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 Gunnery Sgt. Jeremy Vought

Marines setup ME-L/COC during Advanced Warfighting Experiment

Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory | Futures Directorate

July 14, 2014 | 3:21

Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, use the Marine Air Ground Task Force Enabler-Light (ME-L) at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, July 14, 2014, as part of Rim of the Pacific 2014. The ME-L is experimental technology being tested by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab during Rim of the Pacific 2014. There are multiple technologies being tested during RIMPAC, the largest maritime exercise in the Pacific region. The ME-L is a command and control suite with radios including DTCS, NGC2, and Ku SatCom and workstations mounted in an Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV). It will serve as a Point of Presence that connects tactical networks to the Global Information Grid with Over-The-Horizon communications and serves as the Combat Operations Center for the Company Landing Team. It has successfully completed developmental testing and experimentation as part of the Enhanced MAGTF Operations (EMO) campaign.