The United States Air Force

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services. Originally created on August 1, 1907 as a part of the United States Army Signal Corps, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces in 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the second youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the fourth in order of precedence. The U.S. Air Force articulates its core missions as: air supremacy, global integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control. The USAF is a military service branch organized within the Department Of The Air Force (DAF), one of the three military departments of the United States Department Of Defense. The Air Force through the DAF is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force, who reports to the Secretary of Defense and is appointed by the President with Senate confirmation. The highest-ranking military officer in the Air Force is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, who exercises supervision over Air Force units and serves as one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.