performance, and price) from a centralized office with decentralized installation level execution in a format that enhances the "procure-to-pay" function. At the strategic level, AFNAFPO delivers complex contracting support for transformation initiatives, financial and banking services, card membership programs, NAF purchase card, employee benefits, business systems, NAF construction, amusement machines, communications, information technology, and lodging centralization. Through the Commander's Smart Buy Program, the directorate leverages purchasing power by delivering decentralized ordering capability to support day-to-day tactical operations. The CSBP promotes purchasing effectiveness as a management tool and is designed to assist all commanders, regardless of service component, in acquiring quality products at favorable prices. CSBP supports the Essential Products Program, Child Development and Youth Programs, Food Service Operations, Prime Vendor Program, Leisure Travel, NAF Food and Beverage Signature Brands, and Marketing. Additionally, AFNAFPO provides specialized support through consolidated purchases, individual support contracts, product special programs, and trade show buying. AFNAFPO also manages eBusiness tools such as the web-based Internet Based Purchasing System.
What is the AFSVA?
The AFSVA manages Air Force central nonappropriated funds (NAFs) and operates central systems for field support such as banking, investments, purchasing, data flow, insurance benefits programs, and the personnel system for NAF employees and retirees around the world. AFSVA supports the Air Force Services Council and interacts with other agencies ...
What is AFSVA in the Air Force?
AFSVA supports installations, major commands and the Air Staff by providing technical assistance, fielding new initiatives, developing procedures, and managing selected central support functions to ensure successful Services programs. Its responsibilities include developing and disseminating procedures to implement policy, preparing responses to high-level inquiries, providing technical assistance to the field, and developing new programs that support major command and installation activities. The AFSVA manages Air Force central nonappropriated funds (NAFs) and operates central systems for field support such as banking, investments, purchasing, data flow, insurance benefits programs, and the personnel system for NAF employees and retirees around the world. AFSVA supports the Air Force Services Council and interacts with other agencies and armed services in areas affecting quality of life and quality of service.
What is the Directorate of NAF Transformation?
The Directorate of NAF Transformation operates a world-class financial management enterprise to modernize retail, supply chain, and customer relations management. It manages a multi-year, phased resource plan to transform the way Air Force Services does business. The directorate uses industry "best standards" and technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness, integrates existing information systems, and procures new technology to two-phase project to significantly increase productivity, reduce overhead costs, and provide timely financial information for effective decision-making at all levels of Services management included replacement of the more than 30-year-old legacy accounting/payroll systems and centralized financial management functions in a Shared Service Center which accomplishes accounting and payroll services for NAF activities worldwide and publishes timely, accurate, reliable, and complete accounting information to support financial analysis, reporting, and decision-making at all levels of Air Force Services.
What is the Directorate of Plans and Force Management?
The Directorate of Plans and Force Management provides operational procedures and staff supervision for Air Force-wide Services programs, including the NAF personnel program ; employee benefits and compensation services; various Air Force NAF self-insurance programs; the NAF Facility Construction Program; the Services Career Field Training Program; Services Learning Management, Education and Training; Air Force Libraries and Information System; and strategic planning, and special projects.
How many Airmen are in the Air Force?
The United States Department of the Air Force is a large organization with over 317,000 active duty Airmen. The tiered command organizational structure of the service helps manage the Airmen and their efforts to organize, train, equip, and execute military capability while effectively taking care of the individuals and their families.
How many Majcoms are there?
The next tiered organization is the Major Command (MAJCOM). There are eleven MAJCOMs, specializing in management of forces to assure they are organized, trained, and equipped. These organizations are based on functionality and geography. The MAJCOM commander is typically a 4- or 3-star General.
How many reservists are in the 10th Air Force?
Tenth Air Force, located at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas, directs the activities of more than 13,300 reservists and 900 civilians located at 28 installations throughout the United States.
What is the mission of AFNORTH?
AFNORTH rapidly responds to non-military threats under the Defense Support to Civil Authorities, or DSCA , mission. The organization assists civilian agencies before and during emergencies, natural or man-made disasters, and other Department of Defense-approved activities.
What is the AFCENT?
AFCENT is responsible for air operations (either unilaterally or in concert with coalition partners) and developing contingency plans in support of national objectives for USCENTCOM's 20-nation area of responsibility in Southwest Asia.
What is the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center?
Operating with the 601st Air and Space Operations Center, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center serves as the U.S. inland search and rescue coordinator and is the single agency responsible for coordinating on-land federal searches.
How many wings are in an ACC?
ACC-gained units consist of six fighter wings, three air rescue units, one bomber squadron, one combat operations squadron, and one airborne warning and control group when mobilized.
What is ACC in military?
As a force provider , ACC organizes, trains, equips and maintains combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime air defense.
Overview
Organizational types
A Direct Reporting Unit (DRU) is an agency of the United States Department of the Air Force that is outside the bounds of the standard organizational hierarchy by being exclusively and uniquely under the control of Air Force headquarters alone, rather than reporting through a major command. The term "direct reporting unit" comes from the fact that the unit reports directly to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force or to a designated representative on the Air staff.
Historical organizations
(not in current use)
Separate operating agencies (SOA) were major Air Force subdivisions directly subordinate to HQ USAF and has all the "procedural (administrative and logistical) responsibilities" of a MAJCOM. In 1991, most active SOAs changed in status to DRUs or FOAs.
Air divisions have existed since World War II when many of the Numbered Air Divisions began a…
Reserve components and auxiliary
The Air National Guard, often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Air National Guard is part of a state's National Guard and is divided up into units stationed in each of the 50 states and U.S. territories and operates under their respective s…
External links
• Airman magazine January 2004 Web Edition at the Wayback Machine (archived 13 January 2009) Airman magazine Web Edition copyright notice: https://web.archive.org/web/20090517081401/http://www.af.mil/news/airman/notice.shtml