United States Air Force facts for kids
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the part of the U.S. military that flies planes and spacecraft. It is one of seven uniformed services in the country. Before September 18, 1947, the Air Force was part of the United States Army.
Today, the USAF is the biggest and most advanced air force in the world. It has thousands of aircraft, including bombers, fighter aircraft, and transport planes. It also has hundreds of Intercontinental ballistic missiles. Hundreds of thousands of people serve in the Air Force, either full-time or in the Reserves and United States National Guard.
Contents
Air Force Uniforms
The first official uniform for the Air Force in 1947 was a special blue color. The uniform worn today, chosen in 1994, is a darker blue. It includes a coat with three buttons, matching pants, and a cap.
Airmen wear a light blue shirt with a dark blue tie. On the coat collar, enlisted airmen wear silver "U.S." pins with a silver ring. Officers wear metal rank pins on their coat shoulders.
The Airman Combat Uniform (ACU) is the uniform worn for combat and daily work. It has a special camouflage pattern called OCP. This uniform replaced the older ABU on October 1, 2018.
Awards and Badges
The Air Force uses different badges to show what job someone has or what skills they have learned. Badges can also be given as awards for good work or long service. Some badges have been stopped over time and are no longer given out.
Training to Join the Air Force
All new enlisted Airmen go through Basic Military Training (BMT). This training lasts about 7 and a half weeks. It takes place at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
People who have served in other parts of the military for more than two years can join the Air Force. They attend a shorter 10-day course instead of the full BMT. However, there are not many chances for people with prior service to join.
Officers can join the Air Force in a few ways:
- Graduating from the United States Air Force Academy.
- Graduating from another college through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program.
- Through the Air Force Officer Training School (OTS).
OTS is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. It has two main programs. One is for officers joining the Regular Air Force and Air Force Reserve. The other is for officers joining the Air National Guard.
The Air Force also has a program called Commissioned Officer Training (COT). This is for people who become officers directly, like doctors, lawyers, or religious leaders. COT is part of the OTS program. It includes classes and outdoor exercises to teach leadership, confidence, and fitness.
Air Force Fitness Test
The U.S. Air Force Fitness Test (AFFT) checks how fit Airmen are. It measures their waist size, muscle strength, and how well their heart and lungs work. This test is part of the Fit to Fight program. A new, stricter fitness program started on June 1, 2010.
The test has four parts:
- Waist measurement
- Sit-ups
- Push-ups
- A 1.5-mile run
Airmen can get up to 100 points. The run is worth 60% of the score. Waist size is worth 20%, and sit-ups and push-ups are each worth 10%. To pass, an Airman needs at least 75 points.
Since July 1, 2010, the test is given twice a year. If an Airman scores over 90%, they only need to test once a year. It's important to pass all parts of the test. Failing even one part means failing the whole test.
Air Force Aircraft
As of June 2021, the U.S. Air Force has 5,217 aircraft. About 4,131 of these are actively used. Before 1962, the Army and Air Force had one way to name planes, and the U.S. Navy had another. In 1962, they all started using one system. You can learn more about how planes are named by looking up United States military aircraft designation systems.
Images for kids
-
Pararescuemen and a simulated "survivor" watch as an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter comes in for a landing.
-
The first F-35 Lightning II of the 33rd Fighter Wing arriving at Eglin AFB.
-
An Air Force RQ-4 strategic reconnaissance aircraft.
-
An Air Force KC-46 Pegasus refuels a C-17A Globemaster III.
-
An Air Force A-10 demonstrating close air support at Nellis AFB.
-
Test launch of a LGM-30 Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile from Vandenberg AFB.
-
Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base.
-
Roundels that have appeared on U.S. military aircraft: 1.) 5/1917–2/1918 2.) 2/1918–8/1919 3.) 8/1919–5/1942 4.) 5/1942–6/1943 5.) 6/1943–9/1943 6.) 9/1943–1/1947 7.) 1/1947–
-
The SR-71 Blackbird was a Cold War spy plane.
-
A row of Douglas C-54 Skymasters during the Berlin Airlift in 1949.
-
Organization of the United States Air Force within the Department of Defense.
-
USAF Airmen training at Lackland AFB.
-
A C-17 Globemaster III, the USAF's newest and most versatile transport plane.
-
E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system.
-
F-22 Raptor stealth air superiority fighter.
-
KC-10 Extender tri-jet air-to-air tanker.
-
An MC-12W Liberty at Beale AFB.
-
MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle.
-
Lockheed U-2 spy plane.
-
RQ-170 Sentinel stealth unmanned aerial vehicle reconnaissance aircraft.
-
A WC-130J Hercules from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron.
-
An unarmed Minuteman III ICBM shoots out of the silo during an operational test launch.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Fuerza Aérea de los Estados Unidos para niños
