(Meaning)
The U.S. Air Force symbol honors the heritage of the past and represents the promise of the future. It retains the core elements of the Air Corps heritage -- the "Arnold" wings and star with circle -- and modernizes them to reflect the air and space force of tomorrow.

(How USAF was formed)
In the late 1990s, Air Force senior leadership recognized the need to design an official symbol and develop a centralized theme to encourage young people to join, encourage airmen to stay, and to build understanding, appreciation, and support for America's Air Force. They directed a commercial company, specializing in corporate branding, to research and develop a unique symbol. Company representatives traveled throughout the Air Force and to major U.S. cities to conduct research and become intimately familiar with the Air Force and its culture, environment, and heritage.
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