ROD Air Force Structure
The Air Force is more than just cool fighter pilots and sexy high-tech airplanes. It takes thousands of people performing every conceivable function to keep each plane in the air. These are the major commands that make up the total force:
Department of the Air Force Headquarters
This headquarters provides command and control for the Air Force as a whole. Decisions concerning aircraft deployments, air combat capabilities, and development of air combat doctrine are made in this headquarters. The Department of the Air Force answers to the ROD Joint Forces Headquarters.
Joint Forces Staff
All military organizations in the ROD report to the Joint Forces Headquarters. This headquarters, in turn, answers to the Ministry of Defense. Officers and NCOs from all the various services, including the Air Force, are assigned to the Joint Forces Staff.
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is the whole reason that the Air Force exists – its mission is to provide combat aircraft for military operations. Fighters, ground attack aircraft, and recon and support aircraft that are directly involved in air combat fall under the control of Air Combat Command.
Air Mobility Command
Transport and aerial fueling aircraft are the responsibility of the Air Mobility Command. This organization is responsible for moving people and equipment around the world.
Special Operations Command
Aircraft and units that perform covert operations and gather strategic reconnaissance are grouped together in this command, where secrecy is paramount.
Training Command
Training command is responsible for ensuring that all Air Force personnel ae trained to perform their mission. This includes everything from teaching recruits how to march, to teaching senior officers how to coordinate multi-national air combat forces.
Facilities Command
The Air Force occupies several large bases and airfields, both in the ROD and abroad. Air Force Facilities Command is there to keep those bases functioning and to ensure that the troops and their families are safe and well cared for. Facilities Command also runs the military school system which dependent children attend. If this command is not capable of maintaining some aspect of life support, they contract out to a civilian firm that can.
Human Resources Command
This organization is tasked with providing human resources support to all Air Force personnel. This includes maintenance of personnel records, processing of personnel orders, and soldier financial issues.
Law Enforcement and Judicial Command
Security at the squadron and wing level is performed by wing support groups, but base and airfield security is performed by tis command. In addition, base law enforcement functions are performed by the Law Enforcement and Judicial Command. This command also runs the Air Force court system. Air Force personnel who require imprisonment are referred to ROD Army prisons for internment.
Recruiting Command
The officers and NCOs of Recruiting Command are responsible for recruiting new personnel for the Air Force. It is staffed by officers and NCOs from all of the various Air Force commands, and assignments to Recruiting Command are a temporary departure from a service member’s regular duties.
Air Force Medical Command
Combat support medical personnel are assigned to each aircraft wing, but Air Force Medical Command is a separate organization that provides medical, dental, and veterinary care to Air Force personnel and their families. They staff medical clinics at every base worldwide, and they also staff the massive military medical center in Erinsburg.