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 Spc. Richard Ortiz

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U.S. Army Soldiers Operate M30 Bridge Erection Boats in Rio Grande

Department of War Southern Border

Jan. 9, 2026 | 0:28

U.S. Army soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) operate M30 Bridge Erection Boats (BEB) in the Rio Grande River in McAllen, Texas, Jan. 9th, 2026. The M30 BEB is designed to provide high thrust, maneuverability, and propulsion to support floating bridge and rafting operations - even in silted, shallow, or mixed-water environments. This makes it well-suited for areas along the Rio Grande where terrain limits ground mobility. JTF-SB executes full-scale, agile, and all-domain operations in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to protect the territorial integrity of the United States and achieve 100% operational control of the southern border. (U.S. Army video by Spc. Richard Ortiz)