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 Julian Hernandez, Master Sgt. Jacob Lewis, Lt. Col. Timothy Wade

433rd CRF Kickstarts, Transforms, and Closes CLOR 2024

433rd Airlift Wing

June 29, 2024 | 2:18

A team from the 433rd Contingency Response Flight kickstarted the Contingency Location Operations Rehearsal (CLOR 24) at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Michigan, on June 24. Reserve Citizen Airmen played a critical role in leading CLOR 24, working with the host of the event, Air Combat Command Agile Battle Lab, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

“The mission for the CLOR is to replicate a wartime agile combat deployment scenario,” said Lt. Col. Joya Gamara 55th Combat Communications Squadron commander and CLOR lead planner. “We utilize command and control, base operations support, and test emerging technologies, tactics, techniques, and procedures that test friendly force survivability while still generating combat power in a scripted, live-fly event.”

Recently, the 433rd CRF has worked with the Air Force Reserve Command and the Secretary of the Air Force about possibly transforming from a flight to a squadron and the CLOR rehearsal was the first major event where the 433rd CRF was able to test new members with varying Air Force Specialty Codes.