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. Kylejian Francia

B-Roll:173rd Airborne Brigade conducts operation at Juliet drop zone

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

March 20, 2025 | 1:36

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, execute an airborne jump at Aviano Air Base, Italy, March 20, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, capable of projecting ready forces anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa or Central Commands’ areas of responsibility. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Kylejian Francia)

Shot List:
(00:00:00) LONG SHOT: U.S. Army paratroopers donning their parachutes
(00:03:00) MEDIUM SHOT: U.S. Army paratroopers donning their parachutes
(00:06:00) CLOSE UP SHOT: U.S. Army paratroopers donning their parachutes
(00:09:00) MEDIUM SHOT: U.S. Army paratroopers donning their parachutes
(00:12:00) CLOSE UP SHOT: U.S. Army paratroopers donning their parachutes
(00:17:29) LONG SHOT: U.S. Army paratroopers jump out of a U.S. Air Force 86th Air Wing C-130 Hercules aircraft
(00:29:21) LONG SHOT: U.S. Army paratroopers jump out of a U.S. Air Force 86th Air Wing C-130 Hercules aircraft
(00:36:25) LONG SHOT: U.S. Army paratroopers jump out of a U.S. Air Force 86th Air Wing C-130 Hercules aircraft
(00:44:28) MEDIUM SHOT: U.S. Army paratrooper unhooks from their parachute after executing an airborne jump
(00:48:03) CLOSE UP SHOT: U.S. Army paratrooper unhooks from their parachute after executing an airborne jump
(00:55:21) LONG SHOT (SLOW-MO): U.S. Army paratrooper recovers their parachute
(01:06:26) MEDIUM SHOT: U.S. Army paratrooper recovers their parachute
(01:10:11) CLOSE UP SHOT: U.S. Army paratrooper recovers their parachute
(01:13:26) CLOSE UP SHOT: U.S. Army paratrooper recovers their parachute
(01:23:21) CUT IN SHOT: U.S. Army paratrooper recovers their parachute
(01:28:19) CUT IN SHOT (PAN DOWN): U.S. Army paratrooper recovers their parachute