Air Force Specialty Code

After the Air Force separated from the Army in 1947, it retained the Army's system of MOS occupation codes, modifying them in 1954. These were 5-digit codes; for example a maintenance data systems specialist was 39150 and a weather technician was 25170. In October 1993, the Air Force implemented a new system of AFSCs, aligning occupations with the force wide restructuring that was implemented under Merrill McPeak.[2] These reduced officer AFSCs from 216 to 123 and enlisted AFSCs from 203 to 176.

The enlisted AFSC consists of five alphanumeric characters:

• Career group (Numerical)
  1. Operations
  2. Logistics & Maintenance
  3. Support
  4. Medical
  5. Professional
  6. Acquisition
  7. Special Investigations
  8. Special Duty Identifiers, typically used for Airmen chosen for specialized jobs
  9. Reporting Identifiers, typically used for Airmen in transitive status: trainees, awaiting retraining, prisoner, etc. And occasionally for Airmen chosen for specialized jobs.
• Career field (Alpha, different for each)
• Career field subdivision (Numerical, different for each)
• Skill level

1 – Helper (recruits or trainees in technical school)

3 – Apprentice (technical school graduates applying and expanding their job skills)

5 – Journeyman (experienced Airmen functioning as front-line technicians and initial trainers)

7 – Craftsman (Airmen with many years of experience in the specialty, responsible for supervision and training)

9 – Superintendent (Airmen in the grade of Senior Master Sergeant and above, with at least 14 years of experience, responsible for broad supervision)

0 – Chief Enlisted Manager (CEM) (Airmen in the grade of Chief Master Sergeant responsible for policy and direction on a broad scale, from the individual squadron to HQ USAF levels)

• Specific AFSC (Numeric, specialty within career field subdivision)

For example, in the AFSC 1N371:

• The career group is 1 (Operations)
• The career field is N (Intelligence)
• The career field subdivision is 3 (Cryptologic Linguist)
• The skill level is 7 (Craftsman)
• The specific AFSC is 1 (Crypto-Linguist)

For some specialties, an alpha prefix is used to denote a special ability, skill, qualification or system designator not restricted to a single AFSC (such as "X" for an aircrew position). Additionally, an alpha suffix (a "shredout") denotes positions associated with particular equipment or functions within a single specialty (an Afrikaans specialist in the Germanic linguist field would have an "E" shredout). Using the above example, the AFSC X1N371E would refer to a Germanic Cryptologic Linguist who is aircrew qualified and specializes in Afrikaans.

Here is an extended listing of AFSC groups. Most categories have numerous actual AFSCs in them.

Operations

• 1A – Aircrew Operations
  
  • 1A0X1 – In-Flight Refueling Specialist
  • 1A1X1 – Flight engineer
  • 1A2X1 – Aircraft Loadmaster
  • 1A3X1 – Airborne Mission Systems Specialist
  • 1A6X1 – Flight attendant
  • 1A8X1 – Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst
  • 1A8X2 – Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operator
  • 1A9X1 – Special Mission Aviator
• 1B – Cyber Warfare
  
  • 1B4X1 – Cyber Warfare Operations[3]
• 1C – Command and control Systems Operations
  
  • 1C0X2 – Aviation Resource Management
  • 1C1X1 – Air traffic control
    
  • 1C3X1 – Command and Control Operations (C2 OPS)
    
  • 1C5X1 – Command and Control Battle Management Ops (1C5X1D Weapons Director)
    
  • 1C6X1 – Space Systems Operations
    
  • 1C7X1 – Airfield Management
  • 1C8X3 – Radar, Airfield & Weather Systems (RAWS)
• 1D – Cyber Defense Operations; implemented on 31 October 2021 as a direct replacement for 3DXXX career fields [4]
  
  • 1D7X1 – Cyber Defense Operations
    • 1D7X1A – Network Operations
    • 1D7X1B – Systems Operations
    • 1D7X1D – Security Operations
    • 1D7X1E – Client Systems Operations
    • 1D7X1K – Knowledge Operations
    • 1D7X1R – RF Operations
    • 1D7X1Z – Software Development Operations
  • 1D7X2 – Spectrum Defense Operations
    • 1D7X2F – Spectrum Operations
  • 1D7X3 – Cable and Antenna Defense Operations
    • 1D7X3C – Cable and Antenna Operations
• 1H0X1 – Aerospace Physiology
• 1N – Intelligence
  
  • 1N0X1 – All Source Intelligence Analyst
  • 1N1X1 – Geospatial Intelligence
  • 1N2X1 – Signals intelligence Analyst
  • 1N3X1 – Cryptologic Language Analyst
  • 1N4X1 – Cyber Intelligence
  • 1N4X2 – Cryptologic Analyst & Reporter
  • 1N7X1 – Human Intelligence Specialist[5]
  • 1N8X1 – Targeting Analyst

• 1P – Aircrew Flight Equipment
  • 1P0X1 – Aircrew Flight Equipment

• 1S – Safety
  • 1S0X1 – Safety[6]

• 1T – Special Warfare Enabler
  • 1T0X1 – Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Specialist

• 1U – Aircrew Operations (RPA)
  • 1U0X1 – Sensor Operator
  • 1U1X1 – Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Pilot

• 1W – Weather
  • 1W0X1 – Weather

• 1Z – Special Warfare
  • 1Z1X1 – Pararescue
  • 1Z2X1 – Combat Control
  • 1Z3X1 – Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)
  • 1Z4X1 – Special Reconnaissance

Maintenance and Logistics

• 2A – Aerospace Maintenance[7]
  • 2A0X1 – Avionics Test Station and Components
  • 2A2X1 – Special Operations Forces/Personnel Recovery (SOF/PR) Integrated Communication/Navigation/Mission Systems
  • 2A2X2 – Special Operations Forces/Personnel Recovery (SOF/PR) Integrated Instrument and Flight Control Systems
  • 2A2X3 – Special Operations Forces/Personnel Recovery (SOF/PR) Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems
  • 2A3X3 – Tactical Aircraft Maintenance
  • 2A3X3E – Fighter Aircraft Integrated Avionics (A-10, U-2)
  • 2A3X5 – Advanced Fighter Aircraft Integrated Avionics (F-22, F-35, MQ-1, MQ-9, RQ-4)
  • 2A3X7 – Tactical Aircraft Maintenance (5th Generation) (F-22, F-35)
  • 2A3X8 – Remotely Piloted Aircraft Maintenance
  • 2A5X1 – Airlift/Special Mission Aircraft Maintenance
  • 2A5X2 – Helicopter/Tiltrotor Aircraft Maintenance
  • 2A5X4 – Refuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance
  • 2A6X1 – Aerospace Propulsion
  • 2A6X2 – Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE)
  • 2A6X3 – Aircrew Egress Systems
  • 2A6X4 – Aircraft Fuel Systems
  • 2A6X5 – Aircraft Hydraulic Systems
  • 2A6X6 – Aircraft Electrical and Environmental Systems
  • 2A7X1 – Aircraft Metals Technology
  • 2A7X2 – Nondestructive Inspection (NDI)
  • 2A7X3 – Aircraft Structural Maintenance
  • 2A7X5 – Low Observable Aircraft Structural Maintenance
  • 2A8X1 – Mobility Air Forces Integrated Communication/Navigation/Mission Systems
  • 2A8X2 – Mobility Air Forces Integrated Instrument and Flight Control Systems
  • 2A9X1 – Bomber/Special Integrated Communication/Navigation/Mission Systems
  • 2A9X2 – Bomber/Special Integrated Instrument and Flight Control Systems
  • 2A9X3 – Bomber/Special Electronic Warfare and Radar Surveillance Integrated Avionics

• 2F – Fuels
  • 2F0X1 – Fuels

• 2G – Logistics Plans
  • 2G0X1 – Logistics Plans

• 2M – Missile and Space Systems Maintenance
  • 2M0X1 – Missile and Space Systems Electronic Maintenance
  • 2M0X2 – Missile and Space Systems Maintenance
  • 2M0X3 – Missile and Space Facilities
• 2P – Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory
  • 2P0X1 – Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory
• 2R – Maintenance Management
  • 2R0X1 – Maintenance Management Analysis
  • 2R1X1 – Maintenance Management Production
• 2S – Materiel Management
  • 2S0X1 – Materiel Management

• 2T – Transportation & Vehicle Management
  • 2T0X1 – Traffic Management
  • 2T1X1 – Ground Transportation
  • 2T2X1 – Air Transportation
  • 2T3X1 – Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance
  • 2T3X1A – Firefighting and Refueling Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance
  • 2T3X1C – Material Handling Equipment (MHE)/463L Maintenance
  • 2T3X7 – Fleet Management and Analysis

• 2W – Munitions & Weapons
  • 2W0X1 – Munitions Systems
  • 2W1X1 – Aircraft Armament Systems
  • 2W2X1 – Nuclear Weapons

Support

• 3E – Civil Engineering
  • 3E0X1 – Electrical Systems
  • 3E0X2 – Electrical Power Production
  • 3E1X1 – Heating, Ventilation, AC, and Refrigeration
  • 3E2X1 – Pavements and Construction Equipment
  • 3E3X1 – Structural
  • 3E4X1 – Water and Fuel Systems Maintenance
  • 3E4X3 – Pest Management
  • 3E5X1 – Engineering
  • 3E6X1 – Operations Management
  • 3E7X1 – Fire Protection
  • 3E8X1 – Explosive Ordnance Disposal
    

    USAF EOD Basic Occupational Badge
  • 3E9X1 – Emergency Management
    
• 3F – Force Support
  
  • 3F0X1 – Personnel
  • 3F1X1 – Services
    
  • 3F2X1 – Education and Training
  • 3F3X1 – Manpower
  • 3F4X1 – Equal Opportunity
  • 3F5X1 – Administration
    
• 3G0X1 – Talent Acquisition

• 3H – Historian
  • 3H0X1 – Historian
• 3N – Public Affairs
  
  • 3N0X6 – Public Affairs
  • 3N1X1 – Regional Band
    
  • 3N2X1 – Premier Band – The United States Air Force Band
  • 3N3X1 – Premier Band – The United States Air Force Academy Band
• 3P – Security Forces
  
  • 3P0X1 – Security Forces
    • 3P0X1A – Military Working Dog Handler
    • 3P0X1B – Combat Arms Training and Maintenance

Medical

• Medical
  • 4A0X1 – Health Services Management
  • 4A1X1 – Medical Material
  • 4A2X1 – Biomedical Equipment
  • 4B0X1 – Bioenvironmental Engineering
  • 4C0X1 – Mental Health Service
  • 4D0X1 – Diet Therapy
  • 4E0X1 – Public health
    
  • 4H0X1 – Respiratory Care Practitioner
  • 4J0X2 – Physical Medicine
    • 4J0X2A – Orthotics
  • 4N0X1 – Aerospace Medical Service
    • 4N0X1B – Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician
    • 4N0X1C – Independent Duty Medical Technician
    • 4N0X1D – Allergy/Immunization Medical Technician
    • 4N0X1F – Flight and Operational Medical Technician
  • 4N1X1 – Surgical Service
  • 4P0X1 – Pharmacy
  • 4R0X1 – Diagnostic Imaging
  • 4T0X1 – Medical Laboratory
  • 4T0X2 – Histopathology
  • 4V0X1 – Ophthalmic
• Dental
  • 4Y0X1 – Dental assistant
    • 4Y0X1H – Dental hygienist
  • 4Y0X2 – Dental laboratory

Professional

• 5J – Paralegal
  • 5J0X1 – Paralegal
• 5R – Religious Affairs
  • 5R0X1 – Religious Affairs

Acquisition

• 6C – Contracting
  • 6C0X1 – Contracting
• 6F – Financial
  • 6F0X1 – Financial Management and Comptroller

Reporting Identifiers

• 9A000 – Awaiting Retraining-Reasons beyond Control
• 9A100 – Awaiting Retraining-Reasons within Control
• 9A200 – Awaiting Discharge/Separation/Retirement for Reasons Within Their Control
• 9A300 – Awaiting Discharge/Separation/Retirement for Reasons Beyond Their Control
• 9A400 – Disqualified Airman, Return to Duty Program
• 9A500 – Temporarily Ineligible for Retraining – Disqualified for Reasons Beyond Control
• 9C000 – Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
• 9C100 – Executive Assistant to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
• 9D100 – AF Developmental Senior Enlisted Positions
• 9D200 – Key Developmental Senior Enlisted Positions
• 9E000 – Command Chief Master Sergeant
• 9E100 – Command Chief Executive Assistant
• 9E200 – Individual Mobilization Augmentee to Command Chief Master Sergeant
• 9F000 – First Term Airmen Center (FTAC) NCOIC
• 9G100 – Group Superintendent
• 9H000 – Academic Faculty Instructor
• 9I000 - Futures Airmen
• 9J000 – Prisoner
• 9L000 – Interpreter/Translator
• 9L100 – Enlisted Engagement Manager/International Affairs
• 9M000 – Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM) Senior Enlisted Advisor
• 9M200 – International Health Specialists (IHS)
• 9M400 – Chief, Medical Enlisted Force (CMEF)
• 9N000 – Secretary of the Air Force Enlisted Legislative Fellows
• 9P000 – Patient
• 9Q000 – Reserve Force Generation and Oversight NCO
• 9R000 – Civil Air Patrol (CAP)-USAF Reserve Assistance NCO
• 9S000 – Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force

• 9S100 – Scientific Applications Specialist
• 9T000 – Basic Enlisted Airman
• 9T100 – Officer Trainee
• 9T200 – Precadet Assignee
• 9T400 – AFIT/EWI Enlisted Student
• 9T500 – Basic Special Warfare Enlisted Airman
• 9U000 – Enlisted Airman Ineligible for Local Utilization
• 9U100 – Unallotted Enlisted Authorization
• 9V000 – Key Developmental Joint Senior Enlisted Position
• 9W000 – Combat Wounded Warrior
• 9W100 – Reserved for Future Use
• 9W200 – Combat Wounded Warrior with Exemptions
• 9W300 – Non-Combat Wounded Warrior
• 9W400 – Wounded Warrior – Limited Assignment Status (LAS)
• 9W500 – Reserved for Future Use
• 9W600 – Reserved for Future Use
• 9W700 – Reserved for Future Use
• 9W800 – Wounded Warrior – Ambassador
• 9W900 – Wounded Warrior – Project Planner/Officer

The officer AFSC consists of four alphanumeric characters:

• Career Group (Numerical)
  • 1 (Operations)
  • 2 (Logistics)
  • 3 (Support)
  • 4 (Medical)
  • 5 (Professional Services)
  • 6 (Acquisition)
  • 7 (Special Investigations)
  • 8 (Special Duty Identifier)
  • 9 (Reporting Identifier)
• Utilization Field (Numerical, different for each)
• Functional Area (Alpha, different for each)
• Qualification Level
  • 0 – Qualified commander (when used in conjunction with “C” in the 3rd position)
  • 1 – Entry (any AFSC)
  • 2 – Intermediate (is only used for pilots, bomber navigators, missile launch officers, and cyberspace officers)
  • 3 – Qualified (any AFSC)
  • 4 – Staff (relates only to the level of functional responsibility and is restricted to positions above wing level; it does not denote additional specialty qualifications)

For example, in the AFSC 11M4:

• The career group is 11 (Pilot)
• The functional area is M (Mobility)
• The qualification level is 4 (Staff)

For example, in the AFSC T63A3

• The career group is 63 (acquisition manager)
• The functional area is A (all 63 officers are "A")
• The qualification level is 3 (fully qualified)
• The prefix "T" designates a formal training instructor (other prefixes are available for other specialty positions)

As with enlisted AFSCs, prefixes and suffixes may be applied to make the AFSC more specific.

Operations

• 10C0 – Operations Commander
• 11BX – Bomber Pilot
• 11EX – Experimental Test Pilot
• 11FX – Fighter Pilot
• 11GX – Generalist Pilot
• 11HX – Rescue Pilot (includes both helicopter and fixed-wing)
• 11KX – Trainer Pilot
• 11MX – Mobility Pilot
• 11RX – Recce/Surv/Elect Warfare Pilot
• 11SX – Special Operations Pilot
• 11UX – Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Pilot
• 12BX – Bomber Combat Systems Officer
• 12EX – Experimental Test Combat Systems Officer
• 12FX – Fighter Weapon Systems Officer (WSO)
• 12GX – Generalist Combat Systems Officer
• 12HX – Rescue Combat Systems Officer
• 12KX – Trainer Combat Systems Officer
• 12MX – Mobility Combat Systems Officer
• 12RX – Recce/Surv/Elect Warfare Combat Systems Officer
• 12SX – Special Operations Combat Systems Officer
• 12UX – Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot
• 13AX – Astronaut
• 13BX – Air Battle Manager

• 13MX – Airfield Operations
• 13NX – Nuclear and Missile Operations

• 13OX – Multi-Domain Warfare Officer[17]
• 13SX – Space Operations

• 14FX – Information Operations
• 14NX – Intelligence

• 15AX – Operations Research Analyst (Operations Analysis Officer effective 30 April 2022) (formerly 61AX)

• 15W – Weather and Environmental Sciences Officer
• 16FX – Foreign Area Officer
• 16GX – Air Force Operations Staff Officer
• 16PX – Political-Military Affairs Strategist
• 16RX – Planning & Programming
• 17CX – Cyberspace Operations Commander
• 17DX – Cyberspace Operations
• 17SX – Cyberspace Warfare Operations Officer
• 18AX – Attack Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot (18X established in October 2009[18])
• 18GX – Generalist Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot
• 18RX – Recce Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot
• 19ZX – Special Warfare Officer
• 19ZXA – Special Tactics Officer[19]
• 19ZXB – Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Officer
• 19ZXC – Combat Rescue Officer

Support

• 30C0 – Mission Support Group Commander or Deputy Group Commander
• 31PX – Security Forces
• 32EX – Civil Engineer
• 35BX – Band
• 35PX – Public Affairs

• 38FX – Force Support (Services, Personnel, & Manpower) (previously 38PX)

Medical

• 40C0 – Medical Commander

• 41AX – Hospital Administration, Health Services Administrator and Medical Service Corps
• 42BX – Physical Therapist
• 42EX – Optometrist
• 42FX – Podiatrist
• 42GX – Physician Assistant
• 42NX – Audiology/Speech Pathologist
• 42PX – Clinical Psychologist
• 42SX – Clinical Social Worker
• 42TX – Occupational Therapist Biomedical Specialists
• 43AX – Aerospace & Operational Physiologist

• 43BX – Biomedical Scientist
• 43DX – Dietitian
• 43EX – Bioenvironmental Engineer
• 43HX – Public health
• 43MX – Medical Entomologist
• 43PX – Pharmacist
• 43TX – Biomedical Laboratory
• 44AX – Chief, Hospital/Clinic Services
• 44BX – Preventive Medicine
• 44DX – Pathologist
• 44EX – Emergency Services Physician
• 44FX – Family Physician
• 44GX – General Practice Physician
• 44HX – Nuclear Medicine Physician
• 44JX – Clinical Geneticist
• 44KX – Pediatrician
• 44MX – Internist
• 44NX – Neurologist
• 44PX – Psychiatrist
• 44RX – Diagnostic Radiologist
• 44SX – Dermatologist
• 44TX – Radiotherapist
• 44UX – Occupational Medicine
• 44YX – Critical Care Medicine
• 44ZX – Allergist
• 45AX – Anesthesiologist
• 45BX – Orthopedic Surgeon
• 45EX – Ophthalmologist
• 45GX – OB/GYN
• 45NX – Otorhinolaryngologist
• 45PX – Physical Medicine Physician
• 45SX – Surgeon
• 45UX – Urologist

• 46AX – Nurse Administrator
• 46FX – Flight Nurse
• 46GX – Nurse-Midwife
• 46MX – Nurse Anesthetist
• 46NX – Clinical Nurse
• 46PX – Mental Health Nurse
• 46SX – Operating Room Nurse
• 46YX – Privileged Advanced Practice Nurse
• 47BX – Orthodontist
• 47DX – Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist
• 47EX – Endodontist

• 47GX – Dentist
• 47HX – Periodontist
• 47KX – Pediatric Dentist
• 47PX – Prosthodontist
• 47SX – Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
• 48AX – Aerospace Medicine Specialist
• 48GX – General Medical Officer (GMO), Flt Surg
• 48RX – Residency Trained Flight Surgeon
• 48VX – Pilot-Physician

Professional

• 51JX – Judge Advocate
• 52RX – Chaplain

Acquisition

• 60C0 – Program Director
• 61BX – Behavioral Science/Human Factors Scientist
• 61CX – Chemist/Biologist
• 61DX – Physicist/Nuclear Engineer
• 61DXN - Physicist (Nuclear Shredout)
• 62EX – Developmental Engineer
• 62EXA – Aeronautical Engineer
• 62EXB – Astronautical Engineer
• 62EXC – Computer Systems Engineer
• 62EXE – Electrical/Electronic Engineer
• 62EXF – Flight Test Engineer
• 62EXG – Project Engineer
• 62EXH – Mechanical Engineer[20]
• 62S0 – Materiel Leader
• 63AX – Acquisition Manager
• 63G0 – Senior Materiel Leader
• 63S0 – Materiel Leader
• 64PX – Contracting
• 65AX – Auditor
• 65FX – Financial Management
• 65WX – Cost Analysis

During the course of their Air Force careers, Airmen sometimes switch jobs and receive multiple AFSCs to denote training in multiple specialties. A Primary AFSC (PAFSC) is the designation for the specialty in which the individual possesses the highest skill level and is, therefore, the AFSC that he or she is best qualified to perform. The Duty AFSC (DAFSC) reflects the actual manpower position the Airman is assigned to. The Control AFSC (CAFSC) is a management tool to make assignments, assist in determining training requirements, and consider individuals for promotion. Often an enlisted Airman's PAFSC will reflect a higher skill level than his or her CAFSC since the CAFSC skill level is tied to rank while the PAFSC skill level is tied to performance and education.

Usually, the PAFSC, DAFSC, and CAFSC will be the same. However, situations such as retraining, special duties, or Air Force-level changes necessitate these distinctions. Additionally, Airmen that have retrained into multiple specialties will have several Secondary AFSCs (2AFSC, 3AFSC, etc.). Air Force officers are limited to 3 AFSCs in MilPDS while Enlisted may have 4 AFSCs on record.

Special Experience Identifiers (SEIs) are established to identify special experience and training. The Air Force Enlisted Classification Directory (AFECD) and Air Force Officer Classification Directory (AFOCD) Section III contains the complete list of authorized SEIs and includes designation criteria and authorized AFSC combinations. (AFMAN 36-2100)

• Badges of the United States Air Force
• List of United States Army careers
• List of United States Marine Corps MOS
• List of United States Navy ratings
• List of United States Navy staff corps
• List of United States Coast Guard ratings
• Military education and training

• AFMAN 36-2100, Military Utilization and Classification (PDF)
• Tactical Aircraft Maintenance AFSC 2A3X3 Air Force Career
• U.S. Air Force Officer Classification Directory (AFOCD) and U.S. Air Force Enlisted Classification Directory (AFECD) – Only accessible to military personnel