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 Maj. Wayne Clyne

Oregon National Guard Opens First Off-Road Tank Trail in Eastern Oregon

Oregon National Guard Public Affairs Office

Feb. 1, 2025 | 0:58

The Oregon Army National Guard has established its first off-road tank trail at Raymond F. Rees Training Center in Umatilla, Oregon, providing local tank crews with essential driver training capabilities. The new six-mile course eliminates the need for Eastern Oregon tank units to travel to out-of-state facilities for driver training, significantly improving training efficiency for the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Battalion. The purpose-built trail supports both day and night operations for M1A2 SEP v2 Abrams tanks, enabling crews to train with thermal imaging and night vision equipment in a controlled environment, marking a major milestone in the transformation of the former Umatilla Chemical Depot into a modern military training facility.