Jessica Reed’s Post

Reflexive criticism of a Space National Guard does indeed display ignorance of the facts: 1. The Space National Guard is the most cost effective option for our Guard members currently performing space missions. 2. The Space National Guard would be the most seamless solution on what to do with the Air National Guard units performing space missions. https://lnkd.in/eu5p_Ygn

Spaceport needs increase- In the House Armed Services Committee's draft fiscal 2025 defense policy bill, concerns were raised about the increased launch demands on the two main spaceports - Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida (Space Florida) and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. United States Space Force is exploring options to increase the number of launches its existing ranges can support through an initiative called Spaceport of the Future. The bill lists potential alternative sites (and GSA members), including Virginia Spaceport Authority's Wallops Island in Virginia, Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska, and the only U.S. inland vertical launch facility - Spaceport America in New Mexico. 👉 Read the article at https://lnkd.in/eYRSJUiC Image- © Provided by Defense News

Today we observe #GISDay2024 by highlighting the US Army's Geospatial Engineers, MOS 12Y. These Soldiers "extract and analyze geographic data from satellite imagery, photography, and field reconnaissance" to support both combat and humanitarian missions. Learn more at https://loom.ly/aKlL2fo

#ICMYI United States Space Force's Position Navigation and Timing Provisional Delta officially redesignated as Mission Delta 31, the first integrated mission delta, which merges operational activities with sustainment capabilities, and integrates intelligence support directly to the unit.   "This represents the change in warfighter mindset. We provide a critical capability called navigation warfare, where we deliver PNT through a contested environment and operate through almost any threat,” said Gen. David N. Miller Jr., commander of Space Operations Command. “Many people think it's just precision guided munitions. It is the timing signal associated with our coding schemes. It is the security upon which our baseline defenses depend. Many things depend on a signal from GPS, and all of it starts with Mission Delta 31.”    Read more: https://lnkd.in/gdM-fzu7

Integrated mission deltas are a crucial next step in the evolution of the U.S. Space Force as they aim to streamline operations, enhance combat readiness, and improve the overall effectiveness of space operations. By consolidating functions such as intelligence, operations, and sustainment under a single command structure, integrated mission deltas promote more efficient decision-making and coordination. This approach is intended to optimize the use of space-based assets, reduce duplication of effort, and enable a faster, more agile response to threats in space.

Today marks the 5th birthday of the U.S. Space Force—a monumental milestone for our nation and its commitment to securing the ultimate high ground: space. In just five years, the Space Force has become a critical enabler of national defense, innovation, and international collaboration, solidifying its place as the newest branch of our armed forces. For the Army Space community, this anniversary is a powerful reminder of our shared mission and the evolving role space plays in modern warfare. Space is no longer just a frontier—it’s a domain where joint operations, intelligence, and innovation converge to provide strategic advantages for the nation. The partnership between the Army and the Space Force ensures that our soldiers on the ground have the tools, technologies, and data they need to operate effectively. From advanced satellite communications to missile warning systems, space capabilities empower every aspect of the mission. As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the visionary leadership and the service members who have shaped the Space Force’s success. Together, we are pioneering a future where space remains a safe, secure, and operational domain for generations to come. Here’s to five transformative years—and to many more ahead! #SpaceForceBirthday #ArmySpace #DefendingTheHighGround

Plenty to like in this analysis. Key theme: Space should be foundationally joint, if we do it right. We ain't there yet, but good signs of progress. Throughout the time the U.S. Space Force and Space Systems Command were standing up, I posted regarding the imperative that DoD MILDEPs preserve essential equities and HQs-level capacities, expertise and engagements across the range of space warfighting capabilities, both offensive and defensive. From my perch as a naval professional, I employed a few ideas: 1. Don't give up the ship. The Naval force has longstanding and abiding critical equities in space. Depending how you read history, the Navy damned near invented the employment of space for expeditionary warfighting and maneuver. The notion that we would blindly outsource space capabilities to USSF/SSC, was (and is), in my way of thinking, a bridge too far - and not necessary. 2. We have space capabilities because we have a naval force (and air, ground and special operations forces, by extension); it'll be important in the future that we remember "supported/supporting" doctrine and concepts, as USSF/SSC competes for a larger piece of DoD budget. Memo to USSF/SSC: In almost every important context, you are supporting. Your priorities, and the details of what you build, and how you operate it (jointly) must acknowledge that. From these two ideas, other important drivers of Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel/Systems, Leadership, Personnel and Facilities derive for each MILDEP to consider. To be fair, even after five years, it's too early to chastise the Army, or any of the MILDEPs, for hedging bets and positioning for reasonable control over their own destinies in space. USSF/SSC still have a fair amount of proving and demonstrating to do, before the most seamless, robust and reliable fully-integrated joint-model-of-everything in space can be counted on. As I read the linked article, I don't so much think Army needs to rein in its own aspirations and aggressive pursuit of world class space capabilities. Likewise, the other MILDEPs need to keep their thinking caps on, and consider their own man/train/equip and concomitant resource investment strategies over years, even as all MILDEPs work collaboratively and thoughtfully with USSF/SSC to advance the worthy cause of jointness. The idea of the wickedly ruthless, persistent, engaged and demanding customer comes to mind. Another key message hiding between the lines in the article, is that USSF/SSC need to step it up at least a few notches and pick up the pace. As I've posted in other contexts, commercial space is racing ahead, in some capability areas largely without us, and the reasons we used to invoke for going slow, and taking 10 to 15 years to field "perfect" capabilities in space, no longer apply. You want jointness and "supported/supporting" to work for the entire joint force, all warfighting domains, and for the nation, you need to be world class in all that you do.

Space control ensures freedom of action for friendly forces and denies adversaries the use of space capabilities through strategic operations, including offensive and defensive measures and maintaining space situational awareness. Space control is a critical area where Canada is making significant advancements, ensuring freedom of action for friendly forces and negating adversary capabilities. With a focus on Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and strategic military advantages, Canada is becoming well-equipped to handle the challenges of space as the ultimate high ground

"SPAFORGEN, which was first previewed by Saltzman in a C-Note late last year, will follow three phases through which Guardians will rotate. First is the “Prepare Phase” for Guardians to learn their assigned roles. Second is the “Ready Phase,” during which Guardians will “participate in advanced training to equip them for high-intensity conflict,” Saltzman wrote. Finally is the “Commit Phase,” in which Guardians will be part of a combat squadron or combat detachment. The Air Force is following a similar concept with AFFORGEN, which has four six-month cycles. That model has already been implemented, with the first Airmen deploying under it last fall." https://lnkd.in/gDbx75xP

Lt. Col. Joseph Mroszczyk, commander of the U.S. Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Effects Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord: "The Army has to be able to mitigate risks from dependencies on space while seizing the initiative to exploit adversaries’ use of space … we rely on space for intelligence, missile warning, weather, positioning, navigation and timing; all of those different mission areas support every aspect of how we operate. And so we need professionals to help focus on how we can integrate those capabilities better and on how to address vulnerabilities."