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.
41-942: The senior headquarters of the Department of the Air Force consists of distinct staffs in the Pentagon: the Secretariat or SAF Staff and the Headquarters Air Force or HAF Staff . The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF) and HAF Staff is led by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) . Headquarters DAF also includes the Space Staff , which parallels the HAF Staff but governs
82-784: A space command within the Aerospace Force and renamed the Air National Guard to the Aerospace National Guard. The legislation was cosponsored by Representatives G. William Whitehurst , Ike Skelton , and Robin Beard of the United States House Committee on Armed Services . Although the legislation was supported by General James E. Hill , who commanded North American Aerospace Defense Command and Aerospace Defense Command ,
123-429: A flight. It is typically staffed by a non-commissioned or senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO), typically at the rank of master sergeant (E-7); who is referred to as a "Section Chief." Some sections may also be under the command of an "Officer-In-Charge" (OIC), typically a company-grade-officer (CGO) at the rank of second lieutenant (O-1) or first lieutenant (O-2). Examples of sections include "Outbound Assignments" within
164-405: A group is known as the group senior enlisted leader (formerly group superintendent). This position can only be held by a chief master sergeant (E-9). The group was of less visibility for some decades but came back to prominence during a transition to the "objective wing" organization in the 1990s. This reorganization changed the base command structure from the "wing commander/base commander" scheme to
205-588: A major general (O-8) or lieutenant general (O-9). 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
246-738: A proposed name change was considered in 2018 and in 2019 the Air Force Association also called for renaming the department. In 2022, the Air Force Association renamed itself the Air & Space Forces Association , internally acting on its proposal to reflect the Space Force in the organization's name. In a 2021 article in the Space Force Journal , two Space Force officers also proposed a name change for
287-445: A single wing commander ("one base-one boss") with multiple groups under his command. There are two general types of groups: dependent (operations, logistics, support, medical, or large functional unit); and independent (a group with wing-like functions and responsibilities whose scope and size does not warrant wing-level designation). As of 30 September 2006, USAF had 17 independent groups, nine of them flying establishments. The squadron
328-550: A small number of squadrons are headed by civilian commander-equivalents, known as squadron directors (abbreviated as SQ/CL for civilian leader) - typically at the GS-15 pay grade. Second in command of a squadron is typically a squadron operations officer or director of operations (DO), who is usually a senior-ranking major (O-4). The DO may be assisted by one or two assistant operations officers, who are normally majors or senior-ranking captains (O-3). In addition to flight subdivisions,
369-624: A transfer of forces between combatant commands. In 1981, Congressman Ken Kramer introduced legislation to rename the Department of the Air Force as the Department of the Aerospace Force, along with renaming the United States Air Force as the United States Aerospace Force, to reorient the service and department from an air force to an aerospace force. The legislation would also have established
410-417: 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: 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
451-413: Is a company-grade officer (CGO) typically at the rank of captain (O-3). The OIC is assisted by a senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO), typically at the rank of senior master sergeant (E-8). Unlike squadrons, flight commanders are not on "G-Series Orders" and do not hold the same command authorities as the squadron. The primary bulk of manpower and mission accomplishment within a squadron is located within
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#1732797413070492-501: Is a subdivision of the squadron. Flights range from a dozen people to over a hundred; or typically four aircraft. A flight may be either a "Numbered or Named Flight" (lowest-level recognized unit, such as "Operations Flight"), "alpha" flight (part of a squadron composed of elements performing identical missions), or a "Functional Flight" (element performing specific missions, such as a "Manpower and Organization Flight"). The flight commander, also referred to as an "Officer-In-Charge" (OIC),
533-516: 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 2024 the USAF excluding
574-404: Is considered to be the basic unit within the USAF and exists to "[provide] a specific operational or support capability." Squadrons are usually composed of two to six flights and contain from 35 to 700 people, depending upon the type. (An operational, or "flying," squadron will typically contain aircrew, organized in three or four flights, sufficient to man from eight to 24 aircraft, dependent upon
615-515: Is the division of "Infrastructure" and "Technical Control Facility" workcenters within the "Infrastructure Section" of the "Operations Flight" of a "Communications Squadron." (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
656-418: The Air National Guard has 119 wings. Made up of several squadrons and typically commanded by a colonel (O-6). Second in command to the group commander is the deputy group commander, who is also a colonel or lieutenant colonel (O-5); in some cases, this role may be performed by a designated civilian, typically at the GS-15 level, with the alternative title of deputy group director. The senior enlisted member of
697-790: The American Red Cross . The program is established as an organization by Title 10 of the United States Code and its purposes defined by Title 36 . When conducting missions for the Air Force as the official Air Force auxiliary, CAP is now included in the Air Force's definition of the total force. In addition to the aforementioned unit structures, the USAF has used, and still uses, a variety of other designations to identify organizations. These organization designations include: [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Department of
738-527: The Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations . By direction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force assigns Air Force and Space Force units – apart from those units performing duties enumerated in 10 U.S.C. § 9013 unless otherwise directed – to the combatant commands . Only the Secretary of Defense and the President have the authority to approve
779-463: The Chief of Staff of the Air Force or to a designated representative on the Air staff . A DRU has a specialized and restricted mission, meaning that it is a single purpose unit, usually to the exclusion of other duties, reporting to Air Force Air Staff alone. It is separate and independent from any organization structure or supervision: major command, numbered air force, operational command, division, wing, group, squadron, or field operating agency. It
820-468: The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force are five Assistant Secretaries for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics , Financial Management & Comptroller , Installations, Environment & Energy , Manpower & Reserve Affairs , Space Acquisition & Integration and a General Counsel . The highest-ranking military officers in the department, and senior military advisers to the secretary, are
861-557: The United States Space Force are organized. The Department of the Air Force is headed by the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/OS), a civilian, who has the authority to conduct all of its affairs, subject to the authority, direction and control of the Secretary of Defense . The Secretary of the Air Force's principal deputy is the Under Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/US). Their senior staff assistants in
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#1732797413070902-495: The United States Space Force . 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
943-426: The "Military Personnel Flight" of the "Force Support Squadron" and the "Avionics Intermediate Section" (AIS) within the "Avionics Flight" of the "Maintenance Squadron." Some sections may be further subdivided into multiple elements, often referred to as "workcenters". Such elements are typically staffed by a "Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge" (NCOIC); typically at the rank of technical sergeant (E-6). One such example
984-523: The AF and thus have the full range of functional staff. MAJCOMs are commanded by a general (O-10). 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. A NAF is directly assigned operational units, such as wings, groups, and squadrons. NAFs are commanded by either
1025-651: The Air Force The United States Department of the Air Force ( DAF ) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America . The Department of the Air Force was formed on September 18, 1947, per the National Security Act of 1947 (codified into Title 10 of the United States Code ) and it is the military department within which the United States Air Force and
1066-631: The Air Force chain of command . 10 USC § 10174 states: (a) Establishment of Command.— The Secretary of the Air Force, with the advice and assistance of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, shall establish an Air Force Reserve Command. The Air Force Reserve Command shall be operated as a separate command of the Air Force. (b) Commander.— The Chief of Air Force Reserve is the Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command. The commander of
1107-588: The Air Force Reserve Command reports directly to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. (c) Assignment of Forces.— The Secretary of the Air Force— (1) shall assign to the Air Force Reserve Command all forces of the Air Force Reserve stationed in the continental United States other than forces assigned to the unified combatant command for special operations forces established pursuant to section 167 of this title; and (2) except as otherwise directed by
1148-535: The Air Force did not support the name change and the legislation did not pass. Following the United States Space Force 's establishment, calls have been made for the Department of the Air Force to rename itself the Department of the Air and Space Forces to acknowledge the Space Force, similar to calls made for the Department of the Navy to rename itself the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. SpaceNews reported that
1189-555: The Air Force is divided into the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force , which is led by the United States Secretary of the Air Force , the Air Staff which is led by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force , and the Space Staff which is led by the Chief of Space Operations . The Department of the Air Force consists of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force . [REDACTED] Office of
1230-804: 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 state governor or territorial government. The Air National Guard may be called up for active duty by
1271-476: 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. The Air National Guard, often referred to as
Structure of the United States Air Force - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-441: The Secretary of Defense in the case of forces assigned to carry out functions of the Secretary of the Air Force specified in section 8013 of this title, shall assign to the combatant commands all such forces assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command under paragraph (1) in the manner specified by the Secretary of Defense. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as
1353-474: The commander. The SQ/CC is assisted by a chief master sergeant (E-9) "senior enlisted leader" that handles enlisted programs and manpower within the squadron; as well as a "first sergeant" (i.e., a specially selected and trained master, senior, or chief master sergeant in pay grades "E-7," "E-8," or "E-9," respectively) that serves as "a dedicated focal point for all readiness, health, morale, welfare, and quality of life issues within their organizations." A flight
1394-519: The department. Congress has also proposed a variety of name changes within the Department of the Air Force to recognize the Space Force's establishment, including a 2022 proposal by the U.S. Senate to rename the Air National Guard to the Air and Space National Guard and 2020 proposal to rename the Airman's Medal the Air and Space Force Medal, mirroring the Navy and Marine Corps Medal . The Department of
1435-419: The flights of the squadron. Most flights are broken into subdivisions known as sections and elements. While these subdivisions are not normally recognized by official Air Force reporting functions, they are typically recognized by their wing. These subdivisions exist to clump together specific missions or capabilities and serve to identify their purpose to the installation. A section is an internal subdivision of
1476-462: 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. A major subdivision of the Air Force, the major command (MAJCOM) is directly subordinate to HQ USAF or the Air Staff. MAJCOM headquarters are management headquarters for a major segment of
1517-607: The member or unit becomes part of the Air National Guard of the United States, which is one of two reserve components of the United States Air Force, and part of the National Guard of the United States. Air National Guard of the United States units or members may be called up for federal active duty in times of congressionally sanctioned war or national emergency. CONUS based AFRC units are assigned to AFRC. This assignment governs command relationships within
1558-518: The official auxiliary of the USAF. It performs three congressionally assigned key missions: emergency services , which includes search and rescue (by air and ground) and disaster relief operations; aerospace education for youth and the general public; and cadet programs for teenage youth. In addition, CAP has recently been tasked with homeland security and courier service missions. CAP also performs non-auxiliary missions for various governmental and private agencies, such as local law enforcement and
1599-553: The squadron may feature a number of "administrative" supporting elements that report directly to the commander. These may include a "command support staff" (CSS) that handles personnel records and manpower management; a "secretary" (often civilian employee) or "executive officer" directly assigned to the SQ/CC; as well as "safety" and "standardization/evaluation" functional areas. Air Force squadrons also include enlisted senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO) leadership to advise and support
1640-436: The state governors or territorial commanding generals to help respond to domestic emergencies and disasters, such as those caused by hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. With the consent of state governors, members or units of the Air National Guard may be appointed, temporarily or indefinitely, to be federally recognized members of the armed forces, in the active or inactive service of the United States. If federally recognized,
1681-419: The type/model/series of aircraft operated. The aircraft are "owned" by the squadron's parent wing's maintenance group, while the operational squadrons and their aircrews belong to the wing's operations group.) A squadron is usually commanded by a major (O-4) or lieutenant colonel (O-5); however lieutenant colonel is the most common rank for the squadron commander (SQ/CC) of most types of squadrons. Alternatively,