• The U.S. Air Force is composed in its entirety of the
regular Air Force, the Air National Guards and the Air Force Reserve. The Air
Force currently includes eight major commands.
• The Air Force boasts an
enlisted force of 288,720 under the command of 69,466 officers.
• Secretary of the Air Force: The civilian
head of the Air Force is appointed by the president with Senate approval. The
secretary is responsible for the formulation and implementation of Air Force
policies consistent with the national security plan. The secretary reports to
the Secretary of Defense, but has no command authority.
• Chief of
Staff of the Air Force: The top uniformed position in the Air Force,
the chief of staff is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is responsible
for the general readiness of the US Air Force. The chief of staff has no direct
command authority.
• Major Command: The top level and largest
combat organization of the Air Force is the command, which is usually made up of
three or more numbered air forces.
• Numbered Air Forces:
These formations include two or more wings and are usually grouped with
auxiliary units. Numbered air forces conduct operations with assigned and
attached forces under a command
• Wings: The basic unit for
generating and employing combat capability. Wings normally operate the same type
of aircraft, although composite wings do exist. This formation is the prime
war-fighting instrument.
• Group: This formation usually
consists of two to four squadrons and a group headquarters. All squadrons in a
particular group fly the same type of plane, and they are referred to by type of
plane (heavy bomber group, fighter group, etc.).
• Squadron:
Squadrons are not designed to conduct independent operations; they work in
coordination with other units to conduct operations. A squadron usually consists
of two or more flights.
• Flights: A flight consists of two
or more airplanes. In combat, this formation usually consists of four or more
planes that fly in pairs, trios, or fours. One plane, the flight leader,
contains the flight commander who directs flight operations.