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 Tech. Sgt. Tommy Grimes

Patriot Warrior 2016 - Teaser Trailer

3d Audiovisual Squadron

Aug. 20, 2016 | 1:08

A brief look at the training conducted during exercise Patriot Warrior 2016, Fort McCoy and Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wis. Patriot Warrior is the Air Force Reserve's premier contingency deployment training exercise, designed to demonstrate training ranging from bare base buildup to full operational capabilities. More than 11,000 members from the U.S. service branches and their Reserve components, including Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines are participating alongside British, Canadian, and Saudi Arabian forces. This exercise evaluates the ability of Air Force Reserve units to deploy mobility airlift and agile combat support capabilities in support of joint theater operations.