“They’re building capabilities to use space
against us. We have to be able to respond to
that,” Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the National Security
Space Association, an advocacy group, last
week, referring to Russia and China.
As a career space officer, Hyten says he
often gets asked what will become of Space
Force under Biden. And while he offered no
prediction, he clearly believes Space Force
should remain.
Biden has not publicly commented on his
intentions with Space Force. His defense
secretary, Lloyd Austin, has been noncommittal
while stressing the strategic importance of
space. The White House did not respond to a
request for comment on Biden’s view.
Although some see it as a Trump vanity project,
Space Force is not the farcical force of the
public imagination. In the military, it’s seen
soberly as an affirmation of the need to more
effectively organize for the defense of U.S.
interests in space — especially satellites used
for civilian and military navigation, intelligence
and communication.
While far smaller than any other branch of the
military, Space Force is acquiring the standard
trappings of a service, including an official
flag, logo, seal and doctrine. It has launched
commercials to attract recruits. After lengthy
debate, it was decided last month that Space
Force members would be called guardians,
although they don’t yet have an official dress
uniform. The force is planning to expand its
ranks from 2,400 active-duty members to 6,400
by the end of this year.