<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55fc13199dd7cc1b008bb633-4682-2815/21310751252_1c93cf105f_o.jpg" alt="f22" data-mce-source="US Air Force Photo" data-mce-caption="An F-22 Raptor pilot from the 95th Fighter Squadron based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., gets situated in his aircraft" data-link="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce/21310751252/" /><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce/21310751252/">US Air Force Photo</a></span></p><p class="caption">An F-22 Raptor pilot from the 95th Fighter Squadron based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., gets situated in his aircraft.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Today is the 68th birthday of the youngest branch of the US military. And the US Air Force ain't no runt of the litter - the <a href="http://comptroller.defense.gov/defbudget/fy2014/FY2014_Budget_Request.pdf">Air Force has the highest budget</a> of the sister service branches, and its operational capabilities are robust and exciting.  In short, the Air Force is way tougher than you think.</p><p><em><em><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/author/geoffrey-ingersoll" target="_blank">Geoffrey Ingersoll</a> obviously contributed to this report.</em></em></p>

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It's the Air Force's 68th birthday - here's why Airman are way tougher than people think

US Air Force PhotoAn F-22 Raptor pilot from the 95th Fighter Squadron based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., gets situated in his aircraft.Today is the 68th birthday of the youngest branch of the US military. And the US Air Force ain't no runt of the litter - the Air Force has the highest budget of the sister service branches, and its operational capabilities are robust and exciting. In short, the Air Force is way tougher than you think.Geoffrey Ingersoll obviously contributed to this report.

US Air Force PhotoAn F22 Raptor pilot from the 95th Fighter Squadron based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. , gets situated in his aircraft.

It's the Air Force's 68th birthday - here's why Airman are way tougher than people think

Michael B Kelley,Amanda Macias

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