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. Paul Peterson

Claiming the Beach: Marines pioneer new survey techniques (Long Version)

II Marine Expeditionary Force

July 26, 2014 | 3:08

More than a dozen Marines with 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force left their base of operations at Camp Lejeune, N.C., to test their recently developed underwater survey techniques off the coast of California July 14-17, 2014. The unit pioneered a hydrographic survey program less than two years ago, and started deploying their techniques to various training sites during the last six months. The program now allows them the conduct detailed examinations of the terrain below the waves, which is a unique capability in the Marine Corps. Survey personnel collect detailed scans of the ocean floor and river environments to provide Marine operations with an accurate picture of operational environments. Their mission to California allowed them to test their new techniques far away from their base of support as a way to proof the program’s viability in deployed environments.

Interviews:
Lance Cpl. Rob Govitz, geospatial intelligence analyst, Lapeer, Mich.
Staff Sgt. Daniel Weybright, hydro survey team chief, Middlefield, Conn.