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 Cpl. Brian Knowles

CARAT Brunei 25 interview

Marine Rotational Force - Southeast Asia

Oct. 26, 2025 | 7:55

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Steve Lundin, the logistics officer assigned to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, is interviewed about MRF-SEA's participation in exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Brunei 2025 with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the U.S. Navy in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Oct. 23, 2025. This year marks the 31st iteration of CARAT Brunei, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo Pacific region. MRF-SEA is a forward-deployed, task-organized unit from I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, California. It builds partnerships and strengthens interoperability with Southeast Asian Allies and partners, adapting its size and capabilities to conduct security cooperation, train with regional forces, and respond rapidly to crises and contingencies across the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Brian Knowles)