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. Salvador Flores Perez

U.S. Marines Conduct MRC Rope Ceremony

Marine Forces, Special Operations Command

Aug. 1, 2025 | 0:43

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Raider Training Center, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, conduct their Rope Ceremony as part of the Marine Raider Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 1, 2025. The Rope Ceremony pays tribute to the Raiders of World War II, who wore ropes with a woven loop on the end and a wooden toggle on the other. The rope signifies their willingness to train and desire to earn the title of Marine Raider. It symbolizes their status as a selected Marine and growing commitment to the warrior lifestyle within the special operations community. MRC is a 9-month course that focusses on training and enhancing lethality and producing forces that are designed to be adaptable, task-organized, and capable of operating in complex and uncertain environments. Upon completion of MRC, graduates go on to becoming Marine Raiders and Marine Raider Officers.
(U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Salvador Flores Perez)