Week 5: US Air Force

I. Mission: outlined in their “Vision for the 21^st Century” – “Global Engagement” describes their vision for the future

A. Vision – The USAF builds the world’s most respected air and space force … global power and reach for America

B. Core Values

1. Integrity first

2. Service before self

3. Excellence in all we do

II. History

A. 18 Sept ’47 – Truman signs National Security Act of 1947

1. Army Air Corps became the Air Force

2. Officers Billy Mitchell and Jimmy Doolittle convinced Truman the separate USAF was necessary

3. Air Force created from a need for military air power, speed, range, and flexibility

B. Berlin Airlift – 1^st major triumph

1. Broke Soviet blockade of Berlin in 1948

2. Korea – first theater in which USAF flew jets (including F-86 Sabre)

3. 1960s – 1970s – time of great development in USAF

a. 60s: ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles)

b. 70s: new jets: A-10 Thunderbolt, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Falcon, E-3 Sentry

4. Laos – 9 Nov 1967

a. F-4 dropped ordinance which blew up right after release, killing the pilot and severely injuring the RIO (Radar Intercept Officer)

b. RIO Capt. Lance Sijan, USAF (USAFA grad) taken prisoner

· Tried to escape, but eventually killed; became 1^st USAFA graduate to be awarded the Medal of Honor

5. USAF Operations from 1980s on:

1) Grenada ‘83

2) Libya ‘86

3) Panama ‘89

4) Operation Desert Storm (early 90s)

Humanitarian Operations:

5) Operation Restore Hope (Somalia)

6) Support Hope (Rwanda)*

(the pro book says Restore Hope, which is wrong)

7) Uphold Democracy (Haiti)

8) Provide Promise/Deny Flight (Balkans)

III. Core Competencies

1. Air and Space Superiority – control what moves through air and space; assures our freedom of movement

2. Global Attack – ability to rapidly attack anywhere

3. Rapid Global Mobility – provides the nation with rapid global reach capability through the concept of Air Expeditionary Forces (AEF)

4. Information Superiority – allow Joint Teams to dominate battlefield awareness through USAF’s ability to provide global awareness, intelligence, communications, weather, and navigation support

5. Precision Engagement – capability to apply force against specific targets; maximizes desired results, minimizes collateral damage

6. Agile Combat Support – flexible USAF combat support operations improve responsiveness and force sustainability

IV. Major Air Commands

1) Air Combat Command – Langley AFB, VA

2) Air Education and Training Command – Randolph AFB, TX

3) Air Force Material Command – Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

4) Air Force Space Command – Peterson AFB, CO

5) Air Force Special Operations Command – Hurlburt Field, FL

6) Air Mobility Command – Scott AFB, IL

7) Pacific Air Forces – Hickam AFK, HI

8) US Air Forces in Europe – Ramstein AB, Germany

V. USAFA – Colorado Springs, CO

A. Mission (not italicized!) – To inspire and develop young outstanding young men and women to become Air Force Officers with knowledge, character, and discipline motivated to lead the world’s greatest aerospace force in service to the nation.

B. First Graduating Class – 306 Cadets reported 11 July 1955

1. Air Training Officers acted as their upperclass

2. 207 Cadets graduates and were commissioned in June 1959

C. Before 1959, 1/3 of all USNA and USMA classes were commissioned into the Air Force

VI. Major General Bolden, USNA ‘68

A. Went USMC Pilot and flew over 100 combat missions in Vietnam in the A-6A Intruder

B. June ’79 – graduates from test pilot school

C. 1980 – selected as astronaut by NASA

D. Did 4 Shuttle Missions; the final one in 1994 on the first ever joint US / Russian space mission (logs 680 hours in space)

E. Deputy Commandant, USNA in 1994

F. Currently is Commanding General of 3^rd Marine Air Wing

VII. Political Significance of the Arab World and Israel – read it over; look over last year’s test or wait for the review to know what to study for this

Platforms

Platforms	F-15C Eagle	F-15E Strike Eagle	F-16 Fighting Falcon	F-117A Nighthawk
Mission	Tactical fighter	Dual-role fighter	Multirole fighter	Stealth fighter / attack
Weapons	M-61A1 20mm multibarrel gun, 940 rounds 8 x Weapon Stations for: Air-to-air missiles	500 rounds in M-61A1 4 x Weapon Stations for: Air-to-air missiles Air-to-surface munitions	500 rounds in M-61A1 6 x Weapon Stations for: Air-to-air missiles Air-to-surface munitions Electronic countermeasure pods	2 x Internal Weapon Stations for air-to-surface munitions
Crew	1 (Pilot)	2 (Pilot + Weapon Systems Officer)	C: 1 D: 1 or 2	1 (Pilot)
Speed	1,875 mph	1,875 mph	1,500 mph	High subsonic
Visual ID			Note: Single engine
Platforms	B-1B Lancer	B-2 Spirit	B-52 Stratofortress	F-35 JSF (USAF version)
Mission	multi-role, long-range heavy bomber	Multi-role heavy bomber	Heavy bomber	Strike fighter
Weapons	134,000lbs *	40,000lbs *	70,000lbs *	17,000lbs payload
Crew	4 (Commander, Pilot, and Offensive and Defensive Systems Officers)	2 Pilots	5 (Commander, Pilot, Radar Navigator, Navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer)	1 (Pilot)
Speed	900 mph	High subsonic	650mph	Supersonic
Visual ID		Just for your info: $2.1 billion each (affordable fighters like the F-16 cost only 1% of that each)		Note: Single Engine, wing shape

*payload of air-to-surface munitions or nuclear bombs Information from www.fas.org and www.af.mil

AMRAAM - advanced medium-range air-to-air missile GBU = Guided Bomb Unit CBU = Cluster Bomb Unit

IMPORTANT: For each airplane’s armament, you only need to know the gun (if any) and the payload size (pounds) – NOT every possible missile etc (there would be over 30). I checked this with 3/C Greenwell. Only the information listed above is the information we are required to know for the pro quiz.