The Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) is an alphanumeric code used by the United States Air Force to identify a specific job. Officer AFSCs consist of four characters and enlisted AFSCs consist of five characters. A letter prefix or suffix may be used with an AFSC when more specific identification of position requirements and individual qualifications is necessary. The AFSC is similar to the military occupational specialty codes (MOS Codes) used by the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps or enlisted ratings and USN officer designators and Naval officer billet classifications (NOBCs) used by the United States Navy and enlisted ratings and USCG officer specialties used by the United States Coast Guard. The United States Space Force equivalent is known as the Space Force Specialty Code (SFSC).
History After the Air Force separated from the Army in 1947, it retained the Army's system of MOS occupation codes, modifying them in 1950. 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.Air Force Officer Specialty Structure : Reviewing the Fundamentals, 2009. Rand Corporation, . These reduced officer AFSCs from 216 to 123 and enlisted AFSCs from 203 to 176.
Enlisted AFSCs
The enlisted AFSC consists of five alphanumeric characters: Career group (numerical) Operations Logistics & maintenance Support Medical Professional Acquisition Special investigations Special duty identifiers, typically used for Airmen chosen for specialized jobs 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 1N (intelligence) The career field subdivision is 1N3 (cryptologic linguist) The skill level is 7 (craftsman) The specific AFSC is 1N371 (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 1A1X2 – Mobility force aviator 1A1X2A – C-5 flight engineer 1A1X2B – C-5 loadmaster 1A1X2C – C-17 loadmaster 1A1X2D – C-130J loadmaster 1A1X2E – WC-130J loadmaster 1A1X2F – E-3 flight engineer 1A1X2G – KC-46 boom operator 1A1X2H – KC-135 boom operator 1A1X2I – KC-10 boom operator 1A1X2J – KC-10 flight engineer 1A1X2K – E-8 flight engineer 1A1X2L – C-130H flight engineer 1A1X2N – C-130H loadmaster 1A1X2O – EC-130H flight engineer 1A1X2Z – Data mask mobility force aviator 1A1X3 – Special mission aviator 1A1X3A – AC-130J gunner 1A1X3B – CV-22 flight engineer 1A1X3C – UH-1N flight engineer 1A1X3D – HC-130J loadmaster 1A1X3E – MC-130J loadmaster 1A1X3F – HH-60 flight engineer 1A1X3G – MH-139 flight engineer 1A1X3H – C-146 loadmaster 1A1X3Z – SMA data masked 1A1X4 – Multi-Domain Operations Aviator 1A1X8 – Executive mission aviator 1A1X8A – C-32/C-40 flight attendant 1A1X8B – C-32/C-40 communications systems operator 1A1X8C – C-37 flight attendant 1A1X8D – C-37 flight engineer 1A1X8E – CEM executive mission aviator 1A1X8F – C-37 communications systems operator 1A1X8G – E-4 flight engineer 1A1X8H – E-4 flight attendant 1A1X8I – E-4 communications systems operator/technician/controller 1A1X8J – Presidential Airlift Group, flight engineer 1A1X8K – Presidential Airlift Group, flight attendant 1A1X8L – Presidential Airlift Group, communication system operator 1A1X8Z – EMA data mask 1A3X1 – Airborne mission systems specialist 1A3X1A – C-32/C-40 1A3X1D – C-37 1A3X1G – HC-130P/N 1A3X1H – EC-130J 1A3X1I – E-3 1A3X1J – E-4 1A3X1K – E-8 1A3X1L – EC-130H 1A3X1N – RC-135 1A3X1O – RQ-4 1A3X1T – MC-130P 1A890 – SEL airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) 1A8X1 – Airborne cryptologic language analyst 1A8X1F – Arabic 1A8X1G – Chinese 1A8X1H – Korean 1A8X1I – Russian 1A8X1J – Spanish 1A8X1K – Persian 1A8X1M – Pashto 1A8X1Z – Divested languages 1A8X2 – Airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operator 1B – Cyber warfare 1B4X1 – Cyber warfare operations 1C – Command and control systems operations 1C0X2 – Aviation resource management 1C1X1 – Air traffic control 1C3X1 – All-domain command and control operations (C2 OPS) 1C5X1 – Battle management ops 1C5X1D – Weapons director 1C6X1 – Space systems operations 1C7X1 – Airfield management 1C8X3 – Radar, airfield & weather systems (RAWS) 1D – Warfighter Communication 1D7X1 – Information Technology Systems 1D7X1A – Network Operations 1D7X1B – Systems Administration 1D7X1D – Security operations (to be phased out) 1D7X1E – Client systems operations (to be phased out) 1D7X1K – Knowledge operations (to be phased out) 1D7X1M - Mission Defense Activities 1D7X1P - Data Operations 1D7X1Q - Enterprise Operations 1D7X1W – Expeditionary communications (XCOMM) 1D7X1Z – Software development operations (to be phased out) 1D7X2 – Radio Frequency Transmissions and Electromagnetic Activities 1D7X2F – Spectrum Operations 1D7X2R – RF Transmissions 1D7X3 – Cable and Antenna 1D7X4 – Data Engineering 1D7X5 – Cybersecurity 1H0X1 – Aerospace physiology 1N – Intelligence 1N0X1 – All source intelligence analyst 1N092 – Intelligence superintendent 1N1X1 – Geospatial intelligence 1N1X1A – Imagery analyst 1N292 – Cryptologic intelligence superintendent 1N2X1 – Signals intelligence 1N2X1A – Electronic non-communications analyst 1N2X1C – Communications analyst 1N3X1 – Cryptologic language analyst 1N3X1F – Arabic 1N3X1G – Chinese 1N3X1H – Korean 1N3X1I – Russian 1N3X1J – Spanish 1N3X1K – Persian 1N3X1M – Pashto 1N3X1N – Urdu 1N3X1Z – Divested languages 1N4X1 – Cyber intelligence 1N4X1A – Analyst 1N4X2 – Cryptologic analyst & reporter 1N7X1 – Human intelligence specialist 1N8X1 – Targeting analyst
1P – Aircrew flight equipment 1P0X1 – Aircrew flight equipment 1P0X1A – Ejection seat aircraft 1P0X1B – Non-ejection seat aircraft
1S – Safety 1S0X1 – Safety
1T – Special warfare enabler 1T0X1 – Survival, evasion, resistance, escape (SERE) specialist
1U – Aircrew operations (RPA) 1U1X1 – Remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilot 1U1X1O – RQ-4 1U1X1R – MQ-9
1W – Weather 1W0X1 – Weather 1W0X1A - Weather Forecaster
1Z – Special warfare 1Z1X1 – Pararescue 1Z2X1 – Combat control 1Z3X1 – Tactical air control party (TACP) 1Z4X1 – Special reconnaissance
Maintenance and logistics
2A – Aerospace maintenance 2A090 – Avionics 2A0X1 – Avionics test station, components, and electronic warfare systems 2A0X1K – A-10/B-2/C-17/CV-22/F-16/AFSOC avionics systems 2A0X1M – B-1/E-8/F-15 avionics systems 2A0X1P – Avionics sensor systems and electronic warfare systems 2A2X1 – MHU-139 electrical, environmental and avionics technician 2A390 – Fighter/remotely piloted aircraft maintenance 2A3X3 – Tactical aircraft maintenance 2A3X3E – A-10/U-2 2A3X3L – F-15 2A3X3M – F-16 2A3X4 – Fighter aircraft integrated avionics 2A3X4A – A-10/U-2 2A3X4B – F-15 2A3X4C – F-16 2A3X5 – Advanced fighter aircraft integrated avionics 2A3X5A – F-22 2A3X5B – F-35 2A3X5C – MQ-1/MQ-9/RQ-4 2A3X7 – Tactical aircraft maintenance (5th generation) 2A3X7A – F-22 2A3X7B – F-35 2A3X8 – Remotely piloted aircraft maintenance 2A3X8A – MQ-1/MQ-9 2A3X8B – RQ-4 2A5X1 – Airlift/special mission aircraft maintenance 2A5X1A – C-20/C-21/C-22/C-37/C-40/E-4/VC-25 2A5X1B – C-130/C-27J 2A5X1C – C-5 2A5X1D – C-17 2A5X2 – Helicopter/tiltrotor aircraft maintenance 2A5X2B – HH-60 2A5X2D – CV-22 2A5X2E – MHU-139 2A5X4 – Refuel/bomber aircraft maintenance 2A5X4A – Any C-135/E-3/E-8 2A5X4B – KC-10 2A5X4C – KC-46 2A5X4D – B-52 2A5X4E – B-1 2A5X4F – B-2 2A5X4H – B-21 2A690 – Aircraft accessories 2A6X1 – Aerospace propulsion 2A6X1C – TF33, CF6, F103, F108, F117, TFE-731, TF39, PW 2040, F138 jet engines (airlift, special mission, and B-52 aircraft) 2A6X1D – F100, F119, F135 jet engines (F-15, F16, F-22 aircraft) 2A6X1E – F101, F110, F118, TF34 jet engines (A-10, B-1, B-2, F-16, U-2 aircraft) 2A6X1F – F100, F101, F110, F118, F119, F135, TF34 jet engines (A-10, B-1, B-2, F-15, F-16, F-22, F-35, U-2 aircraft) 2A6X1H – Turboprop and turboshaft propulsion (helicopter, propeller, tiltrotor aircraft) 2A6X2 – Aerospace ground equipment (AGE) 2A6X3 – Aircrew egress systems 2A6X4 – Aircraft fuel systems 2A6X5 – Aircraft hydraulic systems 2A6X6 – Aircraft electrical and environmental systems 2A790 – Aircraft fabrication 2A7X1 – Aircraft metals technology 2A7X2 – Nondestructive inspection 2A7X3 – Aircraft structural maintenance 2A7X5 – Low observable aircraft structural maintenance 2A9X4 – Heavy aircraft integrated avionics 2A9X4A – C4ISR mission systems (E-3, E-4, E-7, E-8, EC-130H, RC-135, VC-25)
2F – Fuels 2F0X1 – Fuels
2G – Logistics plans 2G0X1 – Logistics plans
2M – Missile and space systems maintenance 2M090 – Missile and space systems maintenance superintendent 2M0X1 – Missile and space systems electronic maintenance 2M0X1A – ICBM 2M0X1B – ALCM 2M0X2 – Missile and space systems maintenance 2M0X3 – Missile and space facilities 2P – Precision measurement equipment laboratory 2P0X1 – Precision measurement equipment laboratory 2R – Maintenance management 2R2X1 – Maintenance management 2S – Material management 2S0X1 – Material management
2T – Transportation & vehicle management 2T0X1 – Traffic management 2T1X1 – Ground transportation 2T2X1 – Air transportation 2T390 – Vehicle management 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 2W1X1C – A-10 2W1X1E – F-15 2W1X1F – F-16 2W1X1J – F-35 2W1X1K – B-52/B-2 2W1X1L – B-1 2W1X1N – F-22 2W1X1Q – MQ-1/MQ-9 2W1X1Z – All other 2W2X1 – Nuclear weapons
Support
3E – Civil engineering 3E090 – Facility systems 3E0X1 – Electrical systems 3E0X2 – Electrical power production 3E1X1 – Heating, ventilation, AC, and refrigeration 3E290 – Heavy repair 3E2X1 – Pavements and construction equipment 3E3X1 – Structural 3E490 – Infrastructure systems