§ 9061. Regulations

The President may prescribe regulations for the government of the Air Force.

§ 9062. Policy; composition; aircraft authorization

• (a) It is the intent of Congress to provide an Air Force that is capable, in conjunction with the other armed forces, of—
  • (1) preserving the peace and security, and providing for the defense, of the United States, the Commonwealths and possessions, and any areas occupied by the United States;
  • (2) supporting the national policies;
  • (3) implementing the national objectives; and
  • (4) overcoming any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the United States.
• (b) There is a United States Air Force within the Department of the Air Force.
• (c) In general, the Air Force includes aviation forces both combat and service not otherwise assigned. It shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. It is responsible for the preparation of the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peacetime components of the Air Force to meet the needs of war.
• (d) The Air Force consists of—
  • (1) the Regular Air Force, the Air National Guard of the United States, the Air National Guard while in the service of the United States, and the Air Force Reserve;
  • (2) all persons appointed or enlisted in, or conscripted into, the Air Force without component; and
  • (3) all Air Force units and other Air Force organizations, with their installations and supporting and auxiliary combat, training, administrative, and logistic elements; and all members of the Air Force, including those not assigned to units; necessary to form the basis for a complete and immediate mobilization for the national defense in the event of a national emergency.
• (e) Subject to subsection (f) of this section, chapter 911 of this title, and the strength authorized by law pursuant to section 115 of this title , the authorized strength of the Air Force is 70 Regular Air Force groups and such separate Regular Air Force squadrons, reserve groups, and supporting and auxiliary regular and reserve units as required.
• (f) There are authorized for the Air Force 24,000 serviceable aircraft or 225,000 airframe tons of serviceable aircraft, whichever the Secretary of the Air Force considers appropriate to carry out this section. This subsection does not apply to guided missiles.
• (g)
  • (1) Effective October 1, 2011 , the Secretary of the Air Force shall maintain a total aircraft inventory of strategic airlift aircraft of not less than 301 aircraft. Effective on the date that is 45 days after the date on which the report under section 141(c)(3) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 is submitted to the congressional defense committees, the Secretary shall maintain a total aircraft inventory of strategic airlift aircraft of not less than 275 aircraft.
  • (2) In this subsection:
    • (A) The term “strategic airlift aircraft” means an aircraft—
      • (i) that has a cargo capacity of at least 150,000 pounds; and
      • (ii) that is capable of transporting outsized cargo an unrefueled range of at least 2,400 nautical miles.
    • (B) The term “outsized cargo” means any single item of equipment that exceeds 1,090 inches in length, 117 inches in width, or 105 inches in height.
• (h)
  • (1) Beginning October 1, 2011 , the Secretary of the Air Force may not retire more than six B–1 aircraft.
  • (2) The Secretary shall maintain in a common capability configuration not less than 36 B–1 aircraft as combat-coded aircraft.
  • (3) In this subsection, the term “combat-coded aircraft” means aircraft assigned to meet the primary aircraft authorization to a unit for the performance of its wartime mission.
• (i)
  • (1) During the period beginning on October 1, 2017 , and ending on October 1, 2022 , the Secretary of the Air Force shall maintain a total aircraft inventory of fighter aircraft of not less than 1,970 aircraft, and a total primary mission aircraft inventory (combat-coded) of not less than 1,145 fighter aircraft.
  • (2) In this subsection:
    • (A) The term “fighter aircraft” means an aircraft that—
      • (i) is designated by a mission design series prefix of F– or A–;
      • (ii) is manned by one or two crewmembers; and
      • (iii) executes single-role or multi-role missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground attack, air interdiction, suppression or destruction of enemy air defenses, close air support, strike control and reconnaissance, combat search and rescue support, or airborne forward air control.
    • (B) The term “primary mission aircraft inventory” means aircraft assigned to meet the primary aircraft authorization to a unit for the performance of its wartime mission.
• (j)
  • (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), effective October 1, 2019 , the Secretary of the Air Force shall maintain a total aircraft inventory of air refueling tanker aircraft of not less than 479 aircraft.
  • (2) The Secretary of the Air Force may reduce the number of air refueling tanker aircraft in the total aircraft inventory of the Air Force below 479 only if—
    • (A) the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that such reduction is justified by the results of the mobility capability and requirements study conducted under section 144(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 ( Public Law 115–91 ); and
    • (B) a period of 30 days has elapsed following the date on which the certification is made to the congressional defense committees under subparagraph (A).
  • (3) In this subsection:
    • (A) The term “air refueling tanker aircraft” means an aircraft that has as its primary mission the refueling of other aircraft.
    • (B) The term “total aircraft inventory” means aircraft authorized to a flying unit for operations or training.

§ 9063. Designation: officers to perform certain professional functions

• (a) Medical functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force and who are designated as medical officers.
• (b) Dental functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary and who are designated as dental officers.
• (c) Veterinary functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as veterinary officers.
• (d) Medical service functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as medical service officers.
• (e) Nursing functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary and who are designated as Air Force nurses.
• (f) Biomedical science functions, including physician assistant functions and chiropractic functions, in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as biomedical science officers.
• (g) Judge advocate functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as judge advocates.
• (h) Chaplain functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary and who are designated as chaplains.
• (i) Other functions in the Air Force requiring special training or experience shall be performed by members of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as being in named categories.

§ 9064. Air Force nurses: Chief; appointment

• (a) There is a Chief of the Air Force Nurse Corps.
• (b) The Secretary of the Air Force shall appoint the Chief from the officers of the Regular Air Force designated as Air Force nurses whose regular grade is above lieutenant colonel and who are recommended by the Surgeon General. The Chief serves during the pleasure of the Secretary.

§ 9065. Commands: territorial organization

• (a) Except as otherwise prescribed by law or by the Secretary of Defense, the Air Force shall be divided into such organizations as the Secretary of the Air Force may prescribe.
• (b) For Air Force purposes, the United States, its possessions, and other places in which the Air Force is stationed or is operating, may be divided into such areas as directed by the Secretary. Officers of the Air Force may be assigned to command Air Force activities, installations, and personnel in those areas. In the discharge of the Air Force’s functions or other functions authorized by law, officers so assigned have the duties and powers prescribed by the Secretary.

§ 9066. Regular Air Force: composition

• (a) The Regular Air Force is the component of the Air Force that consists of persons whose continuous service on active duty in both peace and war is contemplated by law, and of retired members of the Regular Air Force.
• (b) The Regular Air Force includes—
  • (1) the officers and enlisted members of the Regular Air Force;
  • (2) the professors, registrar, and cadets at the United States Air Force Academy; and
  • (3) the retired officers and enlisted members of the Regular Air Force.

§ 9067. Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services

There is an Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services in the Air Force who is appointed by the Secretary of the Air Force upon the recommendation of the Surgeon General from officers of the Air Force above the grade of lieutenant colonel who are designated as dental officers under section 9067(b) of this title . The Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services serves at the pleasure of the Secretary.