December marked the third birthday of the United States Space Force, the sixth and newest branch of the United States military. To mark the occasion it launched a redesigned recruiting website. It comes a year to the day after the service introduced the site that detailed the core missions and career fields within the Space Force.
SpaceForce.com allows future Guardians from both military and civilian backgrounds to learn more about the mission, history, and capabilities of the Space Force, the careers available in fields as varied as space operations, intelligence, engineering, and tech, and most importantly, policies and procedures on how to join.
“Space is closer than you think,” the website announces just before it brings visitors to a computer-generated rocket launch pad. It provides an interactive video game-esque experience where visitors can initiate the launch and deployment of a satellite into orbit.
Video interviews with those serving in the Space Force from both military and civilian backgrounds have also been added. It allows those Guardians to share their perspectives and personal experiences, and to address common misconceptions about the newest branch. The videos also provide insight on how the service members can collaborate with the commercial space industry, government agencies and it allied partners.
A Career in Space
The updated Space Force careers site is meant to make the capabilities of the Space Force both tangible and visible to the public. This includes educating visitors about the Space Force’s role in providing advanced GPS technology free to the public, protecting satellites in orbit, and safeguarding global military communications. This is all rendered through detailed motion graphics to illustrate the Space Force’s daily defense of the nation’s interests in space.
“With the launch of the new Spaceforce.com, we’ve created a virtual space to inspire the next generation of American Guardians who will protect space for the nation,” said Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, Air Force Recruiting Service commander.
The site offers prospective recruits interested in service both in and out of uniform ways to identify potential career paths through self-discovery tools based on their skills and strengths and learn what service in the Space Force could look like for them. It is light-years beyond simple recruiting posters, and is certainly aimed at Generation-Z, who expect to be able to find career and culture information at the click of a button.
“We are very excited about the new SpaceForce.com, its interactive pages provide clear insight of what Space Force is, answering many questions about the newest service in the Department of Defense,” said Angelo Haygood, chief of Space Force Accessions and Recruiting Policy.
“My favorite page is the ‘Right Career for You,’ which provides a visualization of how an individual’s perceived skills and strengths line up with specific Space Force specialties,” said Haygood. “We believe the site strikes the right message, providing insight into and spurring interest in Space Force.”
Recruiting Effort
According to Space Force, since its establishment three years ago Air Force recruiters have recruited approximately 1,000 Guardians. The Space Force current recruiting goal for fiscal 2023 is 532 enlisted and 42 officers.
In addition, the Space Force said it will continue to expand its civilian workforce through the Air Force Civilian Service. Currently, each one of Air Force Recruiting Services (AFRS’s) 24 enlisted accessions squadron has a dedicated Space Force recruiter.
The launch of the new website comes as the U.S. military has a whole has struggled with recruitment. The U.S. Army actually missed it recruiting goal by 15,000 soldiers, while the Air Force, Navy, and Marines barely hit their active-duty goals.
The Space Force has to date not experienced the issue, due to the small number of spots it has available. It has an end strength set at 8,600 Guardians under the newly passed 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and likely didn’t need the help with recruitment. Yet, it is never too early to inspire the next generation.
