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.
Aircraft attack
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
Lockheed AC-130
Aircraft fighter
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
Battle
1986 United States bombing of Libya
1995 NATO bombing campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Gulf War
Invasion of Grenada
Iraq War
Korean War
NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
Operation Eagle Claw
Operation Odyssey Dawn
Somali Civil War
United States invasion of Panama
Vietnam War
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Colour
Gold (color)
Ultramarine
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Ultramarine Blue and Air Force Yellow
Commander
Michael B. Donley
Identification symbol
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Military unit size
$140 billion budget
106,700 air guard personnel
185,522 civilian personnel
332,854 active personnel
450 ICBMs
5,484 aircraft
63 satellites
71,400 reserve personnel
Motto
"Aim High ... Fly-Fight-Win
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