Fact Sheet 92-14
Air Combat Command

Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, 
Va., is a major command activated June 1, 1992.

Mission

     ACC provides the "global power" arm of the "global reach-global 
power" Air Force vision and focuses on deterrence and air campaign 
operations.  ACC's force structure consists of intercontinental ballistic 
missiles; command, control, communications and intelligence aircraft; 
reconnaissance aircraft; some tactical airlift and tankers; fighters; and 
bombers.  
     As a force provider, ACC organizes, trains, equips, and maintains 
combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring 
strategic air defense forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime 
air sovereignty and wartime air defense.  ACC provides nuclear-capable 
forces for U.S. Strategic Command and theater air forces for the five 
geographic unified commands (U.S. Atlantic Command, U.S. European 
Command, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Central Command and U.S. 
Southern Command).  In addition, ACC also provides air defense forces 
to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.  

Personnel

     More than 185,000 active-duty members and civilians make up ACC's 
work force (22,700 officers, 141,300 enlisted personnel and 21,300 
civilians). When mobilized, more than 87,000 members of the Air 
National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with about 1,300 aircraft, 
are assigned to ACC.  In total, ACC and ACC-gained units consist of 
about 3,100 aircraft and 950 ICBMs.   

Organization

     ACC's forces are organized under six numbered air forces and two 
major direct reporting units. The ACC commander also is commander-in-
chief, U.S. Air Forces Atlantic, as well as the Air Force component 
commander of U.S. Strategic Command.  

Numbered Air Forces

     First Air Force with headquarters at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., 
performs a daily operational mission as the continental U.S. NORAD 
Region.  The First Air Force commander, as the region commander, 
reports directly to the commander-in-chief, NORAD, for the air defense of 
the CONUS (continental United States). First Air Force includes four air 
defense sectors responsible for the air defense of their respective 
quadrants of the CONUS using aircraft on around-the-clock alert.  
     First Air Force plays a key role in the nation's war on drugs by 
working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Customs Service 
to monitor and intercept illegal drug traffic.  
     Air Forces Iceland at Naval Air Station Keflavik is the Air Force 
component of the Iceland Defense Force, a subordinate command under 
the commander-in-chief of U.S. Atlantic Command.  Air Forces Iceland 
provides a combat force for the air defense of Iceland and air surveillance 
data in support of the NORAD mission.

     Second Air Force, with headquarters at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., 
is responsible for control of strategic reconnaissance and battle 
management forces.  These forces provide specialized support for theater 
commanders, U.S. Strategic Command, and other U.S. agencies.  

     Eighth Air Force, with headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.,  
is responsible for ACC forces on 10 bases in the Central United States, 
and functions as the operational air-breathing component for U.S. 
Strategic Command.  More than 39,750 people and 250 bomber, fighter 
and tanker aircraft are assigned to Eighth Air Force.  

     Ninth Air Force, with headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., has 
13 wings performing fighter, bomber, tanker, airlift, and air control 
operations and training in the Eastern United States.  Ninth Air Force with 
12 bases comprises 50,900 people and more than 650 aircraft.  
     Ninth Air Force also is U.S. Central Command Air Forces, the Air 
Force component of U.S. Central Command.  Operation Desert Shield 
deployed the USCENTAF staff to the Southwest Asia theater, 
operationally controlling joint and coalition air forces.  To prepare for this 
type mission, USCENTAF active and reserve forces train regularly with 
Army, Navy and Marine Corps units.

     Twelfth Air Force, with headquarters at Bergstrom Air Force Base, 
Texas, operates combat-ready forces and equipment with 10 wings in the 
Western United States and Panama. In addition, 12th Air Force is the Air 
Force component of the U.S. Southern Command. More than 45,150 
people and over 475 aircraft are assigned to nine 12th Air Force bases.  
The command's units perform fighter and bomber operations, training, 
reconnaissance, air control, and a wide range of electronic combat tasks.  

     Twentieth Air Force, with Headquarters at Vandenberg Air Force 
Base, Calif., is responsible for ACC's ICBM force and acts as the 
operational missile component for U.S. Strategic Command.  With seven 
wings, including six operational missile wings, and one training and test 
wing, 20th Air Force has more than 18,000 people and 950 ICBMs.

Direct Reporting Units

     U.S. Air Force Air Warfare Center, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., 
serves as the focal point for combat air forces in electronic combat, 
chemical defense, reconnaissance and aircrew training devices. The center 
is also responsible for operational testing and evaluation of new 
equipment and systems proposed for use by these forces.

     U.S. Air Force Weapons and Tactics Center, at Nellis Air Force 
Base, Nev., conducts multiple activities to ensure Air Force combat air 
forces worldwide maintain the skilled instructors, knowledge of the 
enemy, technical expertise, effective equipment and sound tactics to fly, 
fight and win. 

(Current as of November 1992)