The United States Air Force has a reputation as being easier than the Army, the Navy, or the Marines—or so people in these divisions often say. Persons serving in the Air Force (allegedly) have it so easy that it’s been dubbed the “Chair Force.”
 
“Chair Force” has been cited in print since at least January 1994. “‘Chair Force’ due to a lot of our troops working in offices, opposed to in the field” was cited in print in 2002.
 
   
Wikipedia: United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. It is the most recent branch of the U.S. military to be formed, and is the largest and one of the world’s most technologically advanced air forces. The USAF articulates its core functions as Nuclear Deterrence Operations, Special Operations, Air Superiority, Global Integrated ISR, Space Superiority, Command and Control, Cyberspace Superiority, Personnel Recovery, Global Precision Attack, Building Partnerships, Rapid Global Mobility and Agile Combat Support.
     
Google Groups: k12.chat.senior
Sean Ian Malone  
1/21/94
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  writes:

> I don’t know if you saw what I said about high school at the end of your
> Mustang thing, but I had to say…(as if you didn’t know) the Air Force
> Academy is like West Point for the Air Force.  Only we are better.
> We have higher standards, we are more physical, we can beat Army and Navy
> any time anywhere, and I know how to fly.  All they do is sit in the jungle.
>
> What fun is that????
>
> “Check your 6, then turn and burn”
>
> Cadet Fourthclass Ian “Swoop” Fairchild   USAFA
 
I’m sure this will bring a flame - but I have to say it. I thought that acadamy was known as the “Chair Force”.
     
Google Groups: alt.folklore.military
Paramilitary Organizations
Grant N Rogers
2/3/95
(...)
Opportunities for Pilot training, Communications, Medical, and Survival skills are common in CAP.  As for joining them, try looking in the phone book under government organizations or call a local airport, Chair Force recruiter, or military base for where units are located near you.
 
Google Books
Drugs, Society, and Behavior
1997
Pg. 90:
Eric, whose sweet features and shaved head give him the disarming look of a hard-boiled angel, is a 25-year-old veteran of the Air Force (peacetime enlistees call It the Chair Force).
 
10 October 1999, San Antonio (TX) Express-News, “Air Force trains for new warfare in ‘Warrior Week’” by Sig Christenson:
Dubbed the “chair force” by some critics for its relatively light physical conditioning standards, the Air Force is determined to toughen training.
 

Topic: Derogatory service names
Sgt. Otter
posted 30 June, 2002 11:20 PM
In the Air Force, cargo plane crews who don’t fly into combat are called “Trash Haulers.” I find this hilarious, because it was given by Army troops going into battle overseas and getting a ride from the Air Force, which implies they are also calling themselves trash. D’oh!
 
I’ve also heard “Hair Force” due to our less-restrictive haircut regulations, “Chair Force” due to a lot of our troops working in offices, opposed to in the field. “Air Farce” is obvious.
   
Stars and Stripes
Having buddies on front lines worrisome for Pacific troops
By Wayne Specht
Published: April 4, 2003
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan —
(...)
About a year before Gonzales joined the Air Force, Justin (whose last name is withheld for security reasons) joined the Army National Guard. Now he’s with an artillery unit with the 3rd Infantry Division advancing deep within Iraq’s borders.
 
Justin “is a ground pounder who was always teasing me about being in the ‘chair force,’ ” Gonzalez said.
   
USA Today
Posted 7/3/2005 1:48 PM   Updated 7/5/2005 9:56 AM
Obesity takes a heavy toll on troops
WATERTOWN, Wis. (AP) —
(...)
Weight issues plague all branches of the military, from elite Marines to the Air Force, often lampooned as the “chair force” because of its many sedentary jobs.
 
Google Books
Your Mother Wears Combat Boots:
Humorous, Harrowing and Heartwarming Stories of Military Women
By Michele Hunter Mirabile
Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse
2007
Pp. 127-128:
You’ve heard all the nicknames: Army infantry are called ground pounders, Marines are bullet magnets and jarheads, the Navy are squids, the Coast Guard are puddle pirates, and the Air Force are the “Army Air Corps” (mainly because they take offense to it) and the chair force because they are sometimes perceived by the other services to be lazy.
 
Urban Dictionary
Chair Force
A funny descriptor for the United States Air Force. Contrary to what some other douchebags think, the Air Force is usually first into the country, dropping bombs to take out strategic targets like communications and radar. Sure, some of us sit behind a desk, but we are part of the mission to support the planes. Planes like the F-22, the most advanced fighter in the world. Capable of shooting down half a dozen F/A-18s without ever being detected on radar. Or the SR-71, the world record holder for the fastest aircraft on earth.
(...)
by Hodgii Aug 8, 2008
 
Twitter
Mrs. Thompson‏
@love_an_airman  
Don’t call the Air Force the “chair force” in front of me. Someone fights for our freed an you’re going to make fun of them? Okay. Good joke
3:21 PM - 22 Jan 13