US+Air+Force

__History​__
 * The first airplane was invented by the Wright Brothers in 1903. Before it's development, countries used giant balloons to scout enemy territories.
 * In 1907, the Army created an Aeronautical Division to experiment with powered flight.
 * At the beginning of WWI, the US had only 5 propellor-driven planes and relied heavily on it's European allies who tended to be more advanced in air warfare.
 * The General Headquarters Air Force was created in 1935 to coordinate all military air operations.
 * By the end of WWII, the US Air Force had surpassed every other nation.
 * The Air Force finally became a seperate branch of the miltary in 1947 with the passage of the National Security Act of 1947, which established the Department of the Air Force
 * The United States Air Force Academy was established in 1954 near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

__Organization__
 * There are 9 Air Force major commands.
 * __Air Combat Command__- responsible for the doctrine, organization, and training of the tactical air forces that engage enemy forces in battle and provide air support for other forces.
 * __Air Education and Training Command__- trains all Air Force personnel.
 * __Air Force Material Command__- researches, develops, and purchases new aircraft and other equipment and maintains and repairs planes and equipment.
 * __Airforce Reserve Command__- oversees training and organization of Air Force Reserve forces.
 * __Airforce Space Command__- responsible for US military operations in space.
 * __Air Force Special Operations Command__- part of the US Special Operations command which is responsible for all US military Special Operations.
 * __Air Mobility Command__- transports combat forces, equipment, and supplies wherever needed around the world.
 * __Pacific Air Forces__- responsible for all US Air Force operations from the West coast of the US to the East coast of Africa.
 * __US Air Forces in Europe__- responsible for all US Air Force operations in Europe and parts of Africa including cooperation with NATO allies.

__Personnel__ __Women's Role__​
 * There are approximately 76,000 officers and cadets and 290,000 enlisted Air Force personnel. There are also 86,000 people who serve in the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.
 * Enlistments are either 4-year or 6-year terms in a selection of over 100 specialties.
 * Must be between the age of 17-27 if enlistee has no prior service.
 * Appointment as an officer can be earned by attending the US Air Force academy, completing an Air Force ROTC program offered at universities, or for college graduates, attending the Officer Training School. Enlisted personnel can obtain officer comissions by earning college degrees through service-sponsored education programs.
 * Women can serve in all Air Force postitions including combat.
 * Enlistement requirements are the same as men.
 * For comissioning, a woman must be a college graduate and not yet turned 30 years old.
 * There are about 70,000 women serving in the Air Force presently.

__Weaponry__​
 * The Air Force uses many types of aircrafy including bombers, fighter jets, transports, tankers, and helicopters.
 * Bombers are designed to drop explosives over enemy territories and launch missiles.
 * Fighters attack other aircraft as well as ground targets.
 * Transport planes carry equipment and personnel.
 * Tankers can refuel other planes in mid-flight.
 * The Air Force also operates reconaissance, command and control, and training aircraftt.
 * The Air Force also controls ICBMs which are missiles that have a range of up to 6,000 miles.

Source: Grolier Online Encyclopedia