The U.S. Air Force identifies their careers using an Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). The Air Force has 123 enlisted AFSCs that are made up of five alphanumeric characters. Let’s take a look at an AFSC 2T371A and break it down for you:
- The first number (2) is the career group of logistics and maintenance.
- The second character (T) identifies the career field of transportation and vehicle management.
- The third character (3) is the career field subdivision or the functional job area of mission generation maintenance.
- The fourth character (7) is the airman’s skill level. In this case, the skill level is “craftsman.” Upon promotion to E-5, airmen begin training for the “7” (craftsman) skill level. This level of training includes correspondence courses, more on-the-job training, and for some jobs, a seven-level technical school.
- The fourth number in the AFSC is the Airman’s skill level. In this case, the “7” skill level is a “craftsman.” Upon promotion to E-5, Airmen begin training for the “7” (craftsman) skill level. This level of training includes correspondence courses, more on-the-job training, and for some jobs, a 7-level technical school.
A Guide to All Enlisted AFSCs
Here are the different occupational fields for enlisted airmen:
1 – Operations
- 1A – Aircrew Operations
The aircrew operations field includes solving problems that could make an aircraft unable to perform its mission. These airmen fix airborne systems equipment, such as computer systems, radar and radio systems, and surveillance systems operations activities.
- 1B – Cyber Warfare
The cyber warfare field involves working with surveillance, combat, reporting and network management systems to protect data and network systems.
- 1C – Command and Control Systems Operations
Command and control systems operations involve aerospace surveillance and vehicle detection, including missile warning systems. Jobs include combat control teams and air traffic control pertaining to close air support and tactical air reconnaissance.
- 1D – Cyber Defense Operations
Airmen in the cyber defense operations field provide cyber support and perform information technology tasks.
- 1N – Intelligence
Airmen in the intelligence field gather, analyze and process all types of military intelligence to help combat operators do their job. They also assist with target acquisition and recognition.
- 1P – Aircrew Flight Equipment
The job of airmen in the aircrew flight equipment field is to manage, perform and schedule inspections and maintenance of aircrew flight equipment, chemical defense equipment and associated supplies.
- 1S – Safety
Airmen must cross-train into the safety career field from another career. Their task is to analyze mishap causes and trends and assess risks.
- 1T – Special Warfare Enabler
Jobs for enlisted airmen within the special warfare enabler field include survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) specialists. These airmen help develop programs to train and prepare pilots and crew for unforeseen situations, including crashing into enemy territory.
- 1U – Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Sensor Operator
Remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators perform duties as mission crew members on unmanned aerospace systems. They employ airborne sensors to acquire, track and monitor airborne, maritime and ground objects.
- 1W – Weather
Airmen in the weather field use a variety of fixed and deployable meteorological sensors to measure and assess atmospheric and space weather conditions. They also observe, record, and distribute weather data and information.
- 1Z – Special Warfare
Jobs within the special warfare field include pararescue and combat control. They may plan and carry out materials or personnel rescues, assist in applying airpower, perform reconnaissance or act as precision strike experts.
2 – Logistics
- 2A – Aerospace Maintenance
Airmen in the aerospace maintenance field perform and oversee aviation equipment maintenance functions and activities. They inspect, repair, maintain and service aviation and support equipment.
- 2F – Fuels
Airmen in the fuels career field are involved in the maintenance, storage, quality, security and distribution of fuels and refueling equipment.
- 2G – Logistics Plans
Airmen who work in the logistics plan field help manage the movement of equipment and people from one location to another to ensure mission success of Air Force global missions.
- 2M – Missile and Space Systems Maintenance
Airmen in the missile and space systems maintenance field are responsible for monitoring, operating and supervising the operation of consoles, fault display panels and other equipment. They also monitor the status of missiles, unmanned air vehicles, boosters, payloads, subsystems and support equipment.
- 2P – Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory
Airmen in the precision measurement equipment laboratory field are responsible for testing, measurement and diagnostic equipment (TMDE). This includes the precision measurement equipment laboratory (PMEL).
- 2R – Maintenance Management
Airmen in the maintenance management field make sure that all maintenance assets are in working order and scheduled for routine maintenance before they break down. They work on aerospace vehicles, munitions, missiles, space systems and associated support systems.
- 2S – Materiel Management
Airmen in the materiel management field are involved in manual and automated integrated logistics systems. They manage items and monetary accounting, inventory control, financial planning and warehousing functions.
- 2T – Transportation and Vehicle Maintenance
The transportation and vehicle maintenance career field all involves the movement of equipment of personnel from one location to another using various modes of transportation such as airlift, ground, sea and rail. Jobs include traffic management, air transportation, vehicle drivers and vehicle mechanics.
- 2W – Munitions and Weapons
The munitions and weapons career field involves the maintenance, storage and repair of highly technical weapons systems and munitions that support military operations.
3 – Support
- 3D – Cyberspace Support
Cyberspace support involves managing the planning, coordinating, sharing and control of data assets, enabling data to be accessed, tagged and searched regardless of physical location, media, source or owner.
- 3E – Civil Engineering
Airmen in the civil engineering field build structures and living quarters, as well as water and fuel systems. They may also be tasked to perform explosive ordnance disposal.
- 3F – Force Support
Airmen in the force support field carry out all personnel functions, including training, administration and providing information about Air Force personnel and dependents benefits and entitlements.
- 3H – Historian
Historians are the official recorders of Air Force activities and events. They also maintain historical files.
- 3N – Public Affairs
Airmen in the public affairs field provide multimedia communications from print, video, audio, internet and digital to keep the public informed. The regional band is also included in this career field.
- 3P – Security Forces
Security forces guard, protect and secure all equipment and people on bases worldwide.
4 – Medical
- 4A-V – Medical
Those in the medical career field assist doctors, nurses and hospital administrators with their jobs.
- 4Y – Dental
Those in the dental career field provide oral and dental care for all members assigned to their base.
5 – Professionals Chaplain and Legal
- 5J – Paralegal
Paralegals assist military lawyers.
- 5R – Religious Affairs
Airmen in the religious affairs career field are part of the chaplain support team. They provide support for chaplains in delivering religious services and counseling support.
6 – Contracting and Financial
- 6C – Contracting
Airmen in the contracting field advise government and contractor personnel on contracting-related issues using data on marketing trends and supply sources.
- 6F – Financial
Airmen in the financial field account for cash and checks and process payments and collections. They serve as financial advisors to commanders and resource managers.
7 – Special Investigations
- 7S – Special Investigations (OSI)
This is not an entry-level field, and it requires experience in a related law enforcement field. Special investigators conduct criminal, fraud, counterintelligence, personal background and technical services investigations.
8 – Special Duty Identifiers
- 8X – Special Duty Identifiers
Special duty identifiers are jobs that airmen perform on a temporary basis outside their normal jobs. Examples include working as a recruiter, first sergeant or military training instructor.
9 – Reporting Identifiers
- 9X – Reporting Identifiers
According to the 2021 Air Force Enlisted Classification Directory, “Reporting identifiers (RI) identify authorizations and individual enlisted airmen who, for any reason, are not identifiable in the classification structure and for whom specialty descriptions are not written.
U.S. Air Force Officer AFSC
Air Force Officer AFSCs follow a similar format as enlisted AFSCs except they are only four digits. They have prefixes and suffixes to show the exact officer job. For example, an officer AFSC of 11B2B is a qualified pilot or copilot of a B-2 Bomber. All pilots have an AFSC of 11XX. 11B2B indicates a bomber aviator. 11B2B indicates that the officer is fully qualified, and the suffix 11B2B identifies the weapons system. In this case, it’s the B-2 Stealth Bomber.
A Guide to All Officer AFSCs
Here are the different occupational fields for commissioned Air Force officers:
1 – Operations
Officers in the operations career area perform tasks that directly employ weapons and supporting systems. Careers in this area include operations commander, pilot, navigator, astronaut, air battle management, space and missile, intelligence and weather.
- 10 – Operations Commander
Operations commanders are responsible for training and administration within their units. Their duties include policy-making and commanding staff to accomplish their missions.
- 11 – Pilot
Pilots conduct or support flying operations, including combat, combat support and training missions. Positions include fighter, bomber, rescue, special ops, reconnaissance, mobility and experimental test pilot.
- 12 – Combat Systems Officer
Combat systems officers support flying operations, including combat, combat support and training missions. Positions include fighter, bomber, rescue, special ops, reconnaissance, mobility and experimental test systems officer.
- 13 – Space, Nuclear and Missile Operation and Command and Control
Specialties within the space, nuclear and missile operation and command and control field include astronaut, air battle manager, nuclear and missile operations and airfield operations.
- 14 – Information Operations
Information operations officers provide the commander with the ability to wage information warfare throughout the full spectrum of military operations. This specialty includes jobs in the intelligence field.
- 15 – Operations Analysis
The operations analysis career field covers areas associated with analysis and assessments of current operations, weapons systems, and doctrine. This specialty includes jobs in operations research and weather and environmental sciences.
- 16 – Operations Support
Operations support includes jobs as foreign area officers, operations officers, software development and political-military affairs.
- 17 – Cyberspace Warfare Operations
Cyberspace warfare operations officers are involved in all aspects of defending against and carrying out cyberattacks, as well as in cyberspace training. Specialties in this field include combat systems officer, electronic warfare and cyberspace engineering.
- 18 – Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Pilot
Remotely piloted aircraft pilots conduct or support all RPA operations.
- 19 – Air Force Special Warfare
Officers in the special warfare career field are part of the Air Force’s premier ground forces specialized in applying airpower. Jobs in this specialty include special warfare and combat rescue.
2 – Logistics
- 21 – Logistics
Officers in the logistics career area are responsible for formulating programs, policy planning, inspection, command and direction, and supervision of the fields of space and missile maintenance, transportation, supply, aircraft and munitions maintenance, and logistics plans and programs.
3 – Support
- 31 – Security Forces (SF)
Security Forces officers lead, manage and direct all SF activities. Tasks include force protections, investigations, antiterrorism and military working dogs.
- 32 – Civil Engineer
Officers in the civil engineering field provide combat engineering support for all deployed and stateside Air Force units. Tasks include managing fire prevention, crash rescue, construction, utility systems and explosive ordnance disposal.
- 35 – Public Affairs
Officers in the public affairs career field serve as public affairs officers or supervise Air Force band specialties.
- 38 – Force Support
Force support officers manage and direct personnel supporting manpower, personnel and services programs. Tasks include manpower requirements, human resources, education and training, food services, lodging and morale, welfare, and recreation.
4 – Medical
Officers in the medical career field work in the following positions: health services administration, physical therapy, biomedical science/engineering, medical doctor, nurse and dentist. They need a professional degree in medicine, nursing or dentistry and must be accepted to the medical corps to hold these positions.
- 40 – Medical Commander
Medical commanders are in charge of the medical units, including managing personnel and resources and supervising health care activities.
- 41 – Health Services
Officers in the health services field support all aspects of providing health care. Jobs include health care services administrator.
- 42 – Biomedical Clinician
Jobs in the biomedical clinician field include optometry, physical and occupational therapy, podiatry, physician assistant, audiology and psychologist.
- 43 – Biomedical Specialist
Jobs in the biomedical specialist career field include aerospace physiology, biomedical scientist, dietician, public health officer and pharmacy.
- 44 – Physician
Physicians’ responsibilities could include preventative medicine, pathology, emergency room, family physician, nuclear medicine, pediatrician and other medical specialties.
- 45 – Surgery
Jobs in the surgery field include anesthesiologist, orthopedic surgeon, OB/GYN, surgeon and other specialties.
- 46 – Nurse
Jobs in the nursing field include nurse administrator, flight nurse, clinical nurse, operating room nurse and other specialties.
- 47 – Dental
Jobs in the dental field include orthodontist, dentist, pediatric dentist and other specialties.
- 48 – Aerospace Medicine
Job functions in the aerospace medicine field are related to the medical evacuation and transport of patients on aeromedical evacuation aircraft. Jobs in this field include flight surgeon and pilot-physician.
5 – Professional
- 51 – Law
Judge advocates are responsible for offering legal support to all Air Force personnel and their families. They must have a law degree and be accepted into the JAG program.
- 52 – Chaplain
Chaplains advise commanders on ethical and religious matters. They conduct divine services, administer sacraments and ordinances, perform rites and ceremonies and conduct pastoral visitations. They have to apply and be accepted into the chaplain corps.
6 – Acquisition and Financial Management
- 60 – Senior Materiel Leader, Upper Echelon
Senior materiel leaders are in charge of a major system acquisitions program, such as the Air Force Executive Program or the Congressional Selected Acquisition Reporting Program.
- 61 – Scientific
Jobs in the scientific field include chemist or physicist.
- 62 – Developmental Engineering
The developmental engineering career field covers a wide range of specialties, from aeronautical and computer systems to flight test and mechanical. Officers in this field are responsible for everything from planning to implementing their projects.
- 63 – Acquisition
Acquisition officers implement programs from engineering to securing final shipping. They oversee all aspects of the acquisition process to ensure the necessary equipment and supplies get where they need to be anywhere in the world.
- 64 – Contracting
The job of officers in the contracting field is to help make sure that command units are well stocked with everything they need. They are responsible for planning, evaluating or awarding contracts for commodities, services and construction
- 65 – Finance
Finance officers organize financial management activities and establish internal control. They help ensure funds are available for the equipment, supplies and services that airmen need.
7 – Special Investigations
- 71 – Special Investigations
Special investigators conduct investigations into criminal, fraud, counterintelligence, internal security and other security concerns. They manage investigations both in and out of the Air Force.
8 – Special Duty Identifiers
Special duty identifiers are jobs that officers perform on a temporary basis outside their normal jobs. Examples include working as a cadet squadron commander, instructor, historian or recruiter.
9 – Reporting Identifiers
According to the 2021 Air Force Officer Classification Directory, “Reporting identifiers identify authorizations and individual officers not otherwise identifiable in the classification structure. They do not have specialty descriptions.”
Jim spent 22 years on active duty, climbing the ranks from airman basic to a decorated Air Force major. Stationed all over the world, he held many high-level posts, including chief of foreign military sales at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Jim earned his Ph.D. through the Montgomery Era GI Bill and spent 13 years teaching African Studies in Pennsylvania. Jim is also an award-winning travel writer.
