Air Force’s New ‘Purple Book’ Inspires Airmen to Think Bigger

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Air Force’s top noncommissioned officer recently released the service’s first “Purple Book,” a primer on joint forces for Army Airmen.

The 39-page booklet introduces airmen to high-level policies such as National Defense Strategy and explains the Air Force’s place in the larger military picture. One of a number of changes aimed at keeping performance up to par.

At the Air Force and Space Forces Association annual conference held here on Sept. 21, Sgt. We have the only service that has a book that will help you.”

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The Purple Book explains to the reader the role of each combat command. Major military alliances such as the “Five Eyes” Intelligence Sharing Coalition. air force roles and missions; rank structure for each service, etc.;

“When the U.S. military operates as a cohesive team, its capabilities exceed those of its individual components,” the book states. “All service members should do their part to educate and sharpen themselves, their fellow service members, and the joint partners with whom they work.”

Air Force leaders have been calling for a larger role in the joint force for several years. In 2016, then-Chief of Staff General David Goldfein pledged to improve the way airmen are trained to work with other military branches.

“We must be a service ready to stand up and lead [joint] campaign,” he said.

Airmen receive two manuals in their basic training and specialized military education courses: the “Blue Book” on Air Force values ​​and the “Brown Book” on NCO unit structure. The Air Force released new versions of these books earlier this year.

“By updating these basic guides, we can provide airmen with the resources they need to be highly trained, educated, and able to adapt to the threats posed by our competitors.” Bass said in May.