WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Four weeks ago, U.S. Air Force Online News carried a story about the development and testing of a new Air Force symbol and theme.
Although a final decision on the symbol is pending, the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff are aware of the keen interest throughout the force in its ultimate shape, design and meaning. They also want all members of the Air Force family to understand the motivation behind the development of a new and unifying symbol and theme to represent Air Force people and all the important things they do for our nation.
This initiative is not about changing or re-inventing the Air Force. It's about ensuring our own people and the public we serve have a clear, consistent understanding of who we are and the value we provide our nation.
Because change always causes turbulence, we expect and welcome criticism and advice. To date, we've received input from all parts of the Air Force family and the general public -- 10,000 people and counting!
The following is an explanation of what it means, as well as a site to provide feedback.
The U.S. Air Force symbol honors the heritage of our past and represents the promise of our future. It retains the core elements of our Air Corps heritage -- the "Arnold" wings and star with circle -- and modernizes them to reflect our aerospace force of today and tomorrow.
The symbol has two main parts. In the upper half, the stylized wings represent the stripes of our strength -- the enlisted men and women of our force. They have been drawn with great angularity to emphasize our swiftness and power, and they are divided into six sections which represent our core competencies -- aerospace superiority, global attack, rapid global mobility, precision engagement, information superiority, and agile combat support.
In the lower half there are a sphere, a star and three diamonds. The sphere within the star represents the globe. It reminds us of our obligation to secure our nation's freedom with Global Vigilance, Reach and Power. The globe also reminds us of our challenge as an expeditionary force to respond rapidly to crises and to provide decisive aerospace power, worldwide.
The area surrounding the sphere takes the shape of a star. The star has many meanings. Its five points represent the components of our one force and family -- our active duty, civilians, Guard, Reserve and retirees. The star symbolizes space as the high ground of our nation's aerospace force. The rallying symbol in all our wars, the star also represents our officer corps, central to our combat leadership.
The star has been framed with three diamonds, which represent our core values -- integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do.
The elements come together to form one symbol that presents two powerful images -- at once it is an eagle, the emblem of our nation, and a medal, representing valor in service to our nation.
