Have you seen the trailer for the newest Netflix show, ‘Space Force’? Starring Steve Carell, the workplace comedy is about people who are tasked with creating the Space Force. While it sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie from the eighties, Space Force is a real thing. The Space Force is the newest branch of the armed forces, alongside the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force. Established on December 20, 2019, it’s the sixth branch of the military, and in one part created after President Trump said, “We must have American dominance in space”. Of course, the president alone could not establish a military branch, but it had a huge support from Congress. The National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2020 passed and $40 million was put towards getting the Space Force off the ground. The Air Force Space Command was also renamed as the U.S. Space Force.
Why does the U.S. need to have the Space Force? According to the U.S. Space Force’s website, its mission is a “military force that organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force.” One of the main purposes is to protect the satellites in space that have an impact on modern warfare. Most major players like China and Russia view space as a war fighting zone, and the U.S. also sees it as such. By forming this branch in the military, the U.S. is positioning itself as a power player in all areas of warfare. Most recently, they intercepted threats in space from Russia and Iran. While new, the Space Force is the real deal, as they are already fighting threats in space, and making discoveries that will protect the U.S. in the future.
While most of the Space Force will be comprised of both military and civilians from the former Air Force Space Command, it’s also gaining a lot of attention in and outside of the military — as it’s a first of its kind. This year’s U.S. Air Force Academy graduating class had 86 2nd Lieutenants who were directly commissioned to the Space Force. Those 86 graduates would become the first company-grade officers of the Space Force. Also, on May 1st, active duty Air Force members were given the green-light to volunteer to transfer to the Space Force based on eligibility (working in fields relating to the space). As with any branch of the military, recruitment is essential. Being the newest of the bunch, the Space Force’s recruitment ad that was released on May 6th was one that was more thought provoking and intended to get the attention of new recruits. The thirty second commercial ended with, “Maybe your purpose on this planet, isn’t on this planet”.
