The Space Force is celebrating its fourth birthday. It was established on December 20, 2019. At first, the branch only consisted of a few key leaders as official members, but approximately 16,000 military members and civilian careers were tied to Space. Over these past four years different career fields and subsets of various career fields transferred officially over from the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Besides adding people to its ranks since its creation the Space Force now has its own uniforms, song, logo, mission, and more helping to create the culture and future of this newest branch.
Today, the Space Force consists of just over 8,000 active duty service members about half officers and half enlisted. It is the smallest branch by far. The Coast Guard used to be the smallest branch and had over five times as many members serving on active duty as the Space Force with approximately 43,000 active duty members. The Space Force has about the same number of civilians as active duty service members along with several support contractors providing resources and support to meet the Space Force’s mission to secure our nation’s interest in, from, and to space.
Most of the transfers from branches to the Space Force happened between 2019 and 2022. While the NDAA outlined the specific transfer of some units to the Space Force, there was a lot of gray area that has led to transfer boards continuing through 2023 with a possibility of another board in 2024. Many of the members who transferred either had to because their position was moving to the Space Force or they had worked in the space arena for some or part of their career.
“I joined because my whole career was in space from acquisitions, intel, R&D. I really had no choice,” a Lt Col currently serving the Space Force said. Others were excited about the opportunities in Space. Another Guardian shared he was looking forward to the future and his career. “When I looked at my future career options after service I got excited about all that was happening. I want to be part of it.”
Guardians Share Thoughts on the Purpose of the U.S. Space Force
Even years after the creation of the Space Force, some people wonder why it exists, or may not even know that it exists today. But when I asked Guardians if a separate branch for space was needed these are some of the things they shared.
“From an operational perspective, it was vital to national defense. It was clear a modern conflict would stretch into space and our doctrine experiences, war planners, and Generals were amateurs at best when it came to planning, organization, and fighting in space. They say we are always fighting yesterday’s war, making the USSF was a way to break that bad tendency”
“Competing in Space requires us to deliver intrinsic systems at a breakneck pace which can withstand the harshest environments, intense heat, withering radiation, and intense cold at the same time yet small and light enough to launch on a rocket. Space domain is a no-fail mission as without space none of the capabilities that a modern military or even a modern society foundation rely on work.”
A unique branch focused on one mission. Since the space’s early days began within the Air Force, the focus has been on airpower with space as an afterthought. It was time to change and redirect the focus on the future. And that meant creating a new branch.
Critical Work for the Military and American Life
At the Space Force Association inaugural Spacepower conference, U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations, General Chance Saltzman said “Looking back, 2023 wasn’t just a productive year – it was the start of another chapter of our service’s story. The Space Force is clearly moving beyond the establishment phase. Our Guardians are now delivering on the investment from the American people to ensure our nation remains the preeminent spacepower.”
Since the Space Force was created, the launch program has surged. At Cape Canaveral, FL, they have seen launches increase from less than 20 launches a year to 57 launches last year and 68 launches this year with a potential to hit 69 with one more Space X launch scheduled for December 28th. Space X also launched 27 missions out of Vandenberg SFB.
Besides supporting launches of rockets, the Space Force also tracks all the satellites orbiting around the globe. And there is a lot more than tracking the satellites. They also worry about threats from China and Russia. Things like a Russian “nesting doll” satellite, in which a big satellite relates a tiny one and the tiny one releases a mechanism that can strike and damage another satellite. There are machines with the ability to cast nets and extend grappling hooks, too.
There are so many things happening within the Space arena that many people take for granted every day. They don’t realize the work the Space Force is doing not only to support military assets but also the assets Americans depend on daily – like weather satellites, GPS, and more. As the Space Force continues to grow and expand they continue to adapt and prepare for the future and what it means for Space.
