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 Staff Sgt. Rebecca Long

Frisian Flag 2018 Coalition Forces

Regional Media Center AFN Europe

April 11, 2018 | 1:20

Title: Frisian Flag 2018
Client: USAFE
Producer: SSgt Rebecca Long, rebecca.g.long.mil@mail.mil
Type: News Package

Lead: Frisian Flag is a premier multi-national
exercise. Six countrie including the United States,
participated this year at Leeuwarden, Netherlands. SSGT Rebecca Long
shows us how this strengthens coalitions.

Run time: 00:01:17;43
Date Created: 11 April 2018

SSGT LONG:
Frisian Flag is a multi-national exercise that takes place in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. It strengthens coalition teams and enhances total force integration.
Col George Downs:
Coalition teams are critical to success, we don’t go to war anymore without a coalition in place. And so it’s critical that we continue to maintain these relationships, to improve these relationships; because in future conflicts we will certainly be going to war as a coalition. We’re all unique, we all have a little bit different ways of doing things and so we can learn a lot from our coalition partners by taking part in exercises such as Frisian Flag.
SSGT Long:
This exercise simulates real world events in a safe training environment.

Maj Bart Vandebergh:
Frisian Flag is important because it allows us to train with each other as we would probably operate in an actual coalition mission. So, because we don’t actually train on a daily basis, with this many aircraft, Frisian Flag allows us to actually get that needed training to be able to.

SSgt Long:
Frisian Flag strengthens our alliances and demonstrates the United States commitment to a stable Europe.
Reporting from Leeuwarden, Netherlands, I’m SSgt Rebecca Long.