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. Stephen Wright

Arkansas National Guard Best Warrior Competition - Ruck March and Army Warrior Tasks

Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs Office

March 2, 2017 | 1:58

Soldiers from various units in the Arkansas national guard, along with soldiers from the Guatemalan army's special forces (Kaibil), were tested on their ability to complete a ruck march with while in full gear and stop at various points along the way to perform certain army warrior tasks.
Guatemala is Arkansas' partner nation in the state partnership program. The Arkansas National Guard regularly conducts training with the Guatemalan army.
The soldiers flew from the airfield to a landing zone where they were dropped off to begin the ruck march. The competitors were limited to completing the ruck march in under 6 hours. Throughout the ruck march, soldiers were required to stop at multiple locations and complete various tasks to standard. They were timed at all events. Those times are figured into their overall ruck march time to determine the winner of the total ruck march.
At the first station, soldiers were required to dawn protective gear. They then had to acquire a grenade launcher and run to a specified location where they were then required to shoot 4 targets with the 5 rounds provided. They rounds used were made of chalk and not explosive.
After that station, competitors then ruck marched down to an area where they were required to successfully throw a hand grenade and disable enemy targets. They then assaulted an objective and cleared a building. They were expected to use modern army combatives tactics to subdue a hostile enemy. They then had to simulate rendering first aid to a fallen soldier and then evacuate that injured soldier.
Competitors then ruck marched down to a range where they sighted in their m-4 rifle before rucking to other stations where they were required to successfully engage targets with the m249 squad automatic weapon (saw), the MK19 automatic grenade launcher and a pistol.
After completing all of the required tasks, the competitors then completed the last leg of the ruck march.
Soldiers then went to a swimming pool to compete against each other for time, and successful completion of, various Combat Water Survival Training (CWST) tasks.