3.4 The Air Force Total Force

Air Force PFE Promotion Fitness Examination

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1 Introduction & Exam Overview

1.1 PFE Exam Facts & Format 1.2 The WAPS Scoring System 1.3 The Tested AFH 1 Chapters & Study Strategy

2 Professionalism (AFH 1, Chapter 1)

2.1 The USAF Professional & the Profession of Arms 2.2 The Air Force Core Values & Their Virtues 2.3 Ethical Standards & the Airman's Creed

3 Military Organization & Command (AFH 1, Chapter 5)

3.1 The United States Armed Forces 3.2 The Military Departments & Services 3.3 Military Command Structure & Combatant Commands 3.4 The Air Force Total Force 3.5 Air Force Organizational Structure

4 Enlisted Force Development I (AFH 1, Chapter 7A–7D)

4.1 Leadership Levels 4.2 The Enlisted Force Structure & Tiers 4.3 Duty Titles & Special Positions 4.4 Force Development & the Competency Framework

5 Enlisted Force Development II (AFH 1, Chapter 7E–7H)

5.1 Training Responsibilities & Upgrade Training 5.2 Professional Military Education 5.3 The Community College of the Air Force 5.4 Continuing Education & Voluntary Programs

6 Assessments & Recognition (AFH 1, Chapter 8)

6.1 The Airman Comprehensive Assessment 6.2 Performance Evaluations & the EPB 6.3 Reenlistments, Retention & Continuation 6.4 Awards & Decorations

7 Enlisted Promotions (AFH 1, Chapter 9)

7.1 Promotion Systems & Programs 7.2 Promotion Cycles & Eligibility 7.3 Preparation & Individual Responsibilities 7.4 Promotion Testing & Test Control 7.5 Evaluation Boards & Central Selection

8 Personnel Programs & Benefits (AFH 1, Chapter 11)

8.1 Benefits & Services 8.2 Leave & Authorized Absences 8.3 Military Associations & Civilian Programs

9 Finance, Manpower & Resources (AFH 1, Chapter 12)

9.1 Individual Finances & Allowances 9.2 Official Travel Expenses & Allowances 9.3 Manpower Management 9.4 Resource Management & Stewardship 9.5 Environmental Commitment

10 Developing Organizations (AFH 1, Chapter 13)

10.1 Strategic Thinking & Results Focus 10.2 Resources & Organizational Structure 10.3 Change Management & Problem Solving

11 Developing Others (AFH 1, Chapter 14)

11.1 Teamwork & Team Dynamics 11.2 Develops People: Mentoring, Coaching & Feedback 11.3 Service Mindset & Fostering Effective Relationships 11.4 Leadership: Styles, Power & Influence

12 Developing Self I (AFH 1, Chapter 15A–15C)

12.1 Accountability & Self-Management 12.2 Military Communication 12.3 Preparing to Communicate

13 Developing Self II (AFH 1, Chapter 15D–15F)

13.1 Written Communication 13.2 Spoken Communication 13.3 Electronic Messaging

14 Developing Ideas (AFH 1, Chapter 16)

14.1 What We Know: Priorities & Innovation 14.2 Cognitive Processes & Critical Thinking 14.3 Informed Decision-Making 14.4 What We Don't Know: Uncertainty & Assumptions

15 Emergency Management (AFH 1, Chapter 17)

15.1 Air Force Emergency Management, Disasters & Hazards 15.2 Preparedness, MOPP & Individual Protection 15.3 Crisis Response & Recovery 15.4 Department of the Air Force Mishap Prevention 15.5 Risk Management

16 Security (AFH 1, Chapter 18)

16.1 Integrated Defense & Force Protection Conditions 16.2 Operations Security (OPSEC) 16.3 Information Protection & Classification 16.4 Information Access, Cybersecurity & Mobility 16.5 Antiterrorism

17 Standards of Conduct (AFH 1, Chapter 19)

17.1 A Way of Life: Oaths, Standards & Off-Duty Conduct 17.2 The Law of War 17.3 The Code of Conduct

18 Enforcing Military Standards (AFH 1, Chapter 20)

18.1 The Air Force Inspection System 18.2 Individual Accountability & Corrective Action 18.3 Appropriate Working Relationships & Fraternization 18.4 Addressing Misconduct & Prohibited Behavior

19 Fitness & Readiness (AFH 1, Chapter 22)

19.1 USAF Fitness & Comprehensive Airman Fitness 19.2 The Official Fitness Assessment 19.3 Nutrition & Performance 19.4 Substance Use, Abuse & Treatment Programs 19.5 Readiness State of Mind & Resilience

20 Military Customs & Courtesies (AFH 1, Chapter 24)

20.1 Honored Traditions: Saluting, Titles & Reporting 20.2 Respect for the Flag 20.3 Respect for Individuals 20.4 Ceremonies & Events 20.5 Drill & Formation 20.6 Preserving Our Heritage

21 SJT Format & Competencies

21.1 SJT Format & Mechanics 21.2 Airman Leadership Qualities (ALQs) 21.3 Foundational Competencies & Behaviors

22 SJT Reasoning, Scenarios & Traps

22.1 SJT Reasoning Strategies 22.2 Sample SJT Scenarios 22.3 SJT Traps & Best Practices

3.4 The Air Force Total Force

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

The Total Force comprises military and civilian members, including contractors, serving within three components: the Regular Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard.

Under a classic association the Regular Component is the host unit retaining weapon system responsibility; under an active association the Reserve or Guard unit is the host with a Regular Component tenant.

The seven Reserve Components of the U.S. Armed Forces are the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve.

The Air National Guard's dual federal and state mission is a provision of the U.S. Constitution; when not federalized, command jurisdiction rests with the governor, and each of the 54 National Guard organizations is supervised by an adjutant general.

The four civilian auxiliaries of the U.S. Armed Forces are the Civil Air Patrol, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Merchant Marine, and Military Auxiliary Radio System.

Last updated: August 2026

One Team

AFH 1 opens Section 5D with a definition worth memorizing verbatim: "The USAF Total Force is one team — the USAF. It is comprised of military and civilian members (including contractors), serving within three components: the RegAF, USAF Reserve, and Air National Guard."

Note what is inside the definition: civilians and contractors are part of the Total Force , and there are three components , not two and not four. Section 1A used "Total Force" more loosely (officer, enlisted, and civilian Airmen across RegAF, Guard, Reserve, and Auxiliary); Section 5D is the precise organizational definition, and it is the one tested when the item says "three components."

AFH 1 makes a historical point that shows up in application items: elevated requirements and recurring deployments over recent decades transformed a traditionally strategic Reserve Force into a force that provides operational capability, strategic depth, and surge capacity. Guard and Reserve Airmen "are nearly indistinguishable on the battlefield" from RegAF Airmen, and civilian Airmen provide invaluable experience, continuity, and leadership .

Classic and Active Associations

Total Force integration organizations share equipment, facilities, and resources to carry out a common mission . The two association types differ only in who hosts:

• Association Host unit Tenant unit Weapon system responsibility
• Classic association Regular Component Reserve or Guard Retained by the Regular Component
• Active association Reserve or Guard unit Regular Component Held by the host Reserve/Guard unit

Mnemonic: classic = Regular hosts (the classic, older arrangement); active = the Air Reserve Component is the active host . Reversing them is the single most common Section 5D error.

The Air Reserve Component

The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve together form the Air Reserve Component (ARC) . AFH 1 establishes parity explicitly: ARC forces are staffed and trained to meet the same training standards and readiness levels as RegAF forces and are supplied with the same equipment on an equal priority . The RegAF can only withdraw, divert, or reassign that equipment for other commitments with the Secretary of Defense's written approval .

ARC units are sometimes not centralized at major multi-squadron bases , in order to take advantage of state or regional demographics — an exception AFH 1 calls beneficial because it builds a strong relationship with the civilian community and public support for the USAF .

Mobilization. Whenever the President authorizes mobilization in accordance with Title 10 U.S. Code , SecDef can delegate call-up authority to the service Secretaries; the Secretary of the Air Force would then be authorized to call Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve forces to RegAF status. When activated, operational command transfers to the gaining commander , who is also responsible for establishing training resources for assigned or attached ARC forces.

The seven Reserve Components of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard , Air Force Reserve , and Coast Guard Reserve. Count them — seven, not five or six.

Air National Guard

The National Guard Bureau is a joint activity of the Department of Defense, located in the Pentagon . The Air National Guard has more than 105,000 officers and enlisted members serving in 90 flying units and 579 mission support units .

The primary source of full-time support is the dual-status military technician . By law, dual-status military technicians are civil service employees of the federal government who must be military members of the unit that employs them ; they train with the unit and mobilize with it when federalized.

The dual federal and state mission is a provision of the U.S. Constitution , and results in each Guardsman holding membership in the National Guard of his or her state and in the U.S. National Guard .

Mission What it entails

Federal Maintain well-trained, well-equipped units available for prompt mobilization during war; provide assistance during national emergencies such as natural disasters or civil disturbances

State Protection of life and property; preserving peace, order, and public safety — through emergency relief in natural disasters, search and rescue, support to civil defense authorities, maintenance of vital public services, and counterdrug operations

Command jurisdiction when not federalized rests with the governor of the state, commonwealth, or possession. For the District of Columbia the President holds that jurisdiction as Governor of the District of Columbia and delegates it to the Secretary of the Army . Each of the 54 National Guard organizations is supervised by the adjutant general of the state or territory.

Air Force Reserve

The Chief of Air Force Reserve , at Headquarters Air Force in the Pentagon, is the principal advisor on reserve matters to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff . The Reserve is tasked by law to fill the needs of the Armed Forces whenever more units and people are required than are available in the RegAF.

AFH 1's figures: more than 835,300 people make up the Ready, Standby, and Retired Reserve , including nearly 70,300 Selected Reservists who are "ready-now." The Air Force Reserve is stationed at 66 locations throughout the United States and serves globally for every CCMD. Command of non-mobilized Air Force Reserve units runs through the Commander, Air Force Reserve Command , who is responsible to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force ; command of non-mobilized Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMAs) is exercised concurrently through AFRC and the unit of attachment.

Civil Air Patrol and AFJROTC

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, non-profit corporation under 36 U.S.C. § 40301 , designated the volunteer civilian auxiliary of the USAF when its services are used by any federal department or agency. CAP is aligned under Air Combat Command for fiscal and operational oversight. It has over 55,000 senior member and cadet volunteers , a fleet of over 550 aircraft and over 1,000 vehicles , and is organized into eight geographic regions and 52 state-level wings (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico / U.S. Virgin Islands), with approximately 1,400 individual units .

CAP's three primary programs : emergency services and civil support , aerospace education , and cadet programs .

The four civilian auxiliaries of the U.S. Armed Forces: Civil Air Patrol, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Merchant Marine, and Military Auxiliary Radio System.

AFJROTC is a Title 10-mandated citizenship training program open to 9th–12th grade students , whose mission is to develop citizens of character dedicated to serving the nation and community . There are 870 AFJROTC units (about 860 USAF, 10 Space Force) with nearly 120,000 cadets . Critically: AFJROTC is not a recruiting or accession tool , and students incur no military service obligation .