L212-Space Force

L212-Space Force

According to James and Welsh (2015), some of the missions of the air force of the future will include multi-domain command and control and rapid global mobility. One of the ways through which these missions can be realized involves the establishment of a space force. This paper examines the issues pertaining to the setting up of the space force, including recruiting, arming and training the needed personnel and the politics and delineation of interagency responsibilities.

To begin with, the process of the establishment of the space force is facing major challenges when it comes to recruiting, arming, training and equipping the necessary human resources. For instance, the establishment of the space force requires massive budgetary allocation. At the moment, only a proposal exists on how the money needed to set up the space force will be sourced. For instance, the Department of Defense (2018) argues that the money needed to fund the setting up of the U.S space force will be factored in the 2020-2011 budget plans. Besides, it is still unclear how the training of personnel that will form the space force workforce will be done. The Department of Defense (2018) recommends the formation of the Space Operations Force, which would be responsible for availing the human capital needed to develop and integrate space capabilities into a multi-domain warfighting unit. At the moment, people with the skills needed to protect the American space are scattered in different military divisions and the civilian sector. There is a need for these individuals to be brought together for the establishment of a strong space force..

The setting up of space force will result in personnel disruption, among other problems. According to Hildreth, Elsea, Kapp, McInnis (2018), personnel disruptions and budgetary costs could play a crucial role in determining the approach Congress will take as far as the establishment of the space force is concerned. To mitigate against this problem, there are proposals that involve the space force being part of the U.S air force. On this note, the U.S space force is expected to get more than 75% of the services it needs from the department of air force (Marine Corps University, n. d.). This initiative is aimed at reducing costs and preventing duplication of services. The department of air force is required to provide civilian personnel management, IT support, business systems, base operating support, logistics, and audit agencies to the newly created U.S space force unit (Marine Corps University, n. d.). This initiative will mitigate the challenges that pertain to the recruitment, arming and training of individuals who will be part of the space force.

At the same time, there are several leadership issues pertaining to the creation of the space force. Hildreth et al. (2018) argue that the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) and other entities have encountered the problem of overlap and fragmentation in the management and oversight of national security space. These challenges have resulted in delays, cost increases, effective and cancelation of programs aimed at the creation of American space force. Besides, the creation of a new military department under the existing constitutional dispensation is still unclear. At the moment, the American military force is divided into five branches (Department of Defense, 2018). Each of these groups serves a specific purpose. As such, it is unclear under which military group the space force will operate under. There is also the option of the space force existing as an additional group to the U.S military. Another major issue facing the creation of the space force is the identification of the right leadership approach for this division of U.S armed force. For instance, the Department of Defense (2018) argues that the Space Force should prioritize the presence of accountable civilian leadership and enhancing the efficiency of this military division without adding significant budgetary costs to Americans. This is the motivation behind the setting up of the space force as a division in the air force.

Additionally, global politics is a major factor necessitating the formation of the U.S space force. For many years, the U.S has been at the forefront in pursuing space-related endeavors. These endeavors include efforts aimed at ensuring that humans can live in other planets soon. However, other global superpowers, mostly China and Russia, have taken over the competitive edge from the U.S when it comes to the space war (Air Force Space Command, 2019). As such, there is a sense of urgency for the creation of the space force.

To sum up, the U.S has a long journey to go before it can have a strong space force. The decision to establish this force is inspired by political factors, such as the progress made by other global superpowers in exploring and safeguarding their air spaces. After a long period of deliberations, it has been concluded that the space force should be under the department of air force to ensure that essential human and non-human services are used maximally.

References

Air Force Space Command. (2019). The Future of Space 2060 and Implementations for U.S. Strategy: Report on the Space Futures Workshop. PDF File.

Department of Defense. (2018). Final Report on Organizational and Management Structure for the National Security Space Components of the Department of Defense. Department of Defense.  PDF FILE.

Hildreth, S. A, Elsea, J., Kapp, L., McInnis, K. J.  (2018). Toward the Creation of a U.S. “Space Force.” Congressional Research Service. PDF FILE.

James, D. L., & Welsh, M. A. (2015). Air Force Future Operating Concept: A View of the Air Force in 2035. PDF File.

Marine Corps University. (n. d.). Module 2: U.S. Air Force and U.S Space Force. PDF FILE.

Mcinnis, K. J. (2020). Defense Primer: The Department of Defense. Marine Corps University. PDF File.