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. Shane Smith

Army Aviation Accident Investigation Course at Fort Indiantown Gap

Fort Indiantown Gap

Aug. 21, 2019 | 2:01

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The Pennsylvania National Guard recently repurposed a decommissioned UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, using it to create a realistic aviation accident site that will be used to train our nation’s Soldiers.

The 1978 model Blackhawk was hoisted by a larger CH-47 Chinook aircraft and was dropped from 125 feet, creating a mock helicopter crash site with significant damage and simulated casualties at Ft. Indiantown Gap Aug. 8.

Twenty three Army National Guard Soldiers from 10 different states were the first to utilize this new training asset during an Army Aviation Accident Investigation Course at Fort Indiantown Gap Aug. 19-23.

The course serves as the culminating exercise in a series of five accident investigation courses and is crucial because it allows students to practically apply all of the skills they’ve learned in the previous courses, preparing them to respond to accidents like this in the real world.

Students work together as an investigation team to determine the likely cause of the accident and assemble an accident report.

Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. is now one of just four training sites capable of hosting such Army training and will continue to train and prepare Soldiers on aviation safety and accident investigation moving forward.

Well-prepared accident investigators play a vital role in accident analysis with the objective of preventing future accidents.