Editing United States Air Force (section)

== Personnel ==
The classification of any USAF job for officers or enlisted airmen is the [[Air Force Specialty Code]] (AFSC).

AFSCs range from officer specialties such as pilot, [[combat systems officer]], [[United States Air Force Special Tactics Officer|special tactics]], nuclear and missile operations, intelligence, cyberspace operations, judge advocate general (JAG), medical doctor, nurse or other fields, to various enlisted specialties. The latter range from flight combat operations such as loadmaster, to working in a dining facility to ensure that Airmen are properly fed. There are additional occupational fields such as computer specialties, mechanic specialties, [[Aircrew Badge#Air Force|enlisted aircrew]], communication systems, cyberspace operations, avionics technicians, medical specialties, civil engineering, public affairs, hospitality, law, drug counseling, mail operations, [[Air Force Security Forces|security forces]], and search and rescue specialties.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2008 |title=Air Force Specialty Code Information |url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/publications/afsc_info.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909211302/http://www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/publications/afsc_info.pdf |archive-date=9 September 2008 |publisher=United States Air Force}}</ref>

Beyond combat flight crew personnel, other combat USAF AFSCs are [[Special Tactics Officer]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airforce.com/careers/combat-and-warfare/special-tactics-officer|title=Special Tactics Officer – Requirements & Benefits|website=United States Air Force|access-date=July 31, 2023}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Bomb disposal|Explosive Ordnance Disposal]] (EOD),<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airforce.com/careers/combat-and-warfare/explosive-ordnance-disposal-eod|title=Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) – Requirements and Benefits|website=United States Air Force|access-date=July 31, 2023}}</ref> [[Combat Rescue Officer]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airforce.com/careers/combat-and-warfare/combat-rescue-officer|title=Combat Rescue Officer – Requirements and Benefits|website=United States Air Force|access-date=July 31, 2023|archive-date=31 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731170358/https://www.airforce.com/careers/combat-and-warfare/combat-rescue-officer|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[United States Air Force Pararescue|Pararescue]],<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airforce.com/careers/combat-and-warfare/special-warfare/pararescue|title=Pararescue – Requirements and Benefits|website=United States Air Force|access-date=July 31, 2023}}</ref> [[United States Air Force Security Forces|Security Forces]],<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airforce.com/careers/law-and-order/security-forces-overview|title=Security Forces Overview: Protecting those who protect our Nation|website=United States Air Force|access-date=July 31, 2023}}</ref> [[Combat Control Team|Combat Control]],<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airforce.com/careers/combat-and-warfare/special-warfare/combat-control|title=Combat Control – Requirements and Benefits|website=United States Air Force|access-date=July 31, 2023}}</ref> [[Tactical Air Control Party]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airforce.com/careers/combat-and-warfare/special-warfare/tactical-air-control-party-specialist-tacp|title=Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) – Requirements and Benefits|website=United States Air Force|access-date=July 31, 2023|archive-date=31 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731172757/https://www.airforce.com/careers/combat-and-warfare/special-warfare/tactical-air-control-party-specialist-tacp|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Special Operations Weather Technician]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/05/13/spec-ops-weathermen-get-name-change-new-mission-to-better-better-fight-great-powers/|title=Spec ops weatherman get name change, new mission to better fight great powers|last=Rempfer|first=Kyle|date=May 13, 2019|website=Air Force Times|access-date=July 31, 2023}}</ref>

Nearly all enlisted career fields are "entry level", meaning that the USAF provides all training. Some enlistees are able to choose a particular field, or at least a field before actually joining, while others are assigned an AFSC at Basic Military Training (BMT). After BMT, new enlisted airmen attend a technical training school where they learn their particular AFSC. Second Air Force, a part of Air Education and Training Command, is responsible for nearly all enlisted technical training.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airforce.com/training/technical-training|title=Technical Training – U.S. Air Force|website=AirForce.com|publisher=United States Air Force|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3290187/second-air-force-moves-technical-training-into-the-21st-century/|title=Second Air Force moves technical training into the 21st century|date=February 7, 2023|website=af.mil|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>

Training programs vary in length; for example, 3F1X1 (Services) has 29 days of tech school training,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airforce.com/careers/logistics-and-administration/services|title=Services – Requirements and Benefits|website=United States Air Force|access-date=August 31, 2024}}</ref> while 3E8X1 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) is one year of training with a preliminary school and a main school consisting of over ten separate divisions, sometimes taking students close to two years to complete. Officer technical training conducted by Second Air Force can also vary by AFSC, while flight training for aeronautically rated officers conducted by AETC's Nineteenth Air Force can last well in excess of one year.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2023/05/15/the-air-force-reimagines-its-tech-schools/|title=The Air Force reimagines its tech schools|last=Cohen|first=Rachel|date=May 15, 2023|website=AirForceTimes.com|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>

USAF rank is divided between [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]] airmen, non-commissioned officers, and commissioned officers, and ranges from the enlisted Airman Basic (E-1) to the commissioned officer rank of General (O-10), however in times of war officers may be appointed to the higher grade of General of the Air Force. Enlisted promotions are granted based on a combination of test scores, years of experience, and selection board approval while officer promotions are based on time-in-grade and a promotion selection board. Promotions among enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers are generally designated by increasing numbers of insignia chevrons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enlisted Air Force Ranks |url=http://www.military.com/air-force/enlisted-ranks.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119110918/http://www.military.com/air-force/enlisted-ranks.html |archive-date=19 November 2016 |access-date=22 November 2016 |website=Military.com}}</ref> Commissioned officer rank is designated by bars, oak leaves, a silver eagle, and anywhere from one to five stars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Force Officer Ranks |url=http://www.military.com/air-force/officer-ranks.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122230829/http://www.military.com/air-force/officer-ranks.html |archive-date=22 November 2016 |access-date=22 November 2016 |website=Military.com}}</ref> General of the Air Force [[Henry H. Arnold|Henry "Hap" Arnold]] is the only individual in the history of the US Air Force to attain the rank of five-star general.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Five Star Generals and Admirals of the United States |url=http://www.historyguy.com/5-star-military.htm#.WDRRCHrK-g4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123053622/http://www.historyguy.com/5-star-military.htm#.WDRRCHrK-g4 |archive-date=23 November 2016 |access-date=22 November 2016 |website=The History Guy|date=18 December 2013 }}</ref>

As of 30 June 2017, 70% of the Air Force is White, 15% Black and 4.8% Asian. The average age is 35 and 21% of its members are female.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.afpc.af.mil/About/Air-Force-Demographics/ |title=Demographics |publisher=Air Force's Personnel Center |access-date=23 August 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101073732/https://www.afpc.af.mil/About/Air-Force-Demographics/ | archive-date=1 January 2018 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Commissioned officers ===
{{main|United States Air Force officer rank insignia}}

The commissioned officer ranks of the USAF are divided into three categories: [[junior officer|company grade officers]], [[field grade officer]]s, and [[general officer]]s. Company grade officers are those officers in pay grades O-1 to O-3, while field grade officers are those in pay grades O-4 to O-6, and general officers are those in pay grades of O-7 and above.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.military.com/air-force/officer-ranks.html|title=United States Air Force Officer Ranks|website=Military.com|access-date=November 27, 2023}}</ref>

Air Force officer promotions are governed by the [[Defense Officer Personnel Management Act]] of 1980 and its companion Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act (ROPMA) for officers in the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1423778/services-detail-efforts-to-modernize-personnel-system/|title=Services Detail Efforts to Modernize Personnel System|last=Garamone|first=Jim|date=January 25, 2018|website=[[United States Department of Defense]]|access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref> DOPMA also establishes limits on the number of officers that can serve at any given time in the Air Force. Currently, promotion from second lieutenant to first lieutenant is virtually guaranteed after two years of satisfactory service. The promotion from first lieutenant to captain is competitive after successfully completing another two years of service, with a selection rate varying between 99% and 100%. Promotion to major through major general is through a formal selection board process, while promotions to lieutenant general and general are contingent upon nomination to specific general officer positions and subject to U.S. Senate approval.

During the board process, an officer's record is reviewed by a selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center at [[Randolph Air Force Base]] in San Antonio, Texas. At the 10 to 11-year mark, captains will take part in a selection board to major. If not selected, they will meet a follow-on board to determine if they will be allowed to remain in the Air Force. Promotion from major to lieutenant colonel is similar and occurs approximately between the fourteen year and the fifteen year mark, where a certain percentage of majors will be in zone (i.e., "on time") or above zone (i.e., "late") for promotion to lieutenant colonel.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-lieutenant-colonel-promotions-2023/|title=Getting Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel Gets Harder for Operators|last=Hadley|first=Greg|date=June 6, 2023|website=[[Air & Space Forces Magazine]]|access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref> This process will repeat at the 18-year mark to the 21-year mark for promotion to full colonel.

The Air Force has the largest ratio of general officers to total strength of all of the U.S. Armed Forces and this ratio has continued to increase even as the force has shrunk from its Cold War highs.<ref>Schwellenbach, Nick. [http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2011/04/brass-creep-and-the-pentagon-air-force-leads-the-way-as-top-offender.html "Brass Creep and the Pentagon: Air Force Leads the Way As Top Offender."] {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190625/http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2011/04/brass-creep-and-the-pentagon-air-force-leads-the-way-as-top-offender.html |date=3 March 2016}} ''POGO'', 25 April 2011.</ref>

{{USAF Officer|short=yes}}

=== Warrant officers ===
{{main|Warrant officer (United States)#Air Force}}
Although provisions were made in [[Title 10 of the United States Code]] for the [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|secretary of the Air Force]] to appoint warrant officers, the Air Force had not used [[warrant officer]] grades for many years, and, along with the Space Force, were the only [[U.S. Armed Services]] not to do so until 2024. The Air Force inherited warrant officer ranks from the [[United States Army|Army]] at its inception in 1947. The Air Force stopped appointing warrant officers in 1959,<ref name="WO-5">{{Cite web |title=Warrant Officer Programs of Other Services |url=http://www.usawoa.org/woheritage//WO_Prog_Other_Svc.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230211659/http://www.usawoa.org/woheritage/WO_Prog_Other_Svc.htm |archive-date=30 December 2006 |access-date=18 March 2007 |publisher=United States Army Warrant Officer Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=C. Todd |date=2024-02-14 |title=Air Force to re-introduce warrant officer rank, other major changes |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3676887/air-force-to-re-introduce-warrant-officer-rank-other-major-changes/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=United States Air Force |publisher=DOD News}}</ref> the same year the first promotions were made to the new top enlisted grade, [[Chief Master Sergeant|chief master sergeant]]. The remaining warrant officers were slowly phased out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hodge |first=Vincent |date=2024-05-16 |title=Warrant officers in the Air Force have long history |url=https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/3778360/warrant-officers-in-the-air-force-have-long-history/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Joint Base San Antonio |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goheen |first=John |date=2024-04-30 |title=Air Force Taking Air Guard Warrant Officer Applications |url=https://www.ngaus.org/newsroom/air-force-taking-air-guard-warrant-officer-applications |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=NGAUS.org}}</ref>

The last active duty Air Force warrant officer, CWO4 James H. Long, retired in 1980, and the last Air Force Reserve warrant officer, CWO4 Bob Barrow, retired in 1992.<ref name="usmwo2006">{{Cite web |date=16 November 2006 |title=Warrant Officers of the US Military |url=http://www.militaryranks.us/us-military-warrant-officer.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618072906/http://www.militaryranks.us/us-military-warrant-officer.htm |archive-date=18 June 2010 |access-date=30 August 2010 |publisher=Militaryranks.us}}</ref> Upon his retirement, he was honorarily promoted to CWO5, the only person in the Air Force ever to hold this grade.<ref name="WO-5" /> Since Barrow's retirement, the Air Force warrant officer ranks, while still authorized by law, were not used.{{r|usmwo2006}}

It was announced at the AFA Warfare Symposium on 12 February 2024, that warrant officer ranks in the cyber and information technology fields would be reintroduced, beginning in FY25. It was stated that this effort was to retain talent in these technical fields for airmen who did not wish to pursue a leadership path.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Roza |first=David |date=2024-02-13 |title=Air Force Warrant Officer Program to Focus on IT, Cyber Career Fields |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-warrant-officer-cyber-it/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Air & Space Forces Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> The Air Force initially wanted a class of 30 warrant officers that would begin training by the summer 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Rachel S. |date=2024-03-05 |title=Air Force eyes picking first cyber warrant officer cohort this summer |url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2024/03/05/air-force-eyes-picking-first-cyber-warrant-officer-cohort-this-summer/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Air Force Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> By the end of July 2024, 78 airmen were selected to be among the first Air Force warrant officers in over 66 years, more than double than originally estimated.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |last=Roza |first=David |date=2024-07-30 |title=78 Airmen Selected for First Warrant Officer Cohort in 66 Years |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-warrant-officer-selection/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=Air & Space Forces Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> The 78 airmen will be spread out across three training classes, with the first starting in October 2024.<ref name=":03" />  On December 6, 2024, 30 airmen graduated from the Air Force's Warrant Officer Training School located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.  These are the first warrant officers to serve in the U.S. Air Force since 1992.  The warrant officer candidates graduated as either Warrant Officer 1 or Chief Warrant Officer 2.<ref>{{cite web | last=Seck | first=Hope Hodge | title=Air Force graduates first warrant officers in 66 years, eyes expansion | website=Air Force Times | date=December 9, 2024 | url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-military/2024/12/09/air-force-graduates-first-warrant-officers-in-66-years-eyes-expansion/ | access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref>

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|+ style="font-weight:bold; font-size:100%" | Air Force warrant officer rank insignia
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=== Enlisted airmen ===
[[File:Pararescue.training exercise.jpg|thumb|Pararescuemen and a simulated "survivor" watch as an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter comes in for a landing]]
{{main|United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia}}

Enlisted airmen have [[pay grade]]s from E-1 (entry level) to E-9 (senior enlisted).<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airforce.com/pay-and-benefits/air-force-benefits|title=Air Force Active Duty Benefits|website=United States Air Force|access-date=July 31, 2023}}</ref> While all USAF personnel, enlisted and officer, are referred to as ''airmen'', in the same manner that all [[United States Army|Army]] personnel, enlisted and officer, are referred to as ''soldiers'', the term also refers to the pay grades of E-1 through E-4, which are below the level of [[non-commissioned officer]]s (NCOs). Above the pay grade of E-4 (i.e., pay grades E-5 through E-9) all ranks fall into the category of NCO and are further subdivided into "NCOs" (pay grades E-5 and E-6) and "senior NCOs" (pay grades E-7 through E-9); the term "junior NCO" is sometimes used to refer to staff sergeants and technical sergeants (pay grades E-5 and E-6).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Department of Defense Enlisted Rank Insignias |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/enlisted.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617194102/http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/enlisted.html |archive-date=17 June 2008 |access-date=30 August 2010 |publisher=Defenselink.mil}}</ref>

The USAF, along with the [[United States Space Force|US Space Force]], are the only branches of the U.S. military where NCO status is achieved when an enlisted person reaches the pay grade of E-5. In all other branches, NCO status is generally achieved at the pay grade of E-4 (e.g., a [[corporal]] in the Army{{efn|However, the Army has dual ranks at the E-4 paygrade with [[Specialist (rank)|Specialists]] not considered NCOs. From the 1980s, the Army corporal rank came to be awarded infrequently and was rarely found in units, but since 2021 E-4 graduates of the Basic Leader Course are promoted to corporal before further advancement.<ref name= vanhuizen >{{cite web |url=https://www.armytimes.com/2021/06/07/all-soldiers-must-now-serve-as-corporals-before-promotion-to-sergeant/ |first=Harm |last=Venhuizen |date=7 June 2021 |title=All soldiers must now serve as corporals before promotion to sergeant |website=Army Times}}</ref>}} and [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], [[Petty Officer Third Class]] in the [[United States Navy|Navy]] and [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]]). The Air Force mirrored the Army from 1976 to 1991 with an E-4 being either a senior airman wearing three stripes without a star or a sergeant (referred to as "buck sergeant"), which was noted by the presence of the central star and considered an NCO. Despite not being an NCO, a senior airman who has completed [[Airman Leadership School]] can be a supervisor according to the AFI 36–2618.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/Airman-Leadership-School/|title=Airman Leadership School – Air University|website=AirUniversity.af.edu|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
{{USAF Enlisted}}

=== Uniforms ===
{{main|Uniforms of the United States Air Force}}

The first USAF dress uniform, in 1947, was dubbed and patented "[[Uxbridge, MA|Uxbridge]] blue" after "Uxbridge 1683 blue", developed at the former Bachman-Uxbridge Worsted Company.<ref name="uniforms">{{Cite web |title=Getting the Blues, by Tech. Sgt. Pat McKenna |url=https://www.af.mil/News/airman/1296/duds/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202154555/http://www.af.mil/news/airman/1296/duds.htm |archive-date=2 February 2007 |access-date=24 September 2007 |url-status=live |publisher=Air Force Link}}</ref> The current service dress uniform, which was adopted in 1994, consists of a three-button coat with decorative pockets, matching trousers, and either a service cap or flight cap, all in Shade 1620, "Air Force blue" (a darker purplish-blue).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Retrofit Service Dress – USAF Uniform History |url=http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/history/uniforms/detail/?id=11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409181623/http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/history/uniforms/detail/?id=11 |archive-date=9 April 2016 |access-date=16 August 2017}}</ref> This is worn with a light blue shirt (shade 1550) and shade 1620 herringbone patterned necktie. Silver "U.S." pins are worn on the collar of the coat, with a surrounding silver ring for enlisted airmen. Enlisted airmen wear sleeve rank on both the jacket and shirt, while officers wear metal rank insignia pinned onto the epaulet loops on the coat, and Air Force blue slide-on epaulet loops on the shirt. USAF personnel assigned to base honor guard duties wear, for certain occasions, a modified version of the standard service dress uniform that includes silver trim on the sleeves and trousers, with the addition of a ceremonial belt (if necessary), service cap with silver trim and Hap Arnold Device (instead of the seal of the United States worn on the regular cap), and a silver aiguillette placed on the left shoulder seam and all devices and accoutrements.

The [[Airman Combat Uniform]] (ACU) in the [[Operational Camouflage Pattern]] (OCP) replaced the previous [[Airman Battle Uniform]] (ABU) on 1 October 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The US Air Force Might Not be Adopting OCP Yet but Some Airmen Are Already Wearing It – Soldier Systems Daily |date=5 September 2014 |url=http://soldiersystems.net/2014/09/05/air-force-might-adopting-ocp-yet-airmen-already-wearing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816192641/http://soldiersystems.net/2014/09/05/air-force-might-adopting-ocp-yet-airmen-already-wearing/ |archive-date=16 August 2017 |access-date=16 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Force transitions to a single combat uniform |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1520066/air-force-transitions-to-a-single-combat-uniform/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717153143/http://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1520066/air-force-transitions-to-a-single-combat-uniform/ |archive-date=17 July 2018 |access-date=5 April 2019 |website=U.S. Air Force |date=14 May 2018}}</ref>

=== Awards and badges ===
{{main|Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force|Badges of the United States Air Force}}

In addition to basic uniform clothing, [[Badges of the United States Air Force|various badges]] are used by the USAF to indicate a billet assignment or qualification-level for a given assignment. Badges can also be used as merit-based or service-based [[Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force|awards]]. Over time, [[Obsolete badges of the United States military|various badges]] have been discontinued and are no longer distributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afpc.af.mil/Career-Management/Decorations-and-Ribbons/|title=Decorations and Ribbons|website=Air Forces Personnel Center|access-date=November 27, 2023}}</ref>

=== Training ===
{{See also|Air Force Specialty Code}}
[[File:U.S. Air Force Buttstroke.jpg|thumb|U.S. Air Force trainee demonstrating a butt stroke on a strike dummy as part of Basic Military Training.]]

All enlisted airmen attend [[United States Air Force Basic Military Training|Basic Military Training]] (BMT) at [[Lackland Air Force Base]] in [[San Antonio]], Texas for {{frac|7|1|2}} weeks.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airforce.com/training/military-training/bmt/overview|title=Basic Military Training|website=United States Air Force|access-date=July 31, 2023}}</ref> Individuals who have prior service of over 24 months of active duty in the other service branches who seek to enlist in the Air Force must go through a 10-day Air Force familiarization course rather than enlisted BMT, however prior service opportunities are severely limited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prior service program open but strictly limited |date=16 April 2014 |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/484041/prior-service-program-open-but-strictly-limited/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816192233/http://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/484041/prior-service-program-open-but-strictly-limited/ |archive-date=16 August 2017 |access-date=16 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Is It Possible to Enlist Again if You Have Prior Service? |url=https://www.thebalance.com/prior-service-enlistments-3354052 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816195538/https://www.thebalance.com/prior-service-enlistments-3354052 |archive-date=16 August 2017 |access-date=16 August 2017}}</ref>

Officers may be commissioned upon graduation from the [[United States Air Force Academy]], upon graduation from another college or university through the [[Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps]] (AFROTC) program, or through the [[Air Force Officer Training School]] (OTS). OTS, located at [[Maxwell Air Force Base]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama]] since 1993, in turn encompasses two separate commissioning programs: Basic Officer Training (BOT), which is for officer candidates for the Regular Air Force and the Air Force Reserve; and the [[Academy of Military Science (United States)|Academy of Military Science]] (AMS), which is for officer candidates of the Air National Guard.

The Air Force also provides Commissioned Officer Training (COT) for officers of all three components who are direct-commissioned into medicine, law, religion, biological sciences, or healthcare administration. COT is fully integrated into the OTS program and today encompasses extensive coursework as well as field exercises in leadership, confidence, fitness, and deployed-environment operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airforce.com/training/military-training/ots/overview|title=Officer Training School|website=United States Air Force|access-date=November 27, 2023}}</ref>

==== Air Force Fitness Test ====
[[File:USAF PT Uniform.jpg|thumb|USAF Airmen training at Lackland AFB]]
{{main|United States Air Force Fitness Assessment}}

The US Air Force Fitness Test (AFFT) is designed to test the abdominal circumference, muscular strength/endurance and cardiovascular respiratory fitness of airmen in the USAF. As part of the ''Fit to Fight'' program, the USAF adopted a more stringent physical fitness assessment; the new fitness program was put into effect on 1 June 2010. The annual ergo-cycle test which the USAF had used for several years had been replaced in 2004. In the AFFT, Airmen are given a score based on performance consisting of four components: waist circumference, the sit-up, the push-up, and a {{convert|1.5|mi|km|adj=on}} run. Airmen can potentially earn a score of 100, with the run counting as 60%, waist circumference as 20%, and both strength tests counting as 10% each. A passing score is 75 points. Effective 1 July 2010, the AFFT is administered by the base Fitness Assessment Cell (FAC), and is required twice a year. Personnel earning a score over 90% may test once a year. Additionally, only meeting the minimum standards on each one of these tests will not get you a passing score of 75%, and failing any one component will result in a failure for the entire test.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.afpc.af.mil/Career-Management/Fitness-Program/|title=Fitness Program|website=afpc.af.mil|publisher=Air Forces Personnel Center|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
{{Clear}}