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. Keegan Costello

High-Altitude Mountain Environmental Training Strategy (HAMETS) Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) Training

10th Combat Aviation Brigade

April 19, 2019 | 2:00

There is more to the High Altitude Mountainous Environmental Training Strategy (HAMETS) than just flying amongst mountain peaks. With the change of scenery from Fort Drum, NY, to Fort Bliss, TX, come many new challenges; especially the sand and dust that is kicked up by the strong winds our helicopters produce from their rotor blades.

As they prepare to land, a dust cloud will envelope the aircraft, making it impossible to see the ground. Our Aviators are here learning how to tackle this issue by trusting their instruments and relying on the training they receive here.

Not only does the dust obscure our Aviators line of sight, it also damages the aircraft, and Task Force Knighthawk (2-10 Assault Helicopter Battalion with elements from 3-10 General Support Aviation Battalion, 1-10 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion and 277th Aviation Support Battalion) has learned to adapt to these problems. By learning to manage effective maintenance routines, our 10th Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers can keep our aircraft running mission after mission, increasing our readiness and lethality.