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 Jackson Huston

Army JROTC National Drone Championship | 2025

U.S. Army Cadet Command (Army ROTC)

March 8, 2025 | 6:22

Army JROTC, in partnership with the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, hosted the inaugural Army JROTC National Drone Championship with 40 teams from across the nation competing March 7-8 at Fort Benning, Ga.

All-Around Champions: Tafuna High School, Pago Pago, American Samoa

Teamwork Mission Champions: Camdenton High School, Camdenton, Mo. and Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School, Lake Worth, Fla.

Skills Mission Champions: White County High School, Cleveland, Ga.

Timecodes:

B-Roll

0:00-1:00 Teams practice prior to the start of the competition.

1:00-2:16 Teams participate in the Skills Mission and the Autonomous Skills Mission

2:16-3:07 Teams participate in the qualification match.

3:07-4:57 Tafuna High School participates in the finals of the competition. During the semi-finals the team scored 154 points, the most of the entire competition.

4:57-5:30 Tafuna High School is announced as All-Around Champions of the competition and presented a trophy by Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Young, Command Sergeant Major of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Dant Mantz, CEO of the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation.

5:30-5:38 Camdenton High School and Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School, Teamwork Mission Champions, are presented trophies by Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Young, Command Sergeant Major of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Dant Mantz, CEO of the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation.

5:38-5:46 White County High School, Skills Mission Champion, is presented a trophy by Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Young, Command Sergeant Major of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Dan Mantz, CEO of the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation.

A-Roll

5:46-6:22 Army JROTC Cadet Braydon John explains the applicable skills he has gained from being a part of the Army JROTC Drone Team at Timberland High School in St. Stephen, S.C.