Posted on Jan 21, 2016
MAJ Program Technician
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In the Army there is Combat Arms, Combat support, and Combat Service Support. Within the first there is the Infantry, Armor, FA, and the second is MP, Engineer, Chemical, etc. Is there a similar structure in the Air Force, or is it completely different?
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Lt Col Aerospace Planner
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Edited 9 y ago
The Air Force has similar structure system in place. We don't have obviously a branch brass like the Army. We divide our AFSC's into specific categories. These are more generic in nature, with the exception of the staff corps, MD's, Nurses, and JAG for example.

We branch our AFSC's designations by the mission groups.


Operations, which include Pilots, Navigators, Air Battle Managers, Space and Missiles, Intel, Combat Rescue and General Ops.
Acquisitions, which includes, Finance Managers, Contract officers, Program Managers, Scientists and Engineers.
Ops and Acquisitions are a few examples of our structure. We have Communications, Logistics, Maintenance, Medical Service, Legal as some other examples. Each has a sub category.

I was originally a KC-135 pilot. I had an AFSC designation of 11M3F. Which is One One M Three F. To break down my AFSC. I get the first One for Operations. The second One is for Pilot. The M is for mobility platform such as C-130, KC-135, C-17 and C-5. The Three is for Aircraft commander, copilots have a two and Instructors get a four in that spot.. And the F describes the plane I flew, the KC-135.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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I thought what you'd asked of interest and thought I might offer some ideas you might possibly and or hopefully find of interest generally one thing I kind of think those in one service often likely don't take sufficient advantage of quite often is doing extension coursework from the other services I just as out of interest e.g. did the usmc command and staff nonresident program while USAF though i had almost gone army before that through an ROTC unit in Brooklyn that no longer exists also my brother did kings point and our dad had been navy my uncle army and Eisenhower actually recalled him at one point with my wife's dad having gotten a bronze for leading a minefield charge at the Moselle river at the battle of nancy in France right behind the 9th army group that took the remagen bridge so my brother and I were fairly well steeped in pretty much all of it I was also involved a little in civil air patrol and tried to help with jrotc units while in just out of interest CAP is actually an excellent program as is USCG Auxiliary and I actually think you might find considerable encouragement to participate in such things also look at the naval war college extension program that's pretty advanced grad level though well worth it on economics geopolitics and the like I had won an award on military history while ROTC for a paper on war gaming one of my commanders was also really enthusiastic on international programs for serving with allied countries which he'd said he'd done at one point which he always said gave him invaluable perspective hope you found that of at least some use would love to chat more if care to explain more of your interests all that was back in 79 though I think the same philosophy ought to still be just as basically valid hopefully
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MAJ Program Technician
MAJ (Join to see)
9 y
Thank you sir, I would be interested in CAP or USCG Aux. I had USMC peers in MP school, and I worked with some Coasties in Afghanistan, but I haven't worked much with the Navy or AF. I also had the privilege of participating in the Military Reserve Exchange Program with the German Army (Bundeswher) in September and I definitely learned a lot.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
9 y
I follow will try to send more soon the German program must have been really neat
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
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Capt Brandon Charters built the entire USAF org structure for RP, so he should be able to answer this, lol. :)
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Capt Brandon Charters
Capt Brandon Charters
9 y
CPT Aaron Kletzing - Thanks Aaron. When you and Yinon told me you wanted the entire DoD unit structure in one spreadsheet, I thought you were kidding. I was happy to support from the USAF end and it's still pretty awesome to see it all come to life in member profiles.
MAJ (Join to see) Great question. TSgt Dan Sawn and Lt Col (Join to see) nailed this answer.

The flow of our primary unit structure goes: MAJCOM, Numbered Air Force, Wing, Groups, Squadrons, and Flights. Most Wings will have an Ops Group, Mission Support Group, Medical Group, and Maintenance Group. Each have their specific functional squadrons and flights falling below it. These are supported by various AFSCs that specialize in their Squadron's focus. I wish I had cool chart to show like you have. Hope these great examples above from Troy and Dan help explain things a little more.
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Capt Brandon Charters
Capt Brandon Charters
9 y
MAJ (Join to see) Also a good place to check out this structure is in the interactive RPU: https://www.rallypoint.com/universe
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