DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE UNIT HISTORIES
United States Air Force Structure
The United States Air Force is comprised of establishments, units, and non-units.
An establishment is an organizational entity consisting of a headquarters unit and its subordinate units. The name of the establishment is in the name of the headquarters unit. For example, Air Mobility Command (AMC) is an establishment; Hq. AMC is its headquarters. Subordinate units are assigned to the establishment and not to the headquarters unit. This enables each unit within an establishment to have a separate identity. The fact that the headquarters unit controls the establishment places the other units subordinate to it. Personnel are assigned to a unit, not to an establishment.
The assignment of any establishment assigns all its components at the same time, unless otherwise specified. For example, when a wing is assigned to a Numbered Air Force (NAF), the command assignment of the wing's groups and squadrons is to the NAF. The separation of units by location does not affect their assignment to the establishment.
Lower-level establishments are assigned to higher-level ones; for example: groups to wings, wings to NAFs, NAFs to major commands (MAJCOMS), MAJCOMS to Hq USAF. This arrangement, units reporting to establishments, subordinate establishments to superior ones, sets up the chain of command, through which all control and accountability flow.
A group with subordinate squadrons is generally the lowest level establishment.
An establishment is automatically created when its headquarters unit is activated.
Inactivation of a headquarters unit automatically inactivates the establishment. Units assigned to the establishment automatically revert, unless otherwise directed, to the next higher level.
Unit
A unit is a military organization constituted by directives issued by HQ USAF. Units can be either a numbered squadron, flight or named organization.
A unit provides for an unbroken chain of command since military personnel must be assigned to a unit at all times. Normally, a unit having military members will have an officer designated as its commander. A civilian may lead a unit in approved circumstances, and provide supervision to military and civilian personnel in the unit.
Nonunit
A nonunit is an organizational entity that is not constituted by HQ USAF.
Air Force Controlled and Major Command Controlled organizations
All Air Force units and establishments are divided into two basic types: Air Force Controlled (AFCON) and Major Command Controlled (MAJCON).
Air Force-controlled (AFCON) establishments. The term AFCON applies to all those organizations under the direct control of Headquarters USAF for organizational actions. The Air Force reserved the numbers 1 through 999 for these permanent organizations, with the numbers 101 through 300 allotted to the Air National Guard.
In addition to the permanent AFCON wings, the USAF provided temporary organizations to be controlled by the major commands. The commands wanted a flexible organization at the lower echelons to permit rapid adjustments in manning that short-term requirements often dictated. Because the manning of permanent organizations was judged to be too rigid, in 1948 the Air Force created a new type of temporary organization. These major command-controlled organizations were identified as "MAJCON." Using four-digit numbers allotted to each command (for example, 3900-4399 for Strategic Air Command) by Headquarters USAF, the commands could create and end MAJCON organizations as needed. When a MAJCON organization was discontinued or inactivated, its life ended, never to be revived. The number of this organization could then be reused to designate another, entirely new MAJCON organization. Although the original intent was to provide major command flexibility in establishing and terminating short-lived, temporary organizations, some MAJCON organizations existed more than forty years.
United States Air Force echelons
The levels are in descending order and represent levels of assignment.
Headquarters United States Air Force
HQ USAF is the senior headquarters of the Air Force, consisting of two major entities: the secretariat (including the secretary of the Air Force and the secretary's principal staff), and the air staff, headed by the Chief of Staff.
Major Command (MAJCOMs)
The Air Force organizes, trains, and equips Air Forces through its MAJCOMs. Those forces are provided to combatant commands (unified commands) for employment. The organization of these MAJCOMs is based on combat, mobility, space, and special operations, plus the materiel support required for these operations. Major commands are directly subordinate to headquarters U.S. Air Force. MAJCOMs headquarters are management headquarters and thus have the full range of functional staff.
Numbered Air Force (NAF)
A Numbered Air Force is a level of command directly under a MAJCOMS. NAFs are tactical echelons that provide operational leadership and supervision. They are not management headquarters and do not have complete functional staffs. Many NAFs are responsible for MAJCOMs operations in a specific geographicregion or theater of operations. The operational focus of the NAFs ensures the readiness of assigned forces; prepares forces for deployment and employment; plans for bed-down of forces; and exercises operational control of assigned forces.
The NAFs consist of operational and support divisions reporting directly to a NAFs commander. These divisions are an integral part of the NAF structure and are not assigned forces. Assigned functions include safety, standardization and evaluation, staff judge advocate, and inspector general. The number of persons assigned to a NAFs headquarters varies from case to case.
During World War II, and for a short period thereafter, the Numbered Air Forces had the status now enjoyed by major commands, with each Air Force having its own subordinate commands—e.g., Fifth Air Force had the V Fighter Command, V Bomber Command, and Support Commands. Only very briefly, early in World War II, were Air Forces identified by an Arabic numeral (e.g., 1st Air Force). Beginning in 1942 the war department required Air Forces to be numbered in single series beginning with a spelled-out numeral (e.g., First Air Force).
Air Division
Not in current use. Prior to World War II, Air Divisions were composed of two or more air brigades. These commands were tailored for specific missions such as aerial defense of a given geographic area and thus had no standardized organization. Five Air Divisions were constituted in the organized reserve in the interwar period. One division, designated as the “1st Air Division,” was organized provisionally for the 1931 Air Corps maneuvers that took place across the eastern united states, but was discontinued after only two weeks of active service. The actual 1st Air Division, constituted in 1921, demobilized in 1933, then another of the same designation immediately constituted. The new division was initiated in 1935 only for a short period, but never functioned as an actual headquarters.
During World War II, Air Divisions were an echelon between a Wing and a Numbered Air Force.
After World War II, Divisions evolved from Wings. Eventually in an effort to encourage rapid decision-making, and to create flat structures without intermediate levels, Hq USAF gradually inactivated or redesignated the Air Divisions.
Brigade
Not in current use. Brigades were used between the world wars. Brigades were composed of two or more wings plus additional air and ground assets as required for a specific mission. Air Brigades were generally mission or equipment specific such as bombardment, airship, balloon, and training or school brigades. Twelve Air Brigades were constituted or organized in the army during this period three in the regular Army and nine in the organized reserve. Two brigades (both designated “1st”) were active during various periods in the interwar period. The first was Billy Mitchell’s 1st Air Brigade that earned some notoriety for sinking obsolete battleships off the coast of Virginia in 1921. Several of the reserve brigades were initiated as well, but all were inactivated by 1933.
Wing
A wing is a level of command below the numbered Air Force or higher headquarters. A wing has a distinct mission and is usually composed of a primary mission group (e.g., operations, training) and the necessary supporting groups. By pulling together the mission and support elements, a wing provides a significant capability under a single commander. A wing may be either an operational wing, an air base wing, or a specialized mission wing. While the standard wing is organized for combat operations, its basic structure is applied to all types of wings (for instance, air base and special mission wings).
The standard wing generates and employs combat capability. One commander has the authority and responsibility to command the wing. The standard operational wing structure is a wing with four dependent groups (operations, maintenance, mission support, and medical) with related functions and disciplines aligned under the appropriate group. Generally, only the wing staff and the four group commanders report directly to the wing commander. The wing commander concentrates on the wing's primary mission and delegates authority to subordinates so they can accomplish their responsibilities. Responsibilities are clearly defined and duplication is avoided.
An Operational Wing is a wing that has an Operations Group and related operational mission activity assigned to it. When an Operational Wing performs the primary mission of the base, it usually maintains and operates the base. In addition, an operational wing is capable of self-support in functional areas like maintenance, supply, and munitions, as needed. When an operational wing is a tenant organization, the host command provides it with varying degrees of base and logistics support.
An Air Base Wing is a wing that performs a support rather than an operational mission. It maintains and operates a base. An air base wing sometimes provides functional support to a MAJCOM headquarters.
A specialized mission wing is a wing that performs a specialized mission and usually does not have aircraft or missiles assigned to it. For example, Intelligence Wing, Training Wing, and so on. This wing may be either a host wing or a tenant wing, depending on whether it maintains and operates the base.
The Army Air Service/Air Corps/Army Air Force Wings that existed before 1947 are not comparable with the modern Wings of the United States Air Force. In July 1918, the American Expeditionary Forces of the U.S. Army organized in France the 1st Pursuit Wing. Although this wing did not survive post-World War I demobilization, new Wings were created in the 1920s and 1930s. World War II Wings were very large administrative and operational organizations that usually controlled several combat groups and numerous service organizations, often located at widely scattered locations. Many of the World War II Wings were redesignated as Air Divisions after the war.
Modern Wings began their existence with a service test of combat Wings in 1947. These Wings were initially temporary table of distribution (t/d) organizations. In 1948, at the end of the service test, Hq USAF replaced these t/d Wings with permanent constituted combat Wings each having a Combat Group, an Air Base Group, a Maintenance and Supply Group, and a Medical Group.
In most cases, the numerical designation of the wing came from the Combat Group which preceded it and became an integral part of the post-World War II Wing. When the 14th Fighter Wing (later, 14th Flying Training Wing) came into existence, it received the "14th" numerical designation from the 14th Fighter Group which had already existed for a number of years and which became the Wing's combat component. At the same time, the other component establishments, and units of these establishments, also received the "14th" numerical designations, aligning each of them directly to the 14th Wing. The tactical squadrons of the Combat Group retained their separate and distinct numerical designations.
Group
A Group is a level of command between Wings and Squadrons. Groups generally bring together multiple squadrons or other lower echelon units to provide a broader capability. For instance, a Mission Support Group pulls together several squadrons in a variety of areas to provide a full spectrum mission support capability. A Group is generally a tactical echelon without significant staff support. A Group usually has two or more subordinate units.
A dependent group is a mission, maintenance, mission support, medical, or large functional unit (e.g., communications) that encompasses a number of related squadrons to provide the specified capability to a parent wing. Such groups may possess small supporting staff elements, such as standardization and evaluation or quality control that are organized as sections.
An independent group has the same functions and responsibilities as a like type wing but its scope and size do not warrant wing-level designation and associated overhead costs.
When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Gen John J. Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces soon developed a plan for the deployment of over two hundred combat squadrons to France. As these units entered combat, American airmen soon realized that they needed an intermediate organization between the squadrons and the command level. They looked to the British who had more experience in dealing with combat units and were already engaged in flying combat missions. By December 1917, after looking at British groups, the Americans decided to adopt the "group," making it the smallest self-contained tactical bombardment unit. The Americans had no expectation of bombing by squadron but by groups and perhaps combinations of groups depending on the target. By the end of 1918, the War Department had created one pursuit wing and fourteen service, fighter, bomber, or observation groups in France. After the war the US Army quickly demobilized most of its air arm, including the wing, all of the groups, and most of the squadrons. Almost immediately, however, the Army began to create new organizations for peacetime service, and the concept of the group survived, although in the 1920s and 1930s there were few groups in existence.
In January 1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to strengthen America's air power, which, the President said, was "utterly inadequate." On 1 September 1939, Germany attacked Poland, beginning the Second World War. In the months that followed, as Axis forces won one victory after another, the Army's air arm expanded rapidly. By the end of 1940 there were 33 groups. Within another year, that is, by the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered the war, the number of active groups had increased to 94. The air arm grew even more rapidly in the months following Pearl Harbor, and by the end of 1943 there were 395 groups.
Squadron
The squadron is the basic unit in the Air Force. Squadrons are the building block organizations in the Air Force, providing a specific operational or support capability. A squadron may be either a mission unit, such as an operational flying squadron, or a functional unit, such as a Civil Engineer, Security Forces, or Maintenance Squadron. A squadron has a substantive mission of its own that warrants organization as a separate unit based on factors like unity of command, functional grouping and administrative control, balanced with efficient use of resources. Squadrons vary in size according to responsibility.
Squadrons are broken down into flights. Through the years, squadrons have varied in size and composition according to specific needs.
The term squadron literally means a square (from the Latin quadrare, to square). In army application, squadron describes a body of troops drawn into a square or arranged in formal order. For more than four centuries, western armed forces have ordered personnel and equipment in organizations known as squadrons. In navies, a squadron was a group of vessels consisting of two or more divisions of a fleet. For armies, the cavalry squadron was the most common type and it consisted of two or more elements called troops.
Early in the twentieth century, military doctrine treated air operations as an extension of the cavalry--in effect a sky cavalry. For example, a January 1912 report to the French Chamber of Deputies argued that "the aeroplane should not replace the cavalry, even in reconnaissance work; its action should be auxiliary to that of [the cavalry] and complete it." Echoing this sentiment in 1913, Brig Gen George P. Scriven, Chief Signal Officer of the US Army, testified before Congress "the aeroplane is an adjunct to the cavalry." Even as late as 1920 a much celebrated US Army Air Service regulation seemed to reflect cavalry connections: "Pilots will not wear spurs while flying!"
When the time came to form tactical aviation organizations, most military planners simply adapted the cavalry squadron organization to their purposes. Like cavalry squadrons, the new aero squadrons were administrative and tactical units, which usually consisted of two or more elements. it is "the smallest administrative organization practically universally accepted for air units."
Initially, US aero squadrons consisted of two elements called companies. By the time the United States entered World War I, they contained two or more elements called flights. Through the years, squadrons have varied in size and composition according to specific needs.
Numbered/named flight
A numbered/named flight is the lowest level unit in the Air Force. A numbered or named flight primarily incorporates smaller elements into an organized unit that is established. Its administrative characteristics, such as strength reporting, are like those of a squadron.
Although smaller than a squadron, ithas many squadron characteristics. AFR 26-2 describes a numerically designated flight as "the lowest unit level in the Air Force and points out that it is used primarily to incorporate small elements into an organized unit. The Air Force Reserve, in particular, uses the flight echelon rather extensively
Numbered flights are units. Frequently mistaken for a unit, are unnumbered or alphabetically designated flights, such as Flight A, 26th Tactical Fighter Squadron, or Flight C, 56th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Such flights are organizational "shredouts” of a squadron and are not units in their own right. They are used simply to distinguish several elements of a squadron having identical missions.
AFR 26-2 defines an alphabetically designated flight as: part of a squadron (usually a flying squadron) made up of several elements with identical missions. Though it is the equivalent of a branch, it is not a unit, and therefore is not subject to strength reporting or other controls on organization.
Direct Reporting Unit (DRU)
A Direct Reporting Unit is a subdivision of the Air Force, directly subordinate to the Chief of Staff, US Air Force. A DRU performs a mission that does not fit into any of the MAJCOMs. A DRU has many of the same administrative and organizational responsibilities as a MAJCOM.
A Direct Reporting Unit also applies to a subdivision of a MAJCOM. A MAJCOM DRU reports directly to the MAJCOM commander and performs a mission that does not fit into any of the MAJCOMS's primary subordinate units.
Field Operating Agency (FOA)
A Field Operating Agency is a subdivision of the Air Force, directly subordinate to a headquarters US Air Force functional manager. A Field Operating Agency performs field activities beyond the scope of any of 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 Field Operating Agency also applies to a subdivision of a MAJCOM. A MAJCOM FOA reports directly to a MAJCOM functional manager and performs specialized field activities beyond the scope of any of the MAJCOM's primary subordinate units. The activities are specialized and are associated with MAJCOM or theater-wide missions that transcend the scope of routine wing functions.
Separate Operating Agency (SOA)
(Not in current use) Separate Operating Agencies were major subdivisions of the Air Force directly subordinate to Hq USAF and had all of the "procedural (administrative and logistical) responsibilities" of a Major Command. In 1991, most active Separate Operating Agencies changed in status to Direct Reporting Units or Field Operating Agencies.
Center
A Center is a named unit that performs a specialized mission. A primary characteristic is that it performs most of its mission within a large complex at one location; for example, Air Logistics Centers and Test Centers. Usually, it has only a few subordinate units.
Laboratory
A Laboratory is an organization that performs a research or advanced development mission.
Region
A Region is a term sometimes used when organization is geographic.
Nonunit
A nonunit is an organizational entity that is not constituted by Headquarters US Air Force as a unit.
Although the Air Force has establishments known as Divisions, a division within an establishment's headquarters, such as a personnel division, is not a unit; it is merely a part of the establishment headquarters. With other organizational entities in the Air Force, the distinction is sometimes less clear.
Named Activity
A named activity is one type of functional entity very often mistaken for a unit. A named activity is a segment or part of a unit, whose mission or purpose can be directly and more adequately identified by the assignment of a definitive name. A named activity is part of a unit whose mission can be identified better by assigning it a definitive name for example, the Civil Engineer and Services School is part of a unit, the Air Force Institute of Technology. Headquarters US Air Force is responsible for administrative control of named activities.
Detachment/Section/Crew/Unit
Before and during World War II, many types of constituted organizations used designations, such as Detachment, Section, Crew, and Unit, which are no longer used for Air Force controlled organizations. One of these, the Detachment, has had its name used since World War II in an entirely different manner.
Detachment (Det)
A Detachment is part of a unit that is separated geographically from its parent unit. Although not a unit for organizational purposes, a commissioned officer is assigned and appointed on orders as a commander.
Detachments are often mistaken for units because they have commanders and are subject to some of the same organizational actions applying to units, including designation, activation, assignment, and inactivation. Because modern Detachments are not units, they have no lineage, no continuing history, and no authorized official emblem. When a specific Detachment is discontinued or inactivated, the Detachment (and its history) is terminated even though a similarly designated Detachment may later be designated and manned.
Detachments are numbered in sequence, beginning with 1. A Detachment can be redesignated to another number within the same unit. The new number cannot duplicate a currently active Detachment number within that unit. The inactivation of a parent unit automatically inactivates its detachments. Any unit may have one or more Detachments, and some Air Force organizations operate primarily through Detachments. Very often, unit honors have been awarded to specific Detachments in recognition of outstanding performance or achievement by detachment personnel.
A MAJCOM may activate a Detachment for a function that is geographically separated from its parent unit. A detachment is activated to fill a need for command or supervision, or for other reasons, such as to facilitate unit movement. If there is a need for command authority, the senior officer on duty with a detachment is appointed on orders as detachment commander. Normally, a geographically separated organization is designated an Operating Location unless on-site command authority is required. Then, it is designated a Detachment.
All of these organizations were of the constituted-and-activated type, or what would now be called AFCON. The generic terms detachment, section, unit, and crew are no longer used with Air Force-controlled units.
One of these--the detachment--has had its generic name used since World War II in an entirely different manner. Modern detachments are frequently mistaken for units, when in fact they are merely a segment (usually three or more people) or part of a unit, usually stationed away from the physical location of the parent unit. Many detachments carry a number, such as Detachment 5, 9th Weather Squadron; other detachments may be unnumbered, such as Detachment, Headquarters, 10th Combat Support Group. Although not a unit, a detachment may be analogous to a unit under the Universal Code of Military Justice when a commissioned officer is appointed by orders as its "commander." Thus, modern detachments are often mistaken for units because they have designated commanders and are subject to the same organizational actions that apply to units, including designation, activation, assignment, and inactivation.
Organizations that operate primarily through detachments include those involved in communications, meteorology, aerial port, aerospace rescue and recovery, and tactical air control.
But because detachments are not units, they have no lineage, no continuing history, and no authorized official emblem. Whenever a specific detachment is discontinued or inactivated, the detachment and its history is terminated, even though a similarly designated detachment may later be designated and manned.
The USAF Historical Research Center sometimes lists detachments in the "components" section of its lineage and honors histories, provided the nature of the squadron is such that the detachments perform roost or all of the squadron's mission functions. Detachments may also be listed as components of establishment headquarters if they played an important ro1e in the establishment’s mission activities.
Operating Location (OL)
An Operating Location is part of a unit that is separated geographically from its parent unit. It is used to account for personnel by location. Personnel remain assigned to the parent unit. An Operating Location has none of the administrative attributes of a unit and does not have nonjudicial punishment authority under the UCMJ. An OL is not a location separated from an installation to which personnel are transported to and from work.
Air Force Element
An Air Force element is the nomenclature used to account for manpower authorizations and to identify Air Force personnel on duty with organizations outside the Air Force. Although not a unit for organizational purposes, an element may function as a unit if so designated and a commissioned officer eligible to command either assumes command or is appointed on orders as commander. The 11th wing commander exercises authority over Air Force elements not within such command or agency.
Squadron Sections
Squadron sections are also sometimes confused with units. For example, Headquarters Squadron Section, Medical Squadron Section, and Patient Squadron Section, although they may include squadron in their designation, are not units; like detachments, they are merely segments of units. A headquarters squadron section, for example, is a section of an establishment's headquarters unit.
Squadron sections command or administer the personnel assigned to the unit of which they are a segment. Any "commander" appointed to a squadron section has the same status as that of a detachment commander because he commands only a portion of a unit. Many establishments have squadron sections as part of their headquarters unit.
Squadron sections date to 18 July 1951, when AFL 20-5 required the discontinuance of the generic designation "headquarters and headquarters squadron." and substituted the designation "headquarters." This change, made to eliminate confusion over the "headquarters squadron portion of the designation. authorized all USAF organizations at group level and above to have a "headquarters squadron section" as an integral part of their headquarters.
Squadron sections are sometimes used in large functional squadrons to allow commanders to retain command control of functional elements without being overburdened with squadron administration.
A squadron section is a function responsible for the administrative control of all members assigned to a unit. A squadron section is created by appointing a squadron section commander on special orders. Squadron sections will be established with the office symbol “CCQ” and office title “orderly room”.
Air Force Elements
The Air Force element, another non-unit, made its debut late in 1976 and replaced certain USAF Special Activities Squadrons.The elements serve as carrying or holding components for personnel working in other established activities and are not designated or constituted as units.
An Air Force element does not have a commander. The senior officer of an element is responsible for seeing that all element personnel receive proper support; he also has some statutory command responsibilities, including courts martial jurisdiction.
Named Activities
A named activity is one type of functional entity very often mistaken for a unit. Actually, a named activity is a segment, or part, of a unit, whose mission or purpose can be directly and more adequately identified by the assignment of a definitive name.
The United States Air Force is comprised of establishments, units, and non-units.
An establishment is an organizational entity consisting of a headquarters unit and its subordinate units. The name of the establishment is in the name of the headquarters unit. For example, Air Mobility Command (AMC) is an establishment; Hq. AMC is its headquarters. Subordinate units are assigned to the establishment and not to the headquarters unit. This enables each unit within an establishment to have a separate identity. The fact that the headquarters unit controls the establishment places the other units subordinate to it. Personnel are assigned to a unit, not to an establishment.
The assignment of any establishment assigns all its components at the same time, unless otherwise specified. For example, when a wing is assigned to a Numbered Air Force (NAF), the command assignment of the wing's groups and squadrons is to the NAF. The separation of units by location does not affect their assignment to the establishment.
Lower-level establishments are assigned to higher-level ones; for example: groups to wings, wings to NAFs, NAFs to major commands (MAJCOMS), MAJCOMS to Hq USAF. This arrangement, units reporting to establishments, subordinate establishments to superior ones, sets up the chain of command, through which all control and accountability flow.
A group with subordinate squadrons is generally the lowest level establishment.
An establishment is automatically created when its headquarters unit is activated.
Inactivation of a headquarters unit automatically inactivates the establishment. Units assigned to the establishment automatically revert, unless otherwise directed, to the next higher level.
Unit
A unit is a military organization constituted by directives issued by HQ USAF. Units can be either a numbered squadron, flight or named organization.
A unit provides for an unbroken chain of command since military personnel must be assigned to a unit at all times. Normally, a unit having military members will have an officer designated as its commander. A civilian may lead a unit in approved circumstances, and provide supervision to military and civilian personnel in the unit.
Nonunit
A nonunit is an organizational entity that is not constituted by HQ USAF.
Air Force Controlled and Major Command Controlled organizations
All Air Force units and establishments are divided into two basic types: Air Force Controlled (AFCON) and Major Command Controlled (MAJCON).
Air Force-controlled (AFCON) establishments. The term AFCON applies to all those organizations under the direct control of Headquarters USAF for organizational actions. The Air Force reserved the numbers 1 through 999 for these permanent organizations, with the numbers 101 through 300 allotted to the Air National Guard.
In addition to the permanent AFCON wings, the USAF provided temporary organizations to be controlled by the major commands. The commands wanted a flexible organization at the lower echelons to permit rapid adjustments in manning that short-term requirements often dictated. Because the manning of permanent organizations was judged to be too rigid, in 1948 the Air Force created a new type of temporary organization. These major command-controlled organizations were identified as "MAJCON." Using four-digit numbers allotted to each command (for example, 3900-4399 for Strategic Air Command) by Headquarters USAF, the commands could create and end MAJCON organizations as needed. When a MAJCON organization was discontinued or inactivated, its life ended, never to be revived. The number of this organization could then be reused to designate another, entirely new MAJCON organization. Although the original intent was to provide major command flexibility in establishing and terminating short-lived, temporary organizations, some MAJCON organizations existed more than forty years.
United States Air Force echelons
The levels are in descending order and represent levels of assignment.
Headquarters United States Air Force
HQ USAF is the senior headquarters of the Air Force, consisting of two major entities: the secretariat (including the secretary of the Air Force and the secretary's principal staff), and the air staff, headed by the Chief of Staff.
Major Command (MAJCOMs)
The Air Force organizes, trains, and equips Air Forces through its MAJCOMs. Those forces are provided to combatant commands (unified commands) for employment. The organization of these MAJCOMs is based on combat, mobility, space, and special operations, plus the materiel support required for these operations. Major commands are directly subordinate to headquarters U.S. Air Force. MAJCOMs headquarters are management headquarters and thus have the full range of functional staff.
Numbered Air Force (NAF)
A Numbered Air Force is a level of command directly under a MAJCOMS. NAFs are tactical echelons that provide operational leadership and supervision. They are not management headquarters and do not have complete functional staffs. Many NAFs are responsible for MAJCOMs operations in a specific geographicregion or theater of operations. The operational focus of the NAFs ensures the readiness of assigned forces; prepares forces for deployment and employment; plans for bed-down of forces; and exercises operational control of assigned forces.
The NAFs consist of operational and support divisions reporting directly to a NAFs commander. These divisions are an integral part of the NAF structure and are not assigned forces. Assigned functions include safety, standardization and evaluation, staff judge advocate, and inspector general. The number of persons assigned to a NAFs headquarters varies from case to case.
During World War II, and for a short period thereafter, the Numbered Air Forces had the status now enjoyed by major commands, with each Air Force having its own subordinate commands—e.g., Fifth Air Force had the V Fighter Command, V Bomber Command, and Support Commands. Only very briefly, early in World War II, were Air Forces identified by an Arabic numeral (e.g., 1st Air Force). Beginning in 1942 the war department required Air Forces to be numbered in single series beginning with a spelled-out numeral (e.g., First Air Force).
Air Division
Not in current use. Prior to World War II, Air Divisions were composed of two or more air brigades. These commands were tailored for specific missions such as aerial defense of a given geographic area and thus had no standardized organization. Five Air Divisions were constituted in the organized reserve in the interwar period. One division, designated as the “1st Air Division,” was organized provisionally for the 1931 Air Corps maneuvers that took place across the eastern united states, but was discontinued after only two weeks of active service. The actual 1st Air Division, constituted in 1921, demobilized in 1933, then another of the same designation immediately constituted. The new division was initiated in 1935 only for a short period, but never functioned as an actual headquarters.
During World War II, Air Divisions were an echelon between a Wing and a Numbered Air Force.
After World War II, Divisions evolved from Wings. Eventually in an effort to encourage rapid decision-making, and to create flat structures without intermediate levels, Hq USAF gradually inactivated or redesignated the Air Divisions.
Brigade
Not in current use. Brigades were used between the world wars. Brigades were composed of two or more wings plus additional air and ground assets as required for a specific mission. Air Brigades were generally mission or equipment specific such as bombardment, airship, balloon, and training or school brigades. Twelve Air Brigades were constituted or organized in the army during this period three in the regular Army and nine in the organized reserve. Two brigades (both designated “1st”) were active during various periods in the interwar period. The first was Billy Mitchell’s 1st Air Brigade that earned some notoriety for sinking obsolete battleships off the coast of Virginia in 1921. Several of the reserve brigades were initiated as well, but all were inactivated by 1933.
Wing
A wing is a level of command below the numbered Air Force or higher headquarters. A wing has a distinct mission and is usually composed of a primary mission group (e.g., operations, training) and the necessary supporting groups. By pulling together the mission and support elements, a wing provides a significant capability under a single commander. A wing may be either an operational wing, an air base wing, or a specialized mission wing. While the standard wing is organized for combat operations, its basic structure is applied to all types of wings (for instance, air base and special mission wings).
The standard wing generates and employs combat capability. One commander has the authority and responsibility to command the wing. The standard operational wing structure is a wing with four dependent groups (operations, maintenance, mission support, and medical) with related functions and disciplines aligned under the appropriate group. Generally, only the wing staff and the four group commanders report directly to the wing commander. The wing commander concentrates on the wing's primary mission and delegates authority to subordinates so they can accomplish their responsibilities. Responsibilities are clearly defined and duplication is avoided.
An Operational Wing is a wing that has an Operations Group and related operational mission activity assigned to it. When an Operational Wing performs the primary mission of the base, it usually maintains and operates the base. In addition, an operational wing is capable of self-support in functional areas like maintenance, supply, and munitions, as needed. When an operational wing is a tenant organization, the host command provides it with varying degrees of base and logistics support.
An Air Base Wing is a wing that performs a support rather than an operational mission. It maintains and operates a base. An air base wing sometimes provides functional support to a MAJCOM headquarters.
A specialized mission wing is a wing that performs a specialized mission and usually does not have aircraft or missiles assigned to it. For example, Intelligence Wing, Training Wing, and so on. This wing may be either a host wing or a tenant wing, depending on whether it maintains and operates the base.
The Army Air Service/Air Corps/Army Air Force Wings that existed before 1947 are not comparable with the modern Wings of the United States Air Force. In July 1918, the American Expeditionary Forces of the U.S. Army organized in France the 1st Pursuit Wing. Although this wing did not survive post-World War I demobilization, new Wings were created in the 1920s and 1930s. World War II Wings were very large administrative and operational organizations that usually controlled several combat groups and numerous service organizations, often located at widely scattered locations. Many of the World War II Wings were redesignated as Air Divisions after the war.
Modern Wings began their existence with a service test of combat Wings in 1947. These Wings were initially temporary table of distribution (t/d) organizations. In 1948, at the end of the service test, Hq USAF replaced these t/d Wings with permanent constituted combat Wings each having a Combat Group, an Air Base Group, a Maintenance and Supply Group, and a Medical Group.
In most cases, the numerical designation of the wing came from the Combat Group which preceded it and became an integral part of the post-World War II Wing. When the 14th Fighter Wing (later, 14th Flying Training Wing) came into existence, it received the "14th" numerical designation from the 14th Fighter Group which had already existed for a number of years and which became the Wing's combat component. At the same time, the other component establishments, and units of these establishments, also received the "14th" numerical designations, aligning each of them directly to the 14th Wing. The tactical squadrons of the Combat Group retained their separate and distinct numerical designations.
Group
A Group is a level of command between Wings and Squadrons. Groups generally bring together multiple squadrons or other lower echelon units to provide a broader capability. For instance, a Mission Support Group pulls together several squadrons in a variety of areas to provide a full spectrum mission support capability. A Group is generally a tactical echelon without significant staff support. A Group usually has two or more subordinate units.
A dependent group is a mission, maintenance, mission support, medical, or large functional unit (e.g., communications) that encompasses a number of related squadrons to provide the specified capability to a parent wing. Such groups may possess small supporting staff elements, such as standardization and evaluation or quality control that are organized as sections.
An independent group has the same functions and responsibilities as a like type wing but its scope and size do not warrant wing-level designation and associated overhead costs.
When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Gen John J. Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces soon developed a plan for the deployment of over two hundred combat squadrons to France. As these units entered combat, American airmen soon realized that they needed an intermediate organization between the squadrons and the command level. They looked to the British who had more experience in dealing with combat units and were already engaged in flying combat missions. By December 1917, after looking at British groups, the Americans decided to adopt the "group," making it the smallest self-contained tactical bombardment unit. The Americans had no expectation of bombing by squadron but by groups and perhaps combinations of groups depending on the target. By the end of 1918, the War Department had created one pursuit wing and fourteen service, fighter, bomber, or observation groups in France. After the war the US Army quickly demobilized most of its air arm, including the wing, all of the groups, and most of the squadrons. Almost immediately, however, the Army began to create new organizations for peacetime service, and the concept of the group survived, although in the 1920s and 1930s there were few groups in existence.
In January 1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to strengthen America's air power, which, the President said, was "utterly inadequate." On 1 September 1939, Germany attacked Poland, beginning the Second World War. In the months that followed, as Axis forces won one victory after another, the Army's air arm expanded rapidly. By the end of 1940 there were 33 groups. Within another year, that is, by the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered the war, the number of active groups had increased to 94. The air arm grew even more rapidly in the months following Pearl Harbor, and by the end of 1943 there were 395 groups.
Squadron
The squadron is the basic unit in the Air Force. Squadrons are the building block organizations in the Air Force, providing a specific operational or support capability. A squadron may be either a mission unit, such as an operational flying squadron, or a functional unit, such as a Civil Engineer, Security Forces, or Maintenance Squadron. A squadron has a substantive mission of its own that warrants organization as a separate unit based on factors like unity of command, functional grouping and administrative control, balanced with efficient use of resources. Squadrons vary in size according to responsibility.
Squadrons are broken down into flights. Through the years, squadrons have varied in size and composition according to specific needs.
The term squadron literally means a square (from the Latin quadrare, to square). In army application, squadron describes a body of troops drawn into a square or arranged in formal order. For more than four centuries, western armed forces have ordered personnel and equipment in organizations known as squadrons. In navies, a squadron was a group of vessels consisting of two or more divisions of a fleet. For armies, the cavalry squadron was the most common type and it consisted of two or more elements called troops.
Early in the twentieth century, military doctrine treated air operations as an extension of the cavalry--in effect a sky cavalry. For example, a January 1912 report to the French Chamber of Deputies argued that "the aeroplane should not replace the cavalry, even in reconnaissance work; its action should be auxiliary to that of [the cavalry] and complete it." Echoing this sentiment in 1913, Brig Gen George P. Scriven, Chief Signal Officer of the US Army, testified before Congress "the aeroplane is an adjunct to the cavalry." Even as late as 1920 a much celebrated US Army Air Service regulation seemed to reflect cavalry connections: "Pilots will not wear spurs while flying!"
When the time came to form tactical aviation organizations, most military planners simply adapted the cavalry squadron organization to their purposes. Like cavalry squadrons, the new aero squadrons were administrative and tactical units, which usually consisted of two or more elements. it is "the smallest administrative organization practically universally accepted for air units."
Initially, US aero squadrons consisted of two elements called companies. By the time the United States entered World War I, they contained two or more elements called flights. Through the years, squadrons have varied in size and composition according to specific needs.
Numbered/named flight
A numbered/named flight is the lowest level unit in the Air Force. A numbered or named flight primarily incorporates smaller elements into an organized unit that is established. Its administrative characteristics, such as strength reporting, are like those of a squadron.
Although smaller than a squadron, ithas many squadron characteristics. AFR 26-2 describes a numerically designated flight as "the lowest unit level in the Air Force and points out that it is used primarily to incorporate small elements into an organized unit. The Air Force Reserve, in particular, uses the flight echelon rather extensively
Numbered flights are units. Frequently mistaken for a unit, are unnumbered or alphabetically designated flights, such as Flight A, 26th Tactical Fighter Squadron, or Flight C, 56th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Such flights are organizational "shredouts” of a squadron and are not units in their own right. They are used simply to distinguish several elements of a squadron having identical missions.
AFR 26-2 defines an alphabetically designated flight as: part of a squadron (usually a flying squadron) made up of several elements with identical missions. Though it is the equivalent of a branch, it is not a unit, and therefore is not subject to strength reporting or other controls on organization.
Direct Reporting Unit (DRU)
A Direct Reporting Unit is a subdivision of the Air Force, directly subordinate to the Chief of Staff, US Air Force. A DRU performs a mission that does not fit into any of the MAJCOMs. A DRU has many of the same administrative and organizational responsibilities as a MAJCOM.
A Direct Reporting Unit also applies to a subdivision of a MAJCOM. A MAJCOM DRU reports directly to the MAJCOM commander and performs a mission that does not fit into any of the MAJCOMS's primary subordinate units.
Field Operating Agency (FOA)
A Field Operating Agency is a subdivision of the Air Force, directly subordinate to a headquarters US Air Force functional manager. A Field Operating Agency performs field activities beyond the scope of any of 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 Field Operating Agency also applies to a subdivision of a MAJCOM. A MAJCOM FOA reports directly to a MAJCOM functional manager and performs specialized field activities beyond the scope of any of the MAJCOM's primary subordinate units. The activities are specialized and are associated with MAJCOM or theater-wide missions that transcend the scope of routine wing functions.
Separate Operating Agency (SOA)
(Not in current use) Separate Operating Agencies were major subdivisions of the Air Force directly subordinate to Hq USAF and had all of the "procedural (administrative and logistical) responsibilities" of a Major Command. In 1991, most active Separate Operating Agencies changed in status to Direct Reporting Units or Field Operating Agencies.
Center
A Center is a named unit that performs a specialized mission. A primary characteristic is that it performs most of its mission within a large complex at one location; for example, Air Logistics Centers and Test Centers. Usually, it has only a few subordinate units.
Laboratory
A Laboratory is an organization that performs a research or advanced development mission.
Region
A Region is a term sometimes used when organization is geographic.
Nonunit
A nonunit is an organizational entity that is not constituted by Headquarters US Air Force as a unit.
Although the Air Force has establishments known as Divisions, a division within an establishment's headquarters, such as a personnel division, is not a unit; it is merely a part of the establishment headquarters. With other organizational entities in the Air Force, the distinction is sometimes less clear.
Named Activity
A named activity is one type of functional entity very often mistaken for a unit. A named activity is a segment or part of a unit, whose mission or purpose can be directly and more adequately identified by the assignment of a definitive name. A named activity is part of a unit whose mission can be identified better by assigning it a definitive name for example, the Civil Engineer and Services School is part of a unit, the Air Force Institute of Technology. Headquarters US Air Force is responsible for administrative control of named activities.
Detachment/Section/Crew/Unit
Before and during World War II, many types of constituted organizations used designations, such as Detachment, Section, Crew, and Unit, which are no longer used for Air Force controlled organizations. One of these, the Detachment, has had its name used since World War II in an entirely different manner.
Detachment (Det)
A Detachment is part of a unit that is separated geographically from its parent unit. Although not a unit for organizational purposes, a commissioned officer is assigned and appointed on orders as a commander.
Detachments are often mistaken for units because they have commanders and are subject to some of the same organizational actions applying to units, including designation, activation, assignment, and inactivation. Because modern Detachments are not units, they have no lineage, no continuing history, and no authorized official emblem. When a specific Detachment is discontinued or inactivated, the Detachment (and its history) is terminated even though a similarly designated Detachment may later be designated and manned.
Detachments are numbered in sequence, beginning with 1. A Detachment can be redesignated to another number within the same unit. The new number cannot duplicate a currently active Detachment number within that unit. The inactivation of a parent unit automatically inactivates its detachments. Any unit may have one or more Detachments, and some Air Force organizations operate primarily through Detachments. Very often, unit honors have been awarded to specific Detachments in recognition of outstanding performance or achievement by detachment personnel.
A MAJCOM may activate a Detachment for a function that is geographically separated from its parent unit. A detachment is activated to fill a need for command or supervision, or for other reasons, such as to facilitate unit movement. If there is a need for command authority, the senior officer on duty with a detachment is appointed on orders as detachment commander. Normally, a geographically separated organization is designated an Operating Location unless on-site command authority is required. Then, it is designated a Detachment.
All of these organizations were of the constituted-and-activated type, or what would now be called AFCON. The generic terms detachment, section, unit, and crew are no longer used with Air Force-controlled units.
One of these--the detachment--has had its generic name used since World War II in an entirely different manner. Modern detachments are frequently mistaken for units, when in fact they are merely a segment (usually three or more people) or part of a unit, usually stationed away from the physical location of the parent unit. Many detachments carry a number, such as Detachment 5, 9th Weather Squadron; other detachments may be unnumbered, such as Detachment, Headquarters, 10th Combat Support Group. Although not a unit, a detachment may be analogous to a unit under the Universal Code of Military Justice when a commissioned officer is appointed by orders as its "commander." Thus, modern detachments are often mistaken for units because they have designated commanders and are subject to the same organizational actions that apply to units, including designation, activation, assignment, and inactivation.
Organizations that operate primarily through detachments include those involved in communications, meteorology, aerial port, aerospace rescue and recovery, and tactical air control.
But because detachments are not units, they have no lineage, no continuing history, and no authorized official emblem. Whenever a specific detachment is discontinued or inactivated, the detachment and its history is terminated, even though a similarly designated detachment may later be designated and manned.
The USAF Historical Research Center sometimes lists detachments in the "components" section of its lineage and honors histories, provided the nature of the squadron is such that the detachments perform roost or all of the squadron's mission functions. Detachments may also be listed as components of establishment headquarters if they played an important ro1e in the establishment’s mission activities.
Operating Location (OL)
An Operating Location is part of a unit that is separated geographically from its parent unit. It is used to account for personnel by location. Personnel remain assigned to the parent unit. An Operating Location has none of the administrative attributes of a unit and does not have nonjudicial punishment authority under the UCMJ. An OL is not a location separated from an installation to which personnel are transported to and from work.
Air Force Element
An Air Force element is the nomenclature used to account for manpower authorizations and to identify Air Force personnel on duty with organizations outside the Air Force. Although not a unit for organizational purposes, an element may function as a unit if so designated and a commissioned officer eligible to command either assumes command or is appointed on orders as commander. The 11th wing commander exercises authority over Air Force elements not within such command or agency.
Squadron Sections
Squadron sections are also sometimes confused with units. For example, Headquarters Squadron Section, Medical Squadron Section, and Patient Squadron Section, although they may include squadron in their designation, are not units; like detachments, they are merely segments of units. A headquarters squadron section, for example, is a section of an establishment's headquarters unit.
Squadron sections command or administer the personnel assigned to the unit of which they are a segment. Any "commander" appointed to a squadron section has the same status as that of a detachment commander because he commands only a portion of a unit. Many establishments have squadron sections as part of their headquarters unit.
Squadron sections date to 18 July 1951, when AFL 20-5 required the discontinuance of the generic designation "headquarters and headquarters squadron." and substituted the designation "headquarters." This change, made to eliminate confusion over the "headquarters squadron portion of the designation. authorized all USAF organizations at group level and above to have a "headquarters squadron section" as an integral part of their headquarters.
Squadron sections are sometimes used in large functional squadrons to allow commanders to retain command control of functional elements without being overburdened with squadron administration.
A squadron section is a function responsible for the administrative control of all members assigned to a unit. A squadron section is created by appointing a squadron section commander on special orders. Squadron sections will be established with the office symbol “CCQ” and office title “orderly room”.
Air Force Elements
The Air Force element, another non-unit, made its debut late in 1976 and replaced certain USAF Special Activities Squadrons.The elements serve as carrying or holding components for personnel working in other established activities and are not designated or constituted as units.
An Air Force element does not have a commander. The senior officer of an element is responsible for seeing that all element personnel receive proper support; he also has some statutory command responsibilities, including courts martial jurisdiction.
Named Activities
A named activity is one type of functional entity very often mistaken for a unit. Actually, a named activity is a segment, or part, of a unit, whose mission or purpose can be directly and more adequately identified by the assignment of a definitive name.