Section 3D - Department of the Air Force Flashcards
The Department of the Air Force consists of what divisions?
Headquarters Air Force (HAF) and its field units.
The Air Force prepares the air and space forces necessary for what actions?
1) Effective prosecution of war; 2) military operations short of war; and 3) expanding peacetime components to meet the needs of war.
The Air Force organizes, trains, equips and provides forces for which six primary functions?
1) Air and space combat operations; 2) strategic air and missile warfare; 3) joint amphibious, space and airborne operations; 4) close air support and air logistics support for the Army and other forces; 5) operating air and space lines of communications; and 6) supporting and conducting psychological operations.
The Air Force also has a primary function to provide equipment, forces, procedures, and doctrine necessary for effective ____ warfare operations.
Electronic.
How is the SECAF selected?
A civilian is appointed by the President (by and with the advice and consent of the Senate).
As head of the Department of the Air Force, the SECAF recruits, organizes, supplies, equips, trains, services, mobilizes, demobilizes and administers personnel. Name several more responsibilities.
He or she also 1) maintains, constructs, outfits and repairs military equipment; 2) constructs, maintains and repairs buildings, structures and utilities; and 3) acquires real property and interests in real property.
Who has authority, control and direction over the SECAF?
The SecDef.
How is the Chief of Staff, US Air Force (CSAF) selected?
The President appoints the CSAF from the general officers of the Air Force (by and with the advice and consent of the Senate).
The Chief of Staff, US Air Force (CSAF) serves for a(n) ____ -year period.
Four-year.
Who exercises authority, direction and control over the Chief of Staff, US Air Force (CSAF)?
The SECAF and SecDef.
Name at least two of the Chief of Staff’s, US Air Force (CSAF) responsibilities.
Any two of the following: the CSAF 1) presides over the Air Staff; 2) caries out recommendations or plans approved by the SECAF; 3) exercises supervision of the Air Force, as determined by the SECAF; and 4) as a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) member, informs the SECAF on matters affecting the Department of the Air Force.
The ANG is a MAJCOM. (T/F)
False. (It is a very important component of the total force in offensive, defensive and relief operations.
Who administers the ANG?
The National Guard Bureau (a joint bureau of the departments of the Army and Air Force) located in the Pentagon, Washington, DC.
What is the ANG’s federal mission?
To maintain well-trained and well-equipped units for prompt mobilization during war and to assist during national emergencies.
What is the ANG’s federal mission during peacetime?
Its combat-ready and support units are assigned to most Air Force MAJCOMs to carry our missions compatible with training, mobilization readiness, and humanitarian and contingency operations (such as Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan).
What is the ANG’s state mission (when not mobilized or under federal control)?
The protection of life and property and the preservation of peace, order and public safety.
Who do ANG units report to when not mobilized or under federal control?
The governor of their respective state, territory or the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard.
How does the ANG accomplish its state mission to protect life and property and the preserve peace, order and public safety?
Through 1) emergency relief support during natural disasters; 2) search and rescue operations; 3) supporting civil defense authorities; 4) maintaining vital public services; and 5) counterdrug operations.
The ANG has more than ____ officers and enlisted personnel who serve in 88 flying units and 579 independent support units.
106,000.
Who are the primary sources of full-time support for ANG units?
Dual-status military technicians and guardsmen on active duty. (They perform day-to-day management, administration and maintenance.)
Dual-status military technicians are civil service employees of the federal government who must be military members of the unit that employs them. (T/F)
True. (Technicians train with the unit and mobilize with it when activated.)
What is the Air Staff’s function?
To help the SECAF carry out his or her responsibilities.
Name at least five of the Air Staff military advisors to the SECAF.
Any five of the following: 1) Chief of Staff; 2) Vice Chief of Staff; 3) Deputy Chiefs of Staff; 4) Assistant Chiefs of Staff; 5) Surgeon General of the Air Force; 6) Judge Advocate General of the Air Force; 7) Chief of the Air Force Reserve; 8) other members of the Air Force assigned or detailed to the Air Staff; and 9) civilian employees in the Department of the Air Force assigned or detailed to the Air Staff.
Headquarters, US Air Force (HQ USAF) includes what two major entities?
1) Secretariat (the SECAF and his or her principal staff); and 2) Air Staff, headed by the Chief of Staff.
List the Department of the Air Force field units.
MAJCOMs, Field Operating Agencies (FOA) and Direct Reporting Units (DRU).
The Air Force is organized ____ in the US and ____ overseas.
Functionally; Geographically.
____ are major Air Force subdivisions, directly subordinate to Headquarters, US Air Force (HQ USAF).
MAJCOMs. (They are interrelated and complementary, providing offensive, defensive and support elements. Each has a specific portion of the Air Force mission.)
What kind of command consists (in whole or in part) of strategic, tactical, space or defense forces, or of flying forces that directly support such forces?
Operational commands.
What type of command may provide supplies, weapon systems, support systems, operational support equipment, combat material, maintenance, surface transportation, education and training, or special services and other supported organizations?
Support commands.
Identify the ten Air Force MAJCOMs.
1) Air Combat Command (ACC); 2) Air Mobility Command (AMC); 3) Air Force Space Command (AFSPC); 4) Pacific air Force (PACAF); 5) US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE); 6) Air Education and Training Command (AETC); 7) Air Force Material Command (AFMC); 8) Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC); 9) Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC); and 10) AFR Command (AFRC).
Which MAJCOM was created 1 June 1992 and is headquartered at Langley AFB, VA.
Air Combat Command (ACC).
What is Air Combat Command’s (ACC) mission?
To prepare assigned forces for air combat command in a theater or operations; to organize, train ad equip forces for joint or combined operations in the roles of aerospace control and force application, enhancement and support.
Name three of Air Combat Commands (ACC) responsibilities.
Any three of the following: 1) organizing, training and equipping combat-ready forces; 2) providing air forces for US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM); 3) supporting the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and US Customs Agency; 4) testing and acquiring new or improved combat systems and equipment through US Atlantic Command (USACOM); 5) providing combat-ready forces, support and equipment to unified commands (when directed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)); 6) providing air defense forces to US Element North American Air Defense (USELNORAD); 7) providing C-130s and air mobility mission support to US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM); and 8) serving as Gaining MAJCOM (GMAJCOM) for assigned AFR and ANG forces (with the authority to mobilize or recall them to active duty).
More that ____ active duty members and 13,500 civilians make up Air Combat Command’s (ACC) workforce.
More than 67,000 (When mobilized, more than 50,000 ANG and AFR members and 675 aircraft are also assigned to ACC.)
Air Combat Command (ACC) and ACC-gained units fly more than ____ aircraft.
1,800.
Which MAJCOM provides rapid, flexible and responsive air mobility to promote regional stability and provide America’s Global Reach?
Air Combat Command (ACC). (Created 1 June 1992, headquarters at Scott AFB, IL)
Which three wings are included in Air Mobility command’s (AMC) mission?
1) Airlift; 2) air refueling; and 3) air mobility wings.
Airlift wings transport and deliver forces and material through the air. name their other functions.
1) Perform passenger and cargo movement, combat employment and resupply, aeromedical evacuations and special operations support; 2) support validated customer requests for airlift; and 3) support expeditionary units with deployed forces.
Air refueling wings refuel aircraft in flight. What does this accomplish?
It extends presence, increases range and allows air forces to bypass potential problem areas.
List the types of support provided by Air Mobility Command’s (AMC) air refueling and air mobility wings.
1) OPLAN 8044; 2) global attack; 3) air bridge; 4) deployment; and 5) theater support.
Air refueling wings use a special operations system to achieve strategic-, operational- and _______ -level objectives.
Tactical-level.
Air mobility wings perform a combination of missions from airlift and air refueling wings. T/F
True.
Wing leadership addresses all non-warfighting and appropriate support issues directly with Air Mobility Command (AMC) staff for resolution. Who is tasked to keep the 18th Air Force leadership informed of those issues?
Wing commanders and/or staff directors.
Air Mobility Command (AMC) encompasses more than _____ active duty, ANG, AFR and DoD civilian personnel.
134,000
Which MAJCOM provides military-focused space and cyberspace capabilities with a global perspective to the joint warfighting team?
Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). (Created 1 September 1982; headquartered at Peterson AFB, CO.)
What is Air Force Space Command’s (AFSPC) mission?
To provide resilient and cost-effective space and cyberspace capabilities for the Joint Force and the nation.
What are Air Force Space Command’s (AFSPC) responsibilities?
1) Organizing, training and equipping Air Force space forces; 2) providing these forces to US Space Command (USSPACECOM); 3) supporting acquisition and performing operational tests; 4) managing the payloads of designated military satellites; 5) communicating its mission and providing support to all military services and Combatant Commands (COCOM); and 6) serving as Gaining MAJCOM (GMAJCOM) for assigned AFR and ANG forces (assisting to mobilize or recall them to active duty as authorized by Headquarters Air Force (HAF)).
How many personnel comprise Air Force Space Command (AFSPC)?
Approximately 41,000. (Including active duty military and civilians, and contractor employees.)
Name two of the systems Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) acquires, operates and supports.
Any two of the following: 1) Global Positioning System; 2) Defense Satellite Communications Systems; 3) Defense Meteorological Satellite Program; 4) Defense Support Program; 5) Wideband Global Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Satellite systems; 6) MILSTAR and Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF); 7) Global Broadcast Service; 8) the Space Based Infrared System Program; and 9) Space Based Space Surveillance Satellite.
Which two launch vehicles, currently operated by Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), comprise the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program?
Delta IV and Atlas V.
What is the Air Force Satellite Control Network?
A worldwide network of satellite tracking stations that provide satellite communications links.
Name the four ground-based radars primarily used for ballistic missile warnings.
1) The Ballistic Missile Early Warning System; 2) Upgraded Early Warning Radar System; 3) Precision Avionics Vectoring Equipment (PAVE) Phased Array Warning System; and 4) Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System.
What four systems provide primary space surveillance coverage?
1) The Maui Optical Tracking Identification Facility; 2) Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System; 3) Passive Space Surveillance System; and 4) phased-array and mechanical radars.
How does the Rapid Attack Identification, Detection and Reporting System provide Space Situational Awareness and threat assessment?
By detecting, characterizing, reporting and geolocating electromagnetic interference on satellite communications.
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI. What is its missions?
To 1) deliver rapid and precise air, space and cyber space capabilities to protect and defend the US, its territories, interests and allies; 2) provide integrated air and missile warning and defense; 3) promote interoperability throughout the Area of Responsibility (AOR); 4) maintain strategic access and freedom of movement across all domains; and 5) be postured to respond in order to restore Asia-Pacific security.