Air Force Journalistic Style Guide - March 2014

1 Air Force Journalistic Style Guide for Public Releases This supplement to the Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law is a Guide to help Air Force news editors with Air Force -unique words and phrases that the AP Stylebook does not address. Webster's New World College Dictionary shall be used for punctuation, spelling, Style and usage not covered in the AP Stylebook. This supplement shall be used only after the above sources have been referenced. March 2014. i A. Academy Uppercase on second reference education, held for second lieutenants and when referring to Air Force Academy. civilians at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. ASBC is acceptable on second reference. AFSO21 Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century AFSO21 acceptable on air and space expeditionary Force second reference (no space in AFSO21). AEF is the correct abbreviation and is acceptable on second reference. acronyms Limit use of acronyms based on ease of communication, readability and air and space Force Preferred term vs.

2 Common sense as well as those uses aerospace Force . approved for first or subsequent reference by the AP Stylebook and this Style Guide . air base Capitalize when used in conjunction with a base: Misawa Air Base. Generally introduce the acronym no more AB is acceptable in conjunction with a than two sentences from the first spelling second reference to a base: Misawa AB. Do out. not abbreviate in biographies. Do not automatically use an acronym on airborne laser second reference when a usage such as the unit , the command or the office can be Air Command and Staff College used. ACSC is acceptable on second reference. If the author includes an acronym in aircraft battle damage repair ABDR. parentheses after it's spelled out on first is acceptable on second reference. reference, leave the parenthetical in the text, but don't add parenthetical acronyms. Don't aircrew use parenthetical acronyms after major command or unit names; delete them if airdrop they're included.

3 (Ex. "He graduated from the School of Water Immersion Mechanics (SWIM)" is OK. "She is commander of Air airfield Force Space Command (AFSPC)" is not OK; delete (AFSPC). Air Force May be abbreviated to AF in headlines. Do not abbreviate to AF within a story unless it is part of an approved active duty (n.), active-duty (adj.) He acronym: They are all Air Force members. has sworn to serve three years on active Not: They are all AF members. duty. Active-duty service members will See the air Force entry in the Associated receive a 3 percent raise. Press Stylebook for capitalization practices. active-duty service commitment ADSC is acceptable on second reference. Air Force Aid Society AFAS is acceptable on second reference. AGM air-to-ground missile Air Force Association AFA is acceptable on second reference. AIM air intercept (or air-to-air) missile Air Force base Capitalize when used in Air and Space Basic Course The conjunction with a base: Randolph Air first level of officer professional military 1.)

4 Force Base. AFB is acceptable in conjunction with a second reference to a Air Force Institute of Technology base: Randolph AFB. A postgraduate school with headquarters at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The Air Force capabilities Made possible school offers degrees in aeronautical, by the Air Force core competencies. The astronautical and electrical engineering, Air Force capabilities are: among others. AFIT is acceptable on second air and space superiority. reference. information superiority. global attack. Air Force instruction With a specific precision engagement. instruction: Air Force Instruction 35-101, rapid global mobility. Public Affairs Policies and Procedures.. agile combat support. AFI is acceptable on second reference. Ensure complete title is included on first Air Force Center for Engineering reference. and the Environment AFCEE is acceptable on second reference. Air Force Junior ROTC Acceptable in all references for Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

5 Junior ROTC is Air Force chief of staff unless before a acceptable on second reference. name Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. CSAF is acceptable on second Air Force Link The obsolete name for reference and in headlines. the official Air Force website ( ). It is now referred to as Air Force Communications AF (dot) mil or Agency obsolete name of the new Air Force Network Integration Center. Air Force Museum Former (and obsolete) name of the National Museum of Air Force core competencies The the Air Force . Air Force core competencies are: Developing Airmen. Air Force Network Integration Technology-to-warfighting. Center AFNIC is acceptable on second Integrating operations. reference. It is the former Air Force Communications Agency. Air Force core values The Air Force core values are: Air Force News Agency Obsolete integrity first. name for the Defense Media Activity. service before self. AFNEWS was merged with other service's excellence in all we do.

6 News agencies in the 2005 BRAC. The agency moved to Fort Meade, Md., in 2011. Air Force Doctrine Center Obsolete name for the LeMay Center for Doctrine Air Force Office of Special Development and Education. Investigations AFOSI is acceptable on second reference. Air Force General Officer Matters Office The military counterpart to the Air Air Force One An Air Force aircraft Force Senior Executive Management carrying the president of the United States. Office. AFGOMO is acceptable on second See the VC-25A Air Force One entry. reference. Air Force Organizational Air Force Inspection Agency AFIA Excellence Award AFOEA is is acceptable on second reference. acceptable on second reference. 2. Air Force Senior NCO Academy Do Air Force Outstanding Unit Award not abbreviate. Preferred use is the academy AFOUA is acceptable on second reference. on second reference. Use Air Force Senior NCO Academy when distinguishing among Air Force Personnel Center AFPC other academies in a story.

7 Is acceptable on second reference. Air Force Sergeants Association Air Force Priorities AFSA is acceptable on second reference. -- Continue to strengthen the Air Force nuclear enterprise Air Force Space Command AFSPC. -- Partner with the joint and coalition team is acceptable on second reference. to win today's fight -- Develop and care for Airmen and their Air Force Special Operations families Command AFSOC is acceptable on -- Modernize air, space inventories, second reference. organizations and training -- Recapture acquisition excellence Air Force specialty code With a specific code: Air Force Specialty Code Air Force Recruiting Service AFRS 3 NOX1, public affairs. AFSC or AFSC. is acceptable on second reference. 3 NOX1 is acceptable on second reference. Air Force Reserve There is no s after Air Force Weather Agency AFWA is Reserve. Use reservist when referring to a acceptable on second reference. member of the Air Force Reserve: She is an Air Force reservist.

8 He is in the Reserve. Air Force -wide Note: If the discussion includes the Air National Guard, then reserve is lowercase, Airman, Airmen Capitalized in all uses as in air reserve components except when used as part of a generic reference to a rank or person or when Air Force Reserve Command AFRC forces are mixed in with airmen of other is acceptable on second reference. When countries: high year of tenure for senior identifying a Reserve unit in a story or airmen or An airman 1st class was arrested. caption, use Air Force Reserve Command's Air Force and South Korean airmen . 302nd Airlift Wing.. Airman battle uniform ABU is Air Force ROTC Acceptable in all acceptable on second reference. references for Air Force Reserve Officer's Training Corps. Senior ROTC is not Airman leadership school Lowercase acceptable. See also Air Force Junior unless preceded by the name of the ROTC. installation: Lackland Air Force Base Airman Leadership School or Lackland Air Force Safety Center Do not use Airman Leadership School.

9 ALS is AFSC as an acronym for Air Force Safety acceptable on second reference. Center. Preferred use is Air Force Safety Center or the safety center on second Airman magazine The correct name is reference. Airman, not Airman Magazine. It is Airman magazine. Air Force Senior Executive Management Office The civilian counterpart to the Air Force General Officer Air National Guard A reserve Matters Office. component of the Air Force . ANG or Air 3. Guard is acceptable on second reference. apprehension Military legal term for Lower-case guardsmen. taking someone into custody and placing him under observation until proper air show authorities arrive. airpower area defense counsel ADC is acceptable on second reference. airspace armed forces, armed services airstrike armed forces and armed services are synonymous and refer to the military air station Capitalize when used in services and the Coast Guard. conjunction with a base: Izmir Air Station, Turkey. AS is acceptable on second Army and Air Force Exchange reference in conjunction with a base: Izmir Service AAFES is acceptable on second AS.

10 Reference. Air University AU is acceptable on arrest Military legal term that does not second reference. mean the actual taking of a person into custody. Arrest directs the person to remain Air War College AWC is acceptable on within certain specified limits and is second reference. enforced by virtue of the person's moral and legal obligation to obey the order. all call Article 15, Articles 15. American Battle Monuments Commission Established in 1923 in AWACS Acceptable in all references for Washington, , the commission airborne warning and control system. See E- maintains all military cemeteries, 3 Sentry for aircraft description. including those on foreign soil. Do not use ABMC. Note: For all aircraft, upon first reference, always use the letter-number designation American Forces Radio and AND the official name of the aircraft, Television Service Provides radio and B-52 Stratofortress. You will need to add it television news, sports, information and parenthetically in quotes if not included by entertainment programming to Department the speaker.