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HomeAbout UsFAQsWhat's the Space Force

MISSION

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A:  The USSF is the newest branch of the Armed Forces. It was established December 20, 2019 with enactment of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act and will be stood-up over the next 18 months. 
 
A: The U.S. Space Force is a military service that organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force. USSF responsibilities will include developing Guardians, acquiring military space systems, maturing the military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces to present to our Combatant Commands. 
 
A: Space has become essential to our security and prosperity – so much so that we need a branch of our military dedicated to its defense, just like we have branches of the military dedicated to protecting and securing the air, land, and sea. Unfettered access to space is vital to national defense. Space systems are woven into the fabric of our way of life. Space affects almost every part of our daily lives and is fundamental to our economic system. For example, satellites not only power the GPS technology that we use daily, but allow us to surf the web and call our friends, enable first responders to communicate with each other in times of crisis, time-stamp transactions in the world financial market, and even allow us to use credit cards at gas pumps.
A: The USSF Headquarters and Office of the Chief of Space Operations is located in the Pentagon, just like the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.  
 
A: The U.S. Space Force will initially be composed of uniformed and civilian personnel conducting and supporting space operations as part of Air Force Space Command. Over the next year, units and personnel from other parts of the U.S. Air Force will transfer into the U.S. Space Force. 
 
A: The organization, Air Force Space Command, was redesignated as the U.S. Space Force. The personnel who belonged to AFSPC are now assigned to the USSF, but currently remain Airmen with the U.S. Air Force. Airmen in select space-related jobs will be transferred into the USSF (becoming members of the USSF) in deliberate manner over the next 18 months, while other Airmen will remain assigned to the USSF in a supporting role.
 

TIMELINE

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A: Yes. The Department of the Air Force is reviewing Air Force installations which will be designated as U.S. Space Force bases. Any decisions will be made public following appropriate stakeholder notifications.  
 
A: We are moving out expediently and deliberately.  As we stand up the new service we are taking care of our service members while ensuring the success of our ongoing space missions. The initial staff for the Chief of Space Operations was stood up with the President’s signature of the FY20 NDAA. This staff is focused on establishing a fully-functioning headquarters; preparing to execute the full scope of its organize, train, and equip responsibilities; and, in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force, developing a detailed plan to transfer forces into the U.S. Space Force. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available. 
 
A: On Day 1, Air Force Space Command (including all its current subordinate units) was redesignated as the USSF. All Airmen who were assigned to Air Force Space Command are now assigned to USSF. Within 60 days, the Air Force will reach out to uniformed Airmen to inform them whether their specialty code is organic to the Space Force, organic to the Air Force, or shared between Air Force and Space Forces. Airmen will be provided options, depending on their specialty code, to volunteer to transfer to the USSF. Based on their preferences and Air Force and Space Force needs, Airmen will be selected for Air or Space Force, and we will work to transfer those selected for the Space Force. Bottom-line: Airmen will see no disruption to their everyday mission and the Air Force will work deliberately through the transfer process. 
 
A: No. If you are currently assigned to a unit/organization that is redesignated to the USSF, then you will maintain your assignment in the redesignated organization and be assigned to the Space Force. However, you will remain a member of the U.S. Air Force.  Individuals will become members of the 6th branch of the Armed Forces (the United States Space Force) once they have transferred either through a new appointment (for officers) or by being enlisted into the U.S. Space Force.  The Department of the Air Force will go through a deliberate process and will provide information to individuals to help guide their transfer into the U.S. Space Force.  Now and in the future, there will continue to be Airmen, who are members of the United States Air Force, assigned to support the U.S. Space Force mission.  
 
A: There are currently no plans to relocate existing units.  
 

SIZE AND COST

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A: With the redesignation of AFSPC as U.S. Space Force, approximately 16,000 military and civilian space personnel were assigned to the Space Force on Dec. 20, 2019. These assigned personnel are at present time Airmen within the U.S. Air Force. Appropriate personnel will have the opportunity to transfer into the new armed force and become U.S. Space Force service members, in a deliberate manner.  If additional units are redesignated or realigned to or from the U.S. Space Force, then the number assigned will change accordingly. 
 

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