A Day in the Life of the Air Force

More than 179,000 airmen are engaged in the global war on terror on a daily basis. They battle insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, evacuate injured troops from combat zones, and control the satellites that deliver intelligence and precision navigation data to forces around the globe. More than 30,000 are deployed overseas for operations, but technology enables thousands of others to directly support operations from bases in Europe and the United States, like the Nevada-based pilots who fly Predator drones over Afghanistan and Iraq.

AIR FORCE DEMOGRAPHICS

• Total Air Force: 696,173
• Active Duty: 351,032
• • Officers: 71,977
  • Enlisted: 275,781
  • Cadets: 3,274
• Air National Guard: 105,151
• • Officers: 13,656
  • Enlisted: 91,495
• Air Force Reserve:74,924
• • Officers: 16,717
  • Enlisted: 58,207
• Air Force civilians:
• • 165,066

Figures are as of June 16, 2006

GENERAL MISSION DATA

• 30,000 airmen are deployed worldwide in 11 operations in support of the global war on terror.
• On average, 47,000 airmen move more than 1,000 tons and 2,500 passengers around the world every day.
• 26,000 airmen control and fly more than 100 satellites and nearly 100 aircraft daily to provide intelligence, warning and precision navigation to U.S. troops worldwide.
• 2,000 airmen guard 500 intercontinental ballistic missiles scattered across 46,000 square miles.

On an average day, the Air Force:

• Flies 50 to 60 tanker refueling missions worldwide, with more than 30 of those flown in Iraq or Afghanistan.
• Conducts 13 medical evacuation missions, ferrying about 50 patients.
• Flies 54 combat sorties.
• Flies 7 missions to insert special operations forces or conduct combat search and rescue.
• Has ready 40 fighters for immediate deployment in homeland defense.
• Flies 1,550 training missions.

In Afghanistan [7.17.06]:

• A-10s, a B-1 bomber and a Predator drone provided close-air support near Tarin Kowt
• A-10s and a B-1 bomber provided close-air support for coalition troops near Gereshk
• B-1 bomber provided close-air support for coalition troops near Qalat
• A-10s and a B-1 bomber provided close-air support near Musa Qal'eh

In Iraq [7.17.06]:

• F-16 fighters strafed insurgents placing a bomb near Baquabah
• F-16 fighters provided close-air support near Kirkuk
• F-15 fighters and F-16 fighters provided close-air support near Basrah
• Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft supported coalition operations throughout Iraq and Afghanistan

Source: Air Force