SNAPSHOT OF THE AIR FORCE
318,415 Active Duty
62,037 Officers
256,378 Enlisted
The Air Force has 12,600 pilots, 3,297 navigators and 1,370 air battle managers in the grade of lieutenant colonel and below. The Air Force has 25,015 nonrated line officers in the grade of lieutenant colonel and below.
AGE
35 average age of the officer force
28 average age for enlisted force
38% are below the age of 26
44% of enlisted are below 26
13% of officers are below 26
GENDER
Women first entered pilot training in 1976, navigator training in 1977 and fighter pilot training in 1993.
19.7% women
20.8% of the officers are women and
19.4% of enlisted corps are women
57% of the female officers are line officers; 43% are non-line
85% of the male officers are line officers; 15% are non-line
62,613 total population of women
713 female pilots; 300 navigators; 228 air battle managers
RACE
The following percentages, which are self-reported, cover Air Force military members' racial information.
72% White
14% Black or African American
3.8% Asian
0.7% American Indian / Native Alaskan
1.1% Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
4.0% identified more than one race
4.2% Declined to respond
ETHNICITY
"Hispanic or Latino" is considered an ethnic, not a racial, category that is registered separately and in addition to the above racial categories.
13.9% Hispanic or Latino
81.9% Not Hispanic or Latino
4.2% Declined to respond
MARITAL STATUS
56% married, which is 70% of the officers and 52% of enlisted
27,778 active duty members married to another active duty member
1,618 married to members of other military services
142,632 active duty members married to other (non-military)
172 active duty members married to Reserve/Guard other service
5,175 active duty married to USAFR/ANG
141,040 active duty members are not married
FAMILY MEMBERS
388,906 family members are supported by active duty personnel
312,103 family members reside in an Airman's household
20.0% of the current force is assigned overseas (including Alaska and Hawaii), which includes
9,018 officers and 54,787 enlisted personnel
TOTAL ACTIVE FEDERAL MILITARY SERVICE
10 years is the average total active federal military service
8 years for enlisted Airmen
OFFICER ACADEMIC EDUCATION
58.3% of officers have advanced or professional degrees
46.3% have master's degrees
10.1% have professional degrees
1.9% have doctorate degrees
COMPANY GRADE OFFICERS
30.3% of company grade officers have advanced degrees
23.1% have master's degrees
6.7% have professional degrees
0.5% have doctorate degrees
FIELD GRADE OFFICERS
92.9% of field grade officers have advanced degrees
75.6% have master's degrees
13.8% have professional degrees
3.6% have doctorate degrees
ENLISTED ACADEMIC EDUCATION
58.5% completed some college
25.1% have associate's degrees
8.6% have bachelor's degrees
1.8% have master's degree
0.019% have professional degrees
AIRMAN TIER
80.95% have some college
4.497% have associate's degrees
2.105% have bachelor's degrees
0.089% have master's degree
0.002% have professional degrees
NCO TIER
47.96% some college
41.453% have associate's degrees
9.367% have bachelor's degrees
1.083% have master's degree
0.014% have professional degrees
SENIOR NCO TIER
7.15% some college
52.555% have associate's degrees
30.990% have bachelor's degrees
10.204% have master's degrees
0.095% have professional degrees
OFFICER DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION
61.30% of officers have completed one or more developmental education courses either in residence or by correspondence
7,775 have completed at least one senior developmental course
11,966 have completed an intermediate course
18,289 have completed basic developmental course
SOURCE OF COMMISSION
41.9% commissioned through Reserve Officer Training Corps
23.1% commissioned through the Air Force Academy
18.1% commissioned through Officer Training School
16.9% commissioned through other sources (direct appointment, etc.)
These statistics are from the current inventory and do not include the Guard, Reserve or Air Force Academy (approx. 4,000 cadets).
(Current as of June 30, 2017)