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 Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

Iowa Air Guard Civil Engineers tackle March snow

185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

March 9, 2018 | 3:36

Civil engineers assigned to the 185th Air Refueling Wing wrestled with another round of snow this week at the Sioux City, Iowa Air National Guard unit.

This week’s snow was piled on top of a series of snow events this winter in Western Iowa that required snow removal crews to work a lot of additional hours to ensure air operations at the Air Refueling Wing could continue without interruption.

A number of Civil Engineering employees who are also traditional guard members are deployed this winter which has increased the work load on employees who are still in Iowa.

Members of the snow crew are usually up and at it by 2 A.M. in order to begin clearing parking lots and sidewalks on the base. According to Mark Benson who is a snow crew member, the main priority is clearing the flight line that is home to the unit’s KC-135 mid-air refueling aircraft.

Even though the end of the snow season is near Benson says it is not quite over yet. He adds that with the busy season, keeping the equipment up and running has presented some challenges but they are getting the job done.

Lower Thirds:
Mark Benson
185th Air Refueling Wing Snow Crew