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 Dee Crawford

160219-A-PS499-001

Training Support Activity Europe

Feb. 19, 2016 | 0:58

To maintain airway control and to deliver anesthetic gas adequately, a device called an endotracheal tube (ETT) is placed in the trachea. Proper positioning of the veterinary patient is essential to facilitate this process. This is sometimes difficult since the animal is often deeply sedated and likes to lean to one side or the other. In this case, Spc. Hunter Smith, a handler is placing the ETT while, Cpt. Melissa Dugan, the veterinarian and, Sgt. Steven Mraz, the veterinary technician provide training and support. This is a task that all MWD handlers must be able to perform in an austere environment should his partner need it. Here, the handler is holding the ETT in his right hand, the dominant hand, and a laryngoscope in his left. The laryngoscope is a handy device that has a long ‘blade’ (not sharp at all…just called that) with a light attached. The blade is placed in the dog’s mouth to the back of the throat and is used to push down on the base of the tongue to visualize the larynx…the beginning of the airway. Once this is visible, the ETT is then placed into the opening to a premeasured length. Placement is checked by palpating the dog’s neck. If you feel 2 tubes, you are in the wrong opening and you need to repeat the procedure from the beginning, but if you feel 1 tube, you are in the trachea. Once proper tube placement is confirmed, oxygen is turned on, the anesthesia machine is connected to the end of the ETT that you can see, and the oxygen is delivered directly into the patient’s lungs. The ETT has a little inflatable bulb on the end that goes deep into the trachea. This has to be inflated just enough to completely seal the trachea so no anesthetic gas can escape into the environment, but not too much to cause any damage to the tracheal lining. Once this bulb is inflated properly, proper placement is reconfirmed, the tube is secured to the dog’s head, the anesthetic gas is turned on and the procedure can begin once the monitoring equipment is placed on the patient.