Rafa Linera, Ph.D.’s Post

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

More space capability is always good.

It's easy to question why the Army would need to expand space expertise after the standup of the USSF. The U.S. created a new service to handle the operations in, from, and to space. So why would the Army need space-smart soldiers? The different military components (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard) all have their own unique and important roles to play. Each one will have different requirements for and from space. Having well-trained and experienced members will help each component complete its mission and to integrate with the space component. #Military #SpaceExpertise #Army #USSF #Collaboration

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

For decades, United States Air Force test and training ranges, like the Nevada Test and Training Range and the Utah Test and Training Range, have provided aircrews with flexible, realistic, multidimensional battle spaces to conduct testing and advanced training. Though only a few years old, the National Space Test and Training Complex (NSTTC) functions as a space-based counterpart, providing unique opportunities for Guardians to hone their warfighting skills in the era of Great Power Competition. Capt. Anthony Guglielmo, 98th Space Range Squadron mission safety officer, acknowledges the concept of a space range can seem abstract to those outside of space-related career fields. He says it helps people to better conceptualize the range when he describes it like a “sandbox at the playground.” “In simple terms, it means that if you’re a space operator or a test engineer, who wants to come and test out your new equipment in space, we provide a safe, secure, supervised area with lots of different toys for your equipment to interact with,” Guglielmo said. 🔗 | Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g_XFs8FQ #PrepareEveryGuardian | United States Space Force

In the wake of the Space Force’s creation in 2019, the Army made some key decisions, Atkinson explained in a recent Army Magazine article. In a move that might seem counterintuitive for a service looking to expand its space presence, the Army transferred its satellite operations and theater missile-warning units to the fledgling Space Force. This was less about relinquishing capability and more about streamlining operations as the Space Force has the expertise to manage these assets. Atkinson pointed out that the creation of new all-domain formations across the Army was another critical move. These units, designed to operate seamlessly across land, air, sea, space and cyberspace, represent the Army’s response to the dynamic space environment and growing adversary use of space for military purposes. A telling sign is where it’s choosing to deploy these new capabilities. Atkinson said the majority of the Army’s space forces are now being assigned to military commands in the Indo-Pacific and Europe, a move designed to better integrate with regional combatant commands and strengthen relationships with allies.

“The Theater Effects Strike Groups would specialize in various counter-space operations, including techniques to camouflage and conceal units from overhead satellite surveillance, thereby preserving the element of surprise in tactical operations.” The Marine Corps will be closely observing these developments and taking lessons learned. Preserving the element of surprise is critical to the seizure and defense of advanced naval bases. What is our role in supporting these efforts? Should we have one?

This is Space Force Junior ROTC The Cadet Guardian Commitment #7 Join with the #CadetGuardians in the nation's ONLY Title 10 U.S. Code-mandated, youth program with a #space-focus as they recite their "Cadet Guardian Commitment."  It continues ...  "... I will master myself, grow in knowledge and wisdom ..." The unique "Cadet Guardian Commitment" reflects how they embrace the #GuardianValues that are shared in the U.S. Space Force's "Guardian Commitment." The third Guardian Value is "Commitment to Mastery".  These core values are the flight plan for becoming #citizens of #character while living lives of meaning and purpose. The #SFJROTC enterprise is managed by the Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFJROTC) with the support of the United States Space Force, Space Training and Readiness Command, Space Delta 13 Detachment 2. Photograph from the video of the visit of the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron to the unit at Falcon High School in Colorado Springs. As a Title 10 program, the Space Force Junior ROTC enterprise, like its Air Force managers, cannot endorse any other private organization without express legal permissions from national authority.

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."

Some Army Space Snippets: (I honestly need to pay more attention to Army Space, despite my instinctual aversion to having to learn new and super-convoluted acronyms.) https://lnkd.in/eGNkgUCC