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. 1st Class Ben Houtkooper

Brig. Gen. Mike Wickman speaks with Al Hurra

34th Red Bull Infantry Division

March 4, 2019 | 10:50

The Deputy Commanding General for Maneuver for the Minnesota National Guard's 34th Red Bull Infantry Division and Task Force Spartan, Brig Gen. Mike Wickman, speaks with a reporter from Al Hurra about Task Force Spartan's mission as a part of Operation Spartan Shield.

Task Force Spartan is a unique, multi-component organization, made up of active Army and National Guard units, rounded out by U.S. Army Reserve support units.
Through Operation Spartan Shield (OSS), Task Force Spartan maintains a U.S. military posture in Southwest Asia sufficient to strengthen our defense relationships and build partner capacity.

Units supporting OSS provide capabilities such as aviation, logistics, force protection and information management, and facilitate theater security cooperation activities such as key leader engagements, joint exercises, conferences, symposia and humanitarian assistance/disaster response planning.

More than 650 Soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard's 34th Red Bull Infantry Division Headquarters are on a 10-month long deployment in Kuwait to provide leadership, command, control, and in-depth staff analysis for Operation Spartan Shield.

The deployed Soldiers come from more than 220 communities throughout Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, and several other states. They are expected to return home from deployment in late July of 2019.