Space Force: A Crucible of Modern Deterrence and Strategy

Earlier this week, a comprehensive report emerged, shining light on a path we may need to take amidst the cosmos. It was not your typical address; it was born from two intense days at the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence, a think tank where select space virtuosos gather to deliberate our celestial future.

Picture this: 55 virtuosos of spatial intelligence, banded together to probe the Space Force Chief of Space Operations’ elusive concept known as “Competitive Endurance.” If you’ve ever pondered our orbital destiny, it compels one to ask, can theoretical constructs like this withstand potential crises? Consider the looming gloom of a Russian nuclear antisatellite deployment or a Chinese attempt to barricade what John F. Kennedy once dubbed “the new ocean”: space.

From their spirited discourse, a stark truth surfaced – a revelation, if you will. The American public, by and large, seems unaware of the true nature and mission of the Space Force. This void in understanding is coupled with a damning scarcity of resources and, curiously enough, a “warfighting ethos.” The report authors, Charles Galbreath and Jennifer Reeves, with military tenures of their own, confront this dilemma with a point-blank warning: these gaps threaten our long-term strategic success in the firmament against China.

“Systemic issues exist within the Space Force and Department of Defense that threaten the success of the Space Force in a long-term competition with China,” Galbreath and Reeves assert, each word taut with urgency.

Buried within bureaucracies are often dark shadows of inadequacies: insufficient authority and resources, ambiguous roles and missions, and a deficiency in imbibing that quintessential warfighting spirit. These factors create an existential threat to our cosmic deterrence capability, leaving us vulnerable to those whose ambitions might rival our own.

The seasoned authors call upon Congress. An earnest plea ripples through their words: more resources, fewer shackles. They argue cogently for the unleashing of both offensive and defensive technologies, tools vital for fortifying a stance capable of deterring hostile maneuvers and conflicts among the stars.

One might wonder, how does one inspire a nascent force to embrace their fiery combat heritage? Here lies a profound emphasis, not merely on astute education and training but on fostering an assertive culture. For Guardians, as the Space Force ranks are known, must envisage themselves as the vanguard, imbibing and projecting a decisively victorious ethos in their celestial conduct.

Galbreath and Reeves commend those tenets of “Competitive Endurance” — but, crucially, they contend these are not enough. We’ll ask ourselves — does this theory legitimize space as a domain where military might matters? Perhaps the nuances of “space superiority” are still faintly seen by both public and Congress alike.

“If this loophole is not addressed, the Space Force and U.S. Space Command could find itself in a death spiral of waning support and funding,” they caution with foresight, a specter of stagnation haunting the fringes of progress.

Authority takes note. A spokesperson for the Space Force told Business Insider, “As China and Russia escalate their counter-space agendas, the imperative for a well-endowed Space Force becomes unabashedly undeniable.”

This sentiment echoes throughout the corridors of power. Maj. Gen. Timothy Sejba, stalwart of Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), underscored the gravitas of a combat-ready mentality during the 2023 Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. His words resonated as he recalled nearly four decades of meticulous groundwork, shaping a warrior ethos that spans galaxies.

In a poignant moment, Sejba declared, “Even though the Space Force is only four years old, we’ve built the warfighting mindset for almost 40 years.” Are we, as Sejba urges, preparing to confront our cosmic futures with the gravity they demand? An intrinsic query we must address if our legacy is to be one of dominance and deterrence.

Generals and officials have long sounded the alarm over swelling threats orbiting us. In a candid dialogue with Politico, General B. Chance Saltzman unearthed startling truths: China, crafting counter-space means at a speed that would stun even the most imaginative. A chilling tango played out in the void.

John Plumb, once an assistant Secretary of Defense for space policy, spoke in 2023 of the adversarial potencies swelling worldwide. Plumb gestured toward China’s terrestrial attempts and Russia’s own strategic overtures—realities aimed at debilitating our celestial chains of command and communication.

“Our competitors have watched us, they have learned from us, they’ve stolen from us, and they have developed capabilities to hold us at risk. But they are not ready for us. They’re not ready for us today,” Plumb’s voice crackled, a palpable defiance amidst the ever-looming gauntlet.

Indeed, while competitors inch closer to challenging the delicate balance, this report stands as a testament to the resolve, urging us to confront that which is inevitable—through courage, clarity, and conviction.

Edited By Ali Musa, Axadle Times International–Monitoring