TITLE 10 - US CODE - CHAPTER 807 - THE AIR FORCE

10 USC 8061 - Regulations

The President may prescribe regulations for the government of the Air Force.

10 USC 8062 - Policy; composition; aircraft authorization

(a) It is the intent of Congress to provide an Air Force that is capable, in conjunction with the other armed forces, of
(1) preserving the peace and security, and providing for the defense, of the United States, the Commonwealths and possessions, and any areas occupied by the United States;
(2) supporting the national policies;
(3) implementing the national objectives; and
(4) overcoming any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the United States.
(b) There is a United States Air Force within the Department of the Air Force.
(c) In general, the Air Force includes aviation forces both combat and service not otherwise assigned. It shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. It is responsible for the preparation of the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peacetime components of the Air Force to meet the needs of war.
(d) The Air Force consists of
(1) the Regular Air Force, the Air National Guard of the United States, the Air National Guard while in the service of the United States, and the Air Force Reserve;
(2) all persons appointed or enlisted in, or conscripted into, the Air Force without component; and
(3) all Air Force units and other Air Force organizations, with their installations and supporting and auxiliary combat, training, administrative, and logistic elements; and all members of the Air Force, including those not assigned to units; necessary to form the basis for a complete and immediate mobilization for the national defense in the event of a national emergency.
(e) Subject to subsection (f) of this section, chapter 831 of this title, and the strength authorized by law pursuant to section 115 of this title, the authorized strength of the Air Force is 70 Regular Air Force groups and such separate Regular Air Force squadrons, reserve groups, and supporting and auxiliary regular and reserve units as required.
(f) There are authorized for the Air Force 24,000 serviceable aircraft or 225,000 airframe tons of serviceable aircraft, whichever the Secretary of the Air Force considers appropriate to carry out this section. This subsection does not apply to guided missiles.
(g) 
(1) Effective October 1, 2008, the Secretary of the Air Force shall maintain a total aircraft inventory of strategic airlift aircraft of not less than 299 aircraft.
(2) In this subsection:
(A) The term strategic airlift aircraft means an aircraft
(i) that has a cargo capacity of at least 150,000 pounds; and
(ii) that is capable of transporting outsized cargo an unrefueled range of at least 2,400 nautical miles.
(B) The term outsized cargo means any single item of equipment that exceeds 1,090 inches in length, 117 inches in width, or 105 inches in height.

10 USC 8066 - Repealed. Pub. L. 96513, title II, 201, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2878]

Section, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 494; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 33(a)(36), 72 Stat. 1566, authorized President, by and with consent of the Senate, to make temporary appointments in grades of general and lieutenant general from officers of Air Force on active duty in any grade above brigadier general and specified the number of positions in each such grade. See section 601 of this title.

10 USC 8067 - Designation: officers to perform certain professional functions

(a) Medical functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force and who are designated as medical officers.
(b) Dental functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary and who are designated as dental officers.
(c) Veterinary functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as veterinary officers.
(d) Medical service functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as medical service officers.
(e) Nursing functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary and who are designated as Air Force nurses.
(f) Biomedical science functions, including physician assistant functions and chiropractic functions, in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as biomedical science officers.
(g) Judge advocate functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as judge advocates.
(h) Chaplain functions in the Air Force shall be performed by commissioned officers of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary and who are designated as chaplains.
(i) Other functions in the Air Force requiring special training or experience shall be performed by members of the Air Force who are qualified under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and who are designated as being in named categories.

10 USC 8069 - Air Force nurses: Chief and assistant chief; appointment; grade

(a) Positions of Chief and Assistant Chief.— 
There are a Chief and assistant chief of the Air Force Nurse Corps.
(b) Chief.— 
The Secretary of the Air Force shall appoint the Chief from the officers of the Regular Air Force designated as Air Force nurses whose regular grade is above lieutenant colonel and who are recommended by the Surgeon General. An appointee who holds a lower regular grade shall be appointed in the regular grade of major general. The Chief serves during the pleasure of the Secretary.
(c) Assistant Chief.— 
The Surgeon General shall appoint the assistant chief from the officers of the Regular Air Force designated as Air Force nurses whose regular grade is above lieutenant colonel.

10 USC 8071 - Repealed. Pub. L. 90130, 1(25), Nov. 8, 1967, 81 Stat. 382]

Section, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 495, provided for appointment of a female Air Force officer in temporary grade of colonel.

10 USC 8072 - Renumbered 8037]

10 USC 8074 - Commands: territorial organization

(a) Except as otherwise prescribed by law or by the Secretary of Defense, the Air Force shall be divided into such organizations as the Secretary of the Air Force may prescribe.
(b) For Air Force purposes, the United States, its possessions, and other places in which the Air Force is stationed or is operating, may be divided into such areas as directed by the Secretary. Officers of the Air Force may be assigned to command Air Force activities, installations, and personnel in those areas. In the discharge of the Air Forces functions or other functions authorized by law, officers so assigned have the duties and powers prescribed by the Secretary.

10 USC 8075 - Regular Air Force: composition

(a) The Regular Air Force is the component of the Air Force that consists of persons whose continuous service on active duty in both peace and war is contemplated by law, and of retired members of the Regular Air Force.
(b) The Regular Air Force includes
(1) the officers and enlisted members of the Regular Air Force;
(2) the professors, registrar, and cadets at the United States Air Force Academy; and
(3) the retired officers and enlisted members of the Regular Air Force.

8076 to 8080. Repealed. Pub. L. 103337, div. A, title XVI, 1661(a)(3)(A), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2980]

Section 8076, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 496, related to composition of Air Force Reserve. See section 10110 of this title. Section 8077, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 496, related to composition of Air National Guard of United States. See section 10111 of this title. Section 8078, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 496, provided that Air National Guard is component of Air Force when in service of United States. See section 10112 of this title. Section 8079, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 496, related to status of Air National Guard of United States when not in Federal service. See section 10113 of this title. Section 8080, added Pub. L. 86–603, § 1(3)(A), July 7, 1960, 74 Stat. 357, related to authority of officers of Air National Guard of United States with respect to Federal status. See section 10215 of this title.

10 USC 8081 - Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services

There is an Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services in the Air Force who is appointed by the Secretary of the Air Force upon the recommendation of the Surgeon General from officers of the Air Force above the grade of lieutenant colonel who are designated as dental officers under section 8067 (b) of this title. An appointee who holds a lower regular grade shall be appointed in the regular grade of major general. The Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services serves at the pleasure of the Secretary.

10 USC 8084 - Officer career field for space

The Secretary of the Air Force shall establish and implement policies and procedures to develop a career field for officers in the Air Force with technical competence in space-related matters to have the capability to
(1) develop space doctrine and concepts of space operations;
(2) develop space systems; and
(3) operate space systems.