Patrick Malcor’s Post

A recent Breaking Defense op-ed, titled “The Army wants its own ‘Space Force.’ They shouldn’t be allowed to have it,” misses key points about the Army’s space capabilities, and requires additional context and objective analysis. All the military services have space forces and capabilities, but what differentiates service-unique forces and capabilities is their mission and higher purpose. The Army is not going to “usurp” the Space Force, nor does it want to. For the Joint Force to be effective, we must overcome domain parochialism. No military service is going to out Space Force the Space Force, not even the Army. But the Army will continue to invest in space professionals and capabilities, because fighting and winning on a 21st-century battlefield demands it. United States Department of Defense US Army United States Department of the Army U.S. Space Command United States Space Force Air & Space Forces Magazine The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Army Futures Command US Army TRADOC U.S. Army Materiel Command U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) United States Army Special Operations Command U.S. Army Cyber Command Army ISR Task Force Breaking Defense Scott Sadler NewSpace Nexus

“China is a thinking, well-resourced adversary. They’re now thinking about the things we’ve said we’re going to do and how they’re going to defeat them. That’s why we have to re-optimize. We’re in a race. And we can’t just hope we win. We have to actually do things to make sure we stay ahead.” - Secretary of the United States Air Force Frank Kendall III One of the things the Total Force must do is better leverage the Air Reserve Component including the Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Reserve. A recent RAND study demonstrated the experience and cost advantage of the Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Reserve fighter and tanker fleets. If we are headed for a smaller, more capable United States Air Force, step one must be better leveraging the reserve component. SECAF's initiative to Optimize the Total Force is critical and timely; can't wait to see what is unveiled at the Air & Space Forces Association conference on February 12th. #strategy #natsec #nationalsecurity #airforce #nationalguard #TFO #totalforceoptimization #goguard

One of my favorite dry quips from a Sergeant Major encouraging our #Soldiers to complete an online account setup: “Guys, I’ve got a feeling this internet thing is going to catch on.” Today’s version might be: “Guys, I’ve got a feeling this space thing is going to catch on.” The US Army recently released a Space Vision directing focus on two i-words: 1 - Integrating space capabilities (from everywhere: the other services, allies and partners, and commercial providers) 2 - Interdicting adversary space capabilities to protect friendly forces Each military service has significant space equities. Read more about the Army's at the link below. #army #space #beallyoucanbe

Sharing a third article from #MilitaryReview's special #space and #missiledefense edition. This one is by Master Sergeant Love (yes, what a great name!). MSG Love argues that the #Army needs dedicated #Soldiers whose sole focus is space operations. A great piece, and one that is made all the more satisfying by its inclusion of little-known historical facts about #ArmySpace. #spaceoperations, #ArmyUniversity, #spacewarfare, #SpaceForce, #SpaceCommand, #thebattlebeyond https://lnkd.in/gDmgjePj

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.

A quick read on the direction of our space operations.

the document emphasizes the command’s “laser focus” to fulfill its #Title10 responsibilities and Unified Command Plan #responsibilities: #SpaceOperations, #Global #Sensor Manager, Global #Satellite #Communications Manager, #Transregional #Missile Defense, and #Space #JointForce Provider. Additionally, the document outlines four priority objectives that, when realized, will ensure the vision is achieved: #Prepare and #posture: We will maximize our #combat readiness by 2027 #Counterthreats: We will achieve and maintain space #superiority Strengthen #relationships: We will continue to build a #coalition of #superior military #spacepower Expand a #warfighting #advantage: We will shape military spacepower for the future fight U.S. Space Command Space Operations Command United States Space Force Space Systems Command UK Space Command Parsons Corporation BAE Systems Thales Alenia Space QinetiQ US Northrop Grumman Headquarters, US Special Operations Command U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet / U.S. Navy Space/ Joint Force Headquarters Cyber

We see our adversaries preparing. Only a warfighting mindset and setting the stage can bring deterrence or capabilities that win the day. I'm encouraged by the focus from US Space Command! Their priority objectives: - Prepare and posture: We will maximize our combat readiness by 2027 - Counter threats: We will achieve and maintain space superiority - Strengthen relationships: We will continue to build a coalition of superior military spacepower - Expand a warfighting advantage: We will shape military spacepower for the future fight USSPACECOM's end state: “By 2027, USSPACECOM conducts dynamic, partnered, and integrated space operations and transregional missile defense support to enable Joint Force lethality and effectiveness while protecting it from space-enabled attack, extending our advantage over competitors, and successfully operating in the face of the threats arrayed against us through all levels of conflict to deter aggression and defeat adversaries.” #USSPACECOM

U.S. Army seeks to expand space expertise among soldiers. The Space and Missile Defense Command is backing an initiative to create a dedicated space career field for enlisted troops. The Army is considering the creation of a dedicated space career field for enlisted soldiers, a move that could significantly expand its pool of space experts and better equip land forces to face the technological challenges of modern warfare. Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commander of the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command, voiced strong support for the initiative Aug. 6 during his address at the Space and Missile Defense Conference in Huntsville, Alabama. The proposal, which has yet to receive approval from the Army’s top leadership, aims to establish an Army Space Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). “It’s clear to me that our Army is missing a major piece of the puzzle when it comes to space operations: a dedicated military occupational specialty that allows NCOs [non-commissioned officers] as well as officers to specialize in space at the earliest stages of their career,” Gainey said. Currently, only officers have a career field for space operations. On the enlisted side, soldiers serving in space-related positions come from other career paths such as engineering, air defense, signals or intelligence. The proposed MOS would allow soldiers to build and maintain expertise in space operations throughout their careers, rather than rotating back to their original branches after a single tour. This initiative is part of a broader effort to establish an Army space branch, which has gained renewed momentum after previously slowing down due to the establishment of the U.S. Space Force. Gainey emphasized the critical role of space capabilities in modern warfare, noting that every Army unit must be prepared to operate in environments where GPS satellite signals could be jammed or spoofed. A guidance document released in January, titled “Army Space Vision Supporting Multi Domain Operations,” underscores the importance of space systems in ground warfare and acknowledges the increased use of space-based surveillance by rival militaries. “We can no longer continue to do business as usual,” Gainey said. “As we look out to 2030, we know that we have to grow our #space capability.” See https://lnkd.in/gWMy9KPN AUKUS Guardians Jason Held, Aude Vignelles, Darin Lovett, Michael Sharpe

100% Michael Barnett … Space is every warfighters AOR. It is a “one-team … all-in fight.” I believe there is a fundamental difference between the Army preparing, professionalizing, and presenting “Space Forces” as all other services do, and building a Space Force. I believe the Army Space Branch is the former, not the latter. We want/need space-smart joint warfighters and joint-smart space warfighters (especially Noncommissioned Officers/Petty Officers) fielded across the entirety of the BattleSpace. Each of our military branches have complementary capabilities such as air and maritime platforms, and each conducts joint functional operations such as cyber defense and special operations. We do this by investing in and tailoring cadres of highly trained warfighters (in each service) that can represent and be integrated across multiple domains to maximize our combined effectiveness. I have found that there is a tremendous advantage to having diverse domain warfighters with Space dimension depth who can exponentially enhance our ability to present, project, protect, and prevail in Space. ON GUARD!