Reoptimization for Great Power Competition

“I’m extremely proud of the Space Force and all the good it has accomplished. But, as good as we are, as much as we’ve done, as far as we’ve come, it’s not enough. We are not yet optimized for Great Power Competition.”

~ Chief of Space Operations
Gen. Chance Saltzman

The establishment of the U.S. Space Force was a direct response to threats arising from Great Power Competition in the space domain. Nevertheless, our legacy roots leave us sub-optimized for the security environment confronting us today, and we must finish fine-tuning the service to continue meeting its National Defense Strategy responsibilities

In early 2024, the Department of the Air Force unveiled sweeping plans for reshaping, refocusing, and reoptimizing the Air Force and Space Force to ensure continued supremacy in their respective domains while better posturing the services to deter and, if necessary, prevail in an era of Great Power Competition. Through a series of 24 DAF-wide key decisions, four core areas which demand the Department’s attention will be addressed: Develop People, Generate Readiness, Project Power and Develop Capabilities.

The space domain is no longer benign; it has rapidly become congested and contested.

We must enhance our capabilities, develop Guardians for modern warfare, prepare for the high intensity fight, and strengthen our power projection to thrive and win in this new era of Great Power Competition.

Video by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Everett, Spc. Armani Wilson

Iowa cavalry unit debuts Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) vehicle at XCTC

135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

July 24, 2024 | 1:21

Spc. Jayme Flores, a Sioux City native and Iowa Army National Guard infantryman assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, demonstrates how the Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) vehicle is used during an eXportable Combat Training Capabilities (XCTC) rotation on July 24, 2024, at Camp Ripley, Minn. The SMET vehicle is a new addition to the Iowa National Guard's capabilities and has been enhancing mission efficiency by autonomously carrying heavy equipment, supplies and providing power to recharge electronic devices in the field, significantly reducing the physical burden on Soldiers. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Armani Wilson and Sgt. 1st Class Jason Everett)