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. Andy Martinez

B-Roll: Task force Marines, Sailors conduct swim qualification at Camp Lejeune

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South

March 18, 2020 | 4:53

Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command participate in the basic swim qualification course at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 11, 2020. The basic swim qualification course requires Marines to shed a combat load underwater, swim and float in full utilities for 4 minutes, jump from a tower, and swim 25 meters with their pack in order to pass qualification. Marines and Sailors with SPMAGTF-SC are conducting a variety of pre-deployment training events and qualifications prior to deploying in order to enhance crisis response readiness in and around Central America, South America and the Caribbean. These events are held at Camp Lejeune and will assist the Marines and Sailors with providing security cooperation training and engineering projects alongside partner nation military forces in the Latin American and Caribbean region, as well as remaining ready to respond to crises in the event of an emergency within the region. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Andy O. Martinez)