FAQ

FAQS

What is this site all about?
This is the home of the library of US Air Force doctrine. It is organized into 30 Air Force Doctrine Publications (AFDPs) that span the range of all Air Force operations. Its purpose is to improve access to Air Force doctrine, simplify the doctrine publishing process, and provide easier access to all military doctrine.
Who manages all of this Air Force doctrine?
The LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. For Air Force doctrine, the commander of the LeMay Center responds directly to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force as principal agent for doctrine and lessons learned. The LeMay Center administratively falls under Air University (Air Education & Training Command).
Where are all the old volumes and annexes?
We updated the Service doctrine library to provide a simpler and cleaner experience for you in the doctrine community. The volumes and annexes are now titled Air Force Doctrine Publications (AFDPs); no information was lost, it was simply reformatted into full e-books you can download more readily.
Can I view Joint, Army, Navy, Space Force, or Marine Corps doctrine through this site?
Links to the joint and other Service doctrine sites are provided below the “Air Force Operational Doctrine” map. You can also click on the “external links” dropdown tab to go directly to them.
How about tactical doctrine? Where can I find TTPs?
Links to the various types of TTPs are provided below the “Other Operational Doctrine” line of buttons. You can also click on the “Tactical-level Doctrine” dropdown tab to go directly to them.
How is Air Force Doctrine updated?
Doctrine is updated in a collaborative manner with all Air Force MAJCOMs and Headquarters Air Force Air Staff agencies. Once proposed text has been validated by coordination, it is approved and updated in Air Force library.
How often is doctrine updated?
Air Force doctrine is reviewed every two years at a minimum to ensure currency. Proposals to update the doctrine don’t have to wait for the two year review and can be submitted at any time. Update proposals come from within the LeMay Center or from appropriate Air Staff or MAJCOM staffs.
I believe some of this doctrine is outdated. Whom do I contact to have it updated?
Please contact your MAJCOM or Air Staff representative (usually in the A5 and/or A8 offices). If you have trouble finding the correct office, please let us know and we’ll help direct you to the appropriate agency/office.
I found a broken link within the content, whom do I notify?
You can report any technical issues to usafdoctrine@us.af.mil
Can I search for specific content within the library?
Yes. Simply type in your search term in the “Search AF Doctrine” block at the top right of the screen.
Can I update the content myself
No. A common misconception is that web-based doctrine would function similar to Wikipedia™. Air Force doctrine is maintained by the LeMay Center, and coordinated with HQ Air Force and MAJCOM staffs to ensure content is accurate and up to date.
Can I save Doctrine for offline use?
Yes. All AFDPs are contained in a .pdf file which can be saved to any device with compatible Adobe Acrobat Reader™ software.
I am not able to see any of the content, am I doing something wrong?
Please ensure the device you're using has Adobe Acrobat Reader™ installed. You may find it on Adobe's site: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Can I access Air Force doctrine from my iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or other mobile/tablet device?
Yes. Site content can be viewed from any mobile device with a compatible Adobe Acrobat Reader™ application.
Why is content presented as .pdf documents? Wouldn't a web page version be simpler?
We’ve found that using the .pdf format allows the user the simplest means of saving the content for use offline. It was a choice to ensure widest availability for the user.
When I click on a link, it doesn’t open in a new window. How can I force it to open in a separate window?
a. This is an Adobe Acrobat™ preference on your computer.
b. To change the setting open Adobe Acrobat™ and do the following:
1. Open the [Edit] Menu and select [Preferences]
2. One the left side menu select [Internet]
3. Under Web Browser Options, uncheck the [Display PDF in browser] box.
4. Click Ok
Why do I get a warning that there is a problem with the website security certificate?
You need to install a DoD Root Certificate, which is a digital document providing the identity of a web site or individuals.
A certificate is a digital document providing the identity of a website or individual. The trustworthiness of any certificate is only as good as the dependability and trustworthiness of the authority who issued the certificate. When you receive this error, your browser is warning you that the certificate, for the site you're attempting to access, has not been issued by an authority trusted by your browser. Web browsers come preloaded with a set of certificate authorities that the developer of the browser believes to be trustworthy. Unfortunately, the DoD Certificate Authority (CA) is often not on this list.
The certificates that identify this site have been issued by the DoD CA. In order for your browser to recognize the DoD CA as a trustworthy certificate provider, you must have the DoD Root Certificate installed in your browser. Once this root certificate is installed, your browser will recognize the DoD CA as a trusted authority and accept the certificates without warnings.

Visit the following page to download the DoD/ECA Root Certificates: http://iase.disa.mil/pki-pke/function_pages/tools.html or http://dodpki.c3pki.chamb.disa.mil/rootca.html
How do I navigate back to a topic?
If your link opened a new PDF, simply close that PDF window and the document you launched from will be there. If the link stayed within the document and didn't open a new window, simply click ALT and the left arrow key (this solution works for Adobe Acrobat and may not work on other PDF viewers).
Where do the hyperlinks take me?
The hyperlinks will take you to another document (inside the Air Force Library or to an external site such as the site for joint doctrine publications) for a more detailed discussion related to that term. We try to provide links to the primary source material wherever possible for your use.
I am writing a paper. How do I formally cite doctrinal information from this website?
Since Air Force basic and operational doctrine is fully web-based, cite the information as you would any other website. If writing for an Air Force audience, use the rules and format contained in the Air University Style and Author Guide (AU-1) or the Tongue and Quill (AFH 33-337), both derived from the Chicago Manual of Style. If writing for another agency or school, refer to the style manual and format they recommend.

Here’s an example of how to cite a publication using the Air University Style and Author Guide (AU-1):

1. LeMay Center for Doctrine, “AFDP 1, The Air Force,” https://www.doctrine.af.mil/Portals/61/documents/AFDP_1/AFDP-1.pdf

The format is: “LeMay Center for Doctrine” is used as the source name, the number and title of the AFDP is in quotation marks, and the URL for the information is provided in full. Note that you don’t need to add “(accessed Day Month 2013)” unless information is particularly time sensitive.
How do I refer to a doctrine source when I'm creating a product (e.g., a staff paper), but I don't require a formal citation?
If you're simply referring to a specific piece of Air Force doctrine in an Air Force document (e.g., an AFI or a lesson plan), just refer to the AFDP, its number, and its title. Examples: AFDP 1, The Air Force, or AFDP 3-01, Counterair Operations.

When you're building your reference list (e.g., a list of cited sources, or a bibliography) at the end of a document, it's perfectly fine to simply reference our website, https://doctrine.af.mil, rather than laboriously listing each volume or annex cited. They're all in the same place!

If you need to formally cite information, make sure to use the standard citation format described in the FAQ, "I am writing a paper. How do I formally cite doctrinal information from this website?"
What is the difference between the Air Force’s core functions and core missions?
First, we need to recognize what organizations and commanders have missions and functions.

Only combatant commanders have missions. Departments and Services have functions.

From 10 USC Section 161 (a)(1): “(the President) shall establish unified combatant command and specified combatant commands to perform military missions . . .”

From 10 USC Section 9013(b): “. . . The Secretary of the Air Force is responsible for, and has the authority necessary to conduct, all affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the following functions: . . “

The functions of the Air Force are detailed in DODD 5100.01, Functions of the Department of Defense and Its Major Components.

That’s the big picture legal and regulatory answer. Missions vs. functions is only part of the puzzle.

The Air Force established Service Core Functions (SCFs), which were originally incorporated in the 2009 AFDD 1, Air Force Basic Doctrine. We removed them in 2013 when we transitioned to the current web-based doctrine, giving the information back to HAF/A8, who had originally produced them. As promulgated originally, the SCFs were policy/programmatics, run by MAJCOMs. Subsequently, the Air Staff produced five Air Force core missions, intended for use in strategic documents, not doctrine.

In other words, missions of combatant commanders and functions of Services are one aspect of the terms. But internal to the Air Force, Service core functions and Service core missions are Air Staff products that are not doctrine