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 Capt. Cody Cass

Sgt. Chris Estrada, 126 Theater Public Affairs Support Element, Talks Public Affairs at Exercise Northern Strike 22-2

126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

Aug. 11, 2022 | 2:06

U.S. Army Sgt. Chris Estrada with the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element (TPASE), Michigan National Guard, speaks about what it means to be a Public Affairs Mass Communications Specialist. The 126th TPASE is assigned to provide Public Affairs support to Northern Strike 22-2. Sgt. Estrada also participates in the Confidence Lanes with the CBRN Platoon, Combat Logistics Regiment (CLR) 4, U.S. Marines in Grayling, Mich., Aug. 11, 2022. CLR 4 is using Northern Strike 22-2 to achieve a higher level of mission readiness by using the event to conduct collective training across multiple Department of Defense and civilian agencies. The Northern Strike 22-2 exercise includes over 7,400 participants from 19 states and 4 coalition countries to Northern Michigan to build interoperability while training in realistic multi-domain environments. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Capt. Cody Cass)

Runtime: 2:06