Launching Your Knowledge of the U.S. Space Force

From the moment I met my husband when we were 16 years old, he intended to serve in the U.S. Air Force. By the time we got married, he had already been wearing Air Force blues for eight years and I spent the next seven as his proud Air Force wife. So it was a bit of a shock when we found out he would be transferring to the newly formed U.S. Space Force and I would soon become a “Space Force wife.”

It is a unique privilege serving among some of the first U.S. Space Force families within the newest branch of our military. We’re currently stationed at an Army post where most people – military or civilian – haven’t met a Space Force Guardian yet. We’ve received many questions along the way – “Is it actually a real thing?” (Yes!) “Is your husband an astronaut?” (No) – and we are eager to build greater understanding and awareness about what we’re doing in space and why the Space Force was created.

I hope this blog can start to shed light on the newest service branch of our military and give you a glimpse into why it plays such an essential role in every American’s life!

What is the U.S. Space Force?

The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is the newest United States Armed Forces branch, established in December 2019. It is a separate service branch operating administratively under the Department of the Air Force, much like how the Marine Corps operates under the Department of the Navy.

What is the mission of the U.S. Space Force?

The U.S. Space Force mission states:

“The USSF is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Guardians to conduct global space operations that enhance the way our joint and coalition forces fight, while also offering decision makers military options to achieve national objectives.”

In other words: the Space Force is responsible for training and preparing its members to carry out missions in space that help improve how the military fights. By doing this, the USSF can provide civilian and military leaders with different options to achieve national goals.

Why do we need a Space Force?

We often don’t notice it, but space capabilities have become woven into almost every aspect of our daily lives. Satellite constellations provide a robust network of global services we rely on for: 

• Navigation (i.e., GPS on our phones, cars, smartwatches, and more)
• Communication (the cell phones we are glued to)
• Weather monitoring 
• Broadcasting (digital streaming platforms we love to use to binge watch our favorite shows)
• Timing (the internet and social media, global financial networks, and power infrastructure)
• National security and military capabilities
• And much more!

As space-based capabilities are now an essential part of the American way of life, protecting our freedom to operate in space is necessary to safeguard national security and economic prosperity.

Additionally, space-based capabilities are critical for military operations, providing essential communication, navigation, and intelligence services to support and keep our troops safe on the ground, in the air, and at sea.

Space is becoming increasingly congested and contested as the number of countries and private companies launching satellites and other space objects continues to grow. This increases the likelihood of accidental collisions, military conflicts, and other human and environmental threats to U.S. space-based capabilities.

Guardians in the Space Force protect and defend our interests in space to ensure we can continue enjoying the benefits of the modern space-based capabilities we have come to rely on, while also maintaining our military advantage in the space domain.

What types of jobs do Guardians perform?

This is often one of the first questions I’m asked as a Space Force spouse. A first thought might be “astronaut” since that’s one of the most common space-related jobs in movies and tv, but that’s more NASA’s domain, and a rare job at that.

The Space Force focuses on the assets and activities conducted in space – like operating satellites, space launches, communication, intelligence, missile warning & defense, and cyber capabilities, just to name a few.

The members of the U.S. Space Force are called “Guardians” and perform various jobs related to space operations. These jobs can include:

• Space Operations
• Cyber Operations
• Intelligence
• Engineering
• Acquisitions

Where is Space Force headquarters located?

The headquarters of the U.S. Space Force is located at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

How many people are currently assigned to the Space Force?

As of August 2021, the U.S Space Force had approximately 8,400 active-duty members. This number is expected to increase as more individuals are recruited to fill positions within the branch, but will remain fairly small: around 16,000 military and civilian members.

I hope this has given you a better understanding of the U.S. Space Force and its mission to protect and defend our nation’s interests in space. As the Space Force continues to grow and evolve, we’re excited to see what the future holds for this innovative branch of our military!