United States Air Force airmen include commissioned officers and enlisted members. In 2003 there were about 76,000 officers (including cadets at the Air Force Academy) and 292,000 enlisted members. Roughly one-fifth of all Air Force personnel were female. African Americans made up about 15 percent of the total Air Force, Hispanic Americans about 4 percent, and Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other minority groups about 4 percent of the total force. Homosexuals can serve in the Air Force, but they must conform to the U.S. military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Under this policy, homosexuals will not be sought out for expulsion from the Air Force, but they may be forced to leave the service if their sexual orientation becomes known.
