Air Force Structure and Organization
What to know
Understand the chain from the Department of Defense through the Department of the Air Force to major commands, numbered air forces, wings, groups, squadrons, and flights. The wing is the primary warfighting and support organization; the squadron is the basic unit of the force. Know the difference between operational and support commands, and between the administrative chain (through the wing commander) and the operational chain (through the theater combatant commander). Candidates should grasp that combatant commanders exercise operational control while the service retains administrative control-this distinction drives many questions.
Traps
A frequent trap is confusing the administrative and operational chains or assuming a wing commander can direct a deployed unit that has been placed under a combatant commander. Another is mixing the roles of the Secretary of the Air Force (civilian policy and resources) with the Chief of Staff (military adviser and service chief). Questions may also test whether a group or a squadron is the basic unit, or whether a numbered air force is subordinate to a major command.
Worked example
A deployed squadron assigned to a combatant commander still receives administrative support-personnel actions, discipline, readiness reporting-through its parent wing and major command. If a question asks who handles a personnel action for a deployed member, the administrative chain is the answer, not the combatant commander.
Rule of thumb
Operational control flows to the combatant commander; administrative control stays with the service.