Air officer commanding: Difference between revisions

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Air Officer Commanding (AOC) is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth (and some other) nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment which typically comprises a large, organized collection of air force assets.^[1] Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group. The equivalent term for army officers is general officer commanding (GOC), from where the air force term was derived.

An air officer heading a particularly large or important command may be called an air officer commanding-in-chief (AOC-in-C).

Royal Air Force usage

In the RAF those air officers who command a group are styled air officer commanding, followed by the name of the group. Currently, there are five AOCs:

AOC 1 Group
AOC 2 Group
AOC 11 Group^[2]
AOC 22 Group
AOC No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group, a dual hat for the United Kingdom Air Component Commander in the Middle East.

Indian Air Force usage

In the IAF, Officers of the rank of Air Commodore who command Wings, Base Repair Depots, Equipment Depots and Air Bases are styled as Air Officer Commanding (AOC). Similarly, Air Vice Marshals commanding Groups (like the J&K Group & Maritime Air Ops Group) and Advance Headquarters are styled as Air Officer Commanding (AOC).

Senior Air Marshals who command the Seven Air Commands are styled as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C).^[3] The Seven appointments are :

Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Air Command
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Air Command
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Air Command
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Maintenance Command

United States Air Force usage

In the United States Air Force, the term "Air Officer Commanding" is used specifically to refer to the specially selected officers who command cadet squadrons and groups at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In the case of a cadet squadron, the AOC is normally a major or a lieutenant colonel. These officers exercise command authority over their cadet units and are expected to train cadets in officership and military matters, advise the cadets who hold leadership positions in the unit, and act as role models for the future officers.

Although the vast majority of AOCs at the academy are, logically, United States Air Force officers, a small number may come from the Army. While holding these positions at the Academy, these officers are still referred to as "Air Officers Commanding" despite their being Army officers who may or may not be aviators.

References

^ Bowyer, Richard (1999). Dictionary of Military Terms. Taylor & Francis. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-57958-156-5.
^ Mander, Simon, ed. (16 November 2018). "Standing up to the cyber threat". RAF News. No. 1455. p. 23. ISSN 0035-8614.
^ "Home | Indian Air Force | Government of India". indianairforce.nic.in.

[1] Bowyer, Richard (1999). Dictionary of Military Terms. Taylor & Francis. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-57958-156-5.

[2] Mander, Simon, ed. (16 November 2018). "Standing up to the cyber threat". RAF News. No. 1455. p. 23. ISSN 0035-8614.

[3] "Home | Indian Air Force | Government of India". indianairforce.nic.in.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Title for Air Force officers holding certain command appointments}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
+{{EngvarB|date=January 2020}}
 '''Air Officer Commanding''' ('''AOC''') is a title given in the air forces of [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] (and some other) nations to an [[air officer]] who holds a command appointment which typically comprises a large, organized collection of air force assets.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bowyer|first=Richard|title=Dictionary of Military Terms|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U2SyST6KUJMC&pg=PA6|year=1999|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-57958-156-5|page=6}}</ref> Thus, an [[air vice marshal]] might be the AOC 38 Group. The equivalent term for army officers is [[general officer commanding]] (GOC), from where the air force term was derived.
@@ Line 4: / Line 7: @@
 ==Royal Air Force usage==
-In the RAF those air officers who command a [[Group (air force)|group]] are styled air officer commanding, followed by the name of the group.  Currently, there are five AOCs:
+In the [[RAF]] those air officers who command a [[Group (air force)|group]] are styled air officer commanding, followed by the name of the group.  Currently, there are five AOCs:
 * AOC [[No. 1 Group RAF|1 Group]]
 * AOC [[No. 2 Group RAF|2 Group]]
 * AOC [[No. 11 Group RAF|11 Group]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Standing up to the cyber threat |editor-last=Mander|editor-first=Simon|work=RAF News |issue=1455 |date=16 November 2018 |page=23|issn=0035-8614}}</ref>
 * AOC [[No. 22 Group RAF|22 Group]]
+* AOC [[No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group]], a dual hat for the United Kingdom Air Component Commander in the Middle East.
-* AOC [[No. 38 Group RAF|38 Group]]
-This title is also used for the appointment of the United Kingdom Air Component Commander in the Middle East, who is dual-hatted as AOC [[No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group (United Kingdom)|83 Expeditionary Air Group]].
 ==Indian Air Force usage==
-In the IAF, Officer of the rank of [[Air Commodore]] who command Wings, Base Repair Depots, Equipment Depots are styled as Air Officer Commanding (AOC). Similarly, Air Vice Marshals commanding Groups (J&K Group & Maritime Air Ops Group (HQ Mumbai)) and Advance Headquarters are styled as Air Officer Commanding (AOC).
+In the [[Indian Air Force|IAF]], Officers of the rank of [[Air commodore (India)|Air Commodore]] who command [[Wing (military unit)|Wings]], Base Repair Depots, Equipment Depots and [[List of Indian Air Force stations|Air Bases]] are styled as Air Officer Commanding (AOC). Similarly, [[Air Vice Marshals]] commanding [[Group (military aviation unit)|Groups]] (like the J&K Group & Maritime Air Ops Group) and Advance Headquarters are styled as Air Officer Commanding (AOC).
-Senior Air Marshals who command the Seven Air Commands are styled as '''Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C)'''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home {{!}} Indian Air Force {{!}} Government of India |url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/ |website=indianairforce.nic.in}}</ref> The Seven appointments are :
+Senior [[Air Marshals]] who command the Seven Air Commands are styled as '''Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C)'''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home {{!}} Indian Air Force {{!}} Government of India |url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/ |website=indianairforce.nic.in}}</ref> The Seven appointments are :
-* Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Central Air Command]]
+* Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Central Air Command (India)|Central Air Command]]
 * Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Eastern Air Command (India)|Eastern Air Command]]
 * Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Southern Air Command (India)|Southern Air Command]]
@@ Line 26: / Line 27: @@
 ==United States Air Force usage==
+{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2009}}
-In the United States Air Force, the term "Air Officer Commanding" is used specifically to refer to the specially selected officers who command cadet squadrons and groups at the [[United States Air Force Academy]] in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], [[Colorado]].  In the case of a cadet squadron, the AOC is normally a [[Major (United States)|major]]; in the case of a cadet group, the AOC is normally a [[Lieutenant Colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]]. These officers exercise command authority over their cadet units and are expected to train cadets in officership and military matters, advise the cadets who hold leadership positions in the unit, and act as role models for the future officers.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}
+In the [[United States Air Force]], the term "Air Officer Commanding" is used specifically to refer to the specially selected officers who command cadet squadrons and groups at the [[United States Air Force Academy]] in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], [[Colorado]].  In the case of a cadet squadron, the AOC is normally a [[Major (United States)|major]] or a [[Lieutenant Colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]]. These officers exercise command authority over their cadet units and are expected to train cadets in officership and military matters, advise the cadets who hold leadership positions in the unit, and act as role models for the future officers.
-Although the vast majority of AOCs at the academy are, logically, [[United States Air Force]] officers, a small number may come from the other [[United States military|U.S. military]] branches, at least one from each of the other three branches at a given point in time.  While holding these positions at the academy, these officers are still referred to as "Air Officers Commanding" despite their being [[United States Army|Army]], [[United States Navy|Navy]] or [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] officers who may or may not be aviators.
+Although the vast majority of AOCs at the academy are, logically, [[United States Air Force]] officers, a small number may come from the Army.  While holding these positions at the Academy, these officers are still referred to as "Air Officers Commanding" despite their being [[United States Army|Army]] officers who may or may not be aviators.
 ==References==
@@ Line 34: / Line 36: @@
 [[Category:Royal Air Force appointments]]
+[[Category:Indian military appointments]]
 [[Category:United States Air Force Academy people|+]]
 [[Category:United States Air Force officers|*]]