US Air Force USAF Green Patch

The United States Air Force (commonly used abbreviations: US Air Force, US Air Force, Air Force, USAF) is the air force of the United States of America, an integral part of the United States Armed Forces.

It is the branch of the US military administration that deals with air warfare, space warfare, and cyberwarfare. The USAF is one of the seven uniformed services and was established as a separate and independent armed force from the Army on September 18, 1947. It is currently the largest air force in the world, with over 9,000 aircraft in service, bases spread across the globe, and approximately 352,000 men and women on active duty.

The overall performance provided by the USAF in 2009 was officially designated by three descriptions: Global Vigilance, Global Reach, and Global Power, with 5,573 manned aircraft in service (3,990 USAF; 1,213 Air National Guard; and 370 Air Force Reserve); approximately 180 unmanned aerial vehicles, 2,130 air-launched cruise missiles, and 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The USAF has 327,452 active-duty personnel, 115,299 in the Air Force Reserve Command, and 106,700 in the Air National Guard (as of September 2008). Additionally, the USAF employs 171,313 civilian personnel and has 57,000 auxiliary personnel in the Civil Air Patrol.