Air force members hold military ranks similar to those of other services. Commissioned officers are usually headed by generals, as in France, or by marshals, as in Great Britain. These are followed by some mix of commodores, colonels, group captains, lieutenant colonels, commanders, wing and squadron leaders, lieutenants, and pilot officers. Enlisted men and women generally include warrant officers, sergeants, corporals, privates, and aircraftsmen.

In many nations the smallest units of planes and personnel are called flights. Larger organizational units include squadrons, wings, divisions, and commands.

Air force commands usually perform one of five military functions: strategic, tactical, air defense, logistical, and training. Often the duties of a command change in response to new national and international needs and improved weapons.

• Strategic commands involve attack and bombing missions.
• Tactical commands are responsible for fighting enemy aircraft and for providing air support to ground troops.
• Air defense commands protect the airspace of a nation and provide reconnaissance systems to monitor enemy attacks.
• Logistical commands direct the movement of troops and supplies.

Air force personnel can train for a variety of military careers, including those of pilot, technician, specialist, and instructor. New recruits go through basic training before specializing in a field of work. Future officers can attend special college and university programs, such as the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) courses in the United States, or they can enroll in national service academies.

In France, the air officer trainee studies at the École de l'Air (School of the Air) at Salon-de-Provence. In Great Britain, air force officer candidates train at the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell. United States Air Force cadets enroll at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

During World War I pilots went into action with about 20 hours of flying time in training. By the 1990s, they needed more than 400 hours and 18 months of training, reflecting the increased complexity of aircraft operation and maintenance.

History

Few nations had air forces prior to World War I. By 1990 more than 120 nations had established air forces. These ranged from the powerful military organizations of the United States, Great Britain, and China--each with hundreds of thousands of members and thousands of aircraft--to such tiny groups as the air force of the People's Republic of Benin, which had 100 men operating five aircraft.

There are two methods of staffing an air force. In some countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Japan, the air force relies on volunteers who enlist for a specific number of years. In other nations, such as Germany and Israel, young people are drafted into military service. In terms of size, strength, advanced technology, and combat readiness, the two leading air forces for most of the late 20th century were those of the Soviet Union and the United States.