The Air Force Symbol is the official symbol of the United States Air Force. It honors the heritage of our past and represents the promise of our future. Furthermore, it retains the core elements of our Air Corps heritage, the "Arnold" wings and star with circle, and modernizes them to reflect our Air and Space Forces of today and tomorrow.

• The U.S. Air Force signature consists of the Air Force Symbol and the logotype (U.S. Air Force) 

• The Symbol can be used with or without the logotype

• The only alternate words permitted "directly" under the Symbol are those approved by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force

​Words Approved For Use Under the Symbol

Unless approved by the USAF Chief of Staff, the only words permitted directly under the Symbol are "U.S. Air Force," "Academy," and "ROTC."
To add other appropriate words or phrases not approved, visual separation from the Symbol is required. Placing a line and/or color separation around or under the Symbol (for example rectangles, pentagons, circles or color) provides a reasonable separation.

Although using the logotype "U.S. Air Force" is not mandatory in conjunction with use of the Symbol, the preferred position when the logotype is used is beneath the Symbol. It is also acceptable to place the logotype (or any version thereof) on the right or left side of the Symbol but there must be a 15% stand-off space. Placing the logotype in any version on the top of the Symbol is NOT an approved version. 

Only MAJCOM-level or higher emblems approved and registered with the Air Force Historical Research Agency are permitted inside the wings of the Air Force Symbol - limited to one emblem inside the wings. When cradling an approved emblem between the wings, the cradled emblem is half the height of the Symbol. The patch must be centered evenly between the wings with half of the patch extending above the wings' tips. Cradling approved emblems in the Air Force Symbol are for Department of Defense use only. The Symbol may not be co-branded with another commercial trademark or word mark.

Stretching/distorting the signature, logotype or Symbol, changing the Symbol's texture, or using unapproved colors, shadows or special effects is prohibited.

Use the following methods to determine the correct proportions for the Symbol, the logotype, and the required stand-off space. 

For the Symbol (only) 
The ratio of the width of the Symbol to the height should be 112% (i.e., width = 112, height = 100). If you know the width, multiply it by 100, then divide by 112 to get the height. If you know the height, multiply it by 112, then divide by 100 to get the width. 

For the Logotype (only) 
The ratio of the width of the logotype to the height should be 1264% (i.e., width = 1264, height = 100). If you know the width, multiply it by 100, then divide by 1264 to get the height. If you know the height, multiply it by 1264, then divide it by 100 to get the width. 

For the Symbol to the Logotype 
The ratio of the width of the logotype to the width of the Symbol, at its widest point, is 148% (i.e., logotype width = 148, symbol width = 100). If you know the width of the Symbol, multiply it by 148, then divide by 100 to get the width of the logotype. If you know the width of the logotype, multiply it by 100, then divide by 148 to get the width of the symbol. 

For the Space Between the Symbol and the Logotype 
The ratio of the space between the Symbol and logotype to the width of the Symbol is 17% (i.e., space = 17, symbol width = 100). If you know the width of the Symbol, multiply it by 17, then divide by 100 to get the space between the Symbol and logotype. 
The ratio of the space between the Symbol and logotype to the width of the logotype is 11% (i.e., space = 11, logotype width = 100). If you know the width of the logotype, multiply it by 11, then divide by 100 to get the space between the Symbol and logotype.

For the Space Between the Symbol or the Signature and Additional Elements
The stand-off (or "negative") space around the Symbol or the Symbol/logotype combo (signature) is a minimum of 15% (i.e., stand-off space = 15, Symbol width = 100). Measure the width of the Symbol at its widest point, multiply it by 15, then divide by 100 to get the minimum required empty space around the Symbol or the signature. NOTE: The stand-off space will take the shape of a square, not the outline of the Symbol.