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 Sarayuth Pinthong

JBSA-Lackland NCOA opens PME course in virtual classrooms

502nd Air Base Wing

June 26, 2020 | 1:04

The Robert D. Gaylor Non-Commissioned Officer Academy program at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland was put on hold in March due to COVID-19.

In May, the academies were given notice that a virtual course was going to be attempted. The Barnes Center for Enlisted Education at Gunter Annex, Alabama, delegated the responsibility to design and deliver the course to each academy.

After NCOA instructors learned the new curriculum, which consisted of 30 hours of live-stream training, more than 40 hours were spent scrubbing through the new curriculum and adapting it from a 25-day in-residence course to a 19-day virtual, in-residence class.

The current class consists of 242 students located in places ranging from California to New York.

The NCOA program is the second level of enlisted Professional Military Education and prepares technical sergeants to be professional, war-fighting Airmen and Space Professionals who can manage and lead units in the employment of Air and Space power. Currently, there are 10 NCOAs worldwide.