Fly, Fight, Win.
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and
one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of
the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. It is the most recent branch of the U.S. military to be
formed, and is the largest and one of the world's most technologically advanced air forces. The USAF articulates its core functions as
Nuclear Deterrence Operations, Special Operations, Air Superiority, Global Integrated ISR, Space Superiority, Command and Control,
Cyberspace Superiority, Personnel Recovery, Global Precision Attack, Building Partnerships, Rapid Global Mobility and Agile Combat Support.
The Air Force is a military service within the Department of the Air Force, one of the three military departments of the
Department of Defense. The Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force, who is appointed by the President with
the advice and consent of the Senate. The highest-ranking military officer in the Department of the Air Force is the Chief of Staff
of the Air Force who exercises supervision over Air Force units, and serves as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Air Force combat
forces are assigned, as directed by the Secretary of Defense, to the Combatant Commanders, and neither the Secretary of the Air Force nor
the Chief of Staff have operational command authority over them.
As of 2012 the US Air Force has 332,854 active personnel, 185,522 civilian personnel, 71,400 reserve personnel, 106,700 air guard
personnel and a $140 billion budget. It operates 5,484 aircraft, 450 ICBMs and 63 satellites, making it the largest air force in
the world.
The United States Air Force provides air support to ground troops and aids in the recovery of troops in the field.
