Department of the Air Force

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Departmentof theAir Force
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• It is probable that future war will be
• conducted by a special class, the Air
• Force, as it was by the armored knights
• of the middle ages.
• Brig Gen William Billy Mitchell

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Overview

• Echelons of Command
• Air Force Functions
• Major Commands

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Echelons of Command

• Secretary of the Air Force
• Air Force Chief of Staff
• Field Operating Agencies
• Direct Reporting Units
• Air Force Major Commands
• Numbered Air Forces
• Wing
• Group
• Squadron
• Flight

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Secretary of the Air Force

• Reports to Secretary of Defense
• Fiscal, production, procurement, and legal plans
  and programs
• Not involved in war operations

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Air Force Chief of Staff

• Military head of the Air Force
• Responsible for efficiency operational
  readiness
• Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Head of Air Staff

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Field Operating Agency

• a subdivision of the USAF which carries out
  field activities under the operational control of
  a HQ functional manager.
• Mission supports MAJCOMs - works WITH not FOR the
  major command

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Direct Reporting Unit

• Directly subordinate to HQ
• NOT under operational control of HQ functional
  manager
• Unique mission or legal requirements

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Air Force Major Command

• Broad continuing missions that are a
  sub-component of the overall Air Force mission.
• Usually commanded by a four-star general

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Numbered Air Force

• Operational and war-fighting roles
• Commander becomes JFACC
• Usually commanded by a Lieutenant
  General (3-star)

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Wing

• Centerpiece of the Air Force
• All elements to operate a base
• Only echelon that can deploy for an indefinite
  period
• Set up along the lines of the Objective Wing
• Commanded by a Brigadier General (1-star)

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Group

• Organized by function
• Four types of groups under the Objective Wing
• Operations
• Logistics
• Support
• Medical
• Commanded by a Colonel

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Squadron

• Fundamental unit of the Air Force
• Can deploy, but not indefinitely
• Responsible for day-to-day mission
• Commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel

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Flight

• Not a formal echelon of command
• Assists in administration of the squadron
• Level most Second Lieutenants become involved in

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Air Force Functions
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Air Force Function

• Those things the Air force must do in order for
  it to properly execute its missions
• Air Force has three functions - organize, train,
  and equip

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Organize

• Wartime effectiveness, not peacetime efficiency
• Exploit airpowers versatility
• Enhance centralized control/ decentralized
  execution

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Train

• Prepares people for war
• More important than equipment
• Train for ALL levels of war
• Professional Military Education (PME) encourages
  analytical thought and sound professional judgment

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Equip

• Makes operations possible
• Power projection
• Interoperability among services
• Balance cost and capability

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Points to Remember...

• Echelons of Command
• Secretary of the Air Force
• Chief of Staff
• Field Operating Agencies
• Direct Reporting Units
• MAJCOMs
• Numbered Air Forces
• Wing
• Group
• Squadron
• Flight

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Points to Remember...

• Air Force Functions
• Organize
• Train
• Equip

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Air Force Major Commands (MAJCOM)
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Air Combat Command (ACC)

• ACC professionals providing the worlds best
  combat air forces delivering rapid decisive
  airpower, anytime, anywhere

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F-15 Eagle
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F-16 Fighting Falcon
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F-117 Stealth Fighter
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A-10 Thunderbolt II
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Air Force Bomber Force (ACC)
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B-52 Stratofortress
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B-1B Lancer
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B-2 Spirit
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Air Mobility Command (AMC)

• Provide rapid, global mobility and sustainment
  for Americas armed forces.
• Strategic Airlift/Theater Airlift
• Operational Support
• Aeromedical Evacuation
• Aerial Refueling
• Special Operations

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C-141 Starlifter
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C-5 Galaxy
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C-17 Globemaster III
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C-130 Hercules
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C-9 Nightingale
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KC-135 and KC-10
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Air Force Space Command (AFSPC)

• Defend the United States of America through the
  control and exploitation of space.

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ICBM Operations
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Satellite Operations
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Air Educationand Training Command (AETC)

• Recruit, access, commission, and train USAF
  enlisted and officer personnel

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T-37 Tweet T-38 Talon
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Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)

• Researches, develops, tests, acquires, delivers,
  and logistically supports every Air Force weapon
  system, as well as other military non-weapon
  systems

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F-22 Raptor
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Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

• Deploys specialized airpower, delivering special
  operations combat power anywhere, anytime

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Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)

• Plan, conduct, and coordinate offensive and
  defensive air operations in the Pacific and Asian
  theaters
• Organize, train, equip, and maintain resources to
  conduct air operations

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United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE)

• Plan, conduct, and coordinate offensive and
  defensive air operations in the European theater
  of operations
• Support in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle
  East, and Africa
• Supports Allied Command Europe

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Air Force Reserve Command

• Maintains in a constant state of readiness USAF
  Reserve units individuals, and the systems
  services required, to perform their assigned
  mission in support of US national objectives
• HQ Robins AFB, GA

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Air National Guard
To provide ready units to the state and nation in
three roles Federal Role To support national
security objectives State Role To protect life
and property, and to preserve peace,order, and
public safety Community Role To participate in
local, state, and national programs that add
value to America
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Summary

• Echelons of Command
• Air Force Functions
• Major Commands