Okay, so I've been hearing about this new branch of the military, the 'Space Force'. Can anyone fill me in? What kinds of roles and duties are there? How competitive is it to get a position? Seems like an out-of-this-world experience!
The U.S Space Force, which officially launched in December 2019, is the newest branch of the U.S. military. It concentrates on space as a distinct warfighting domain. Its primary mission is to train and equip forces that will defend U.S. and allied interests in space. This includes everything from tracking space debris, to monitoring ballistic missile launches, to maintaining satellites that allow other branches of the military to communicate and carry out their duties effectively.
Career fields within the Space Force are vastly varied. They span from space operations, where personnel might directly control or work with satellites and other space vehicles, to intelligence roles, which analyze data and provide insights about potential threats and opportunities in space. There's also a demand for engineering and acquisition specialists who can oversee the development of new space-based technologies.
The path to join the Space Force is similar to other military branches. This generally involves meeting certain age, fitness, and academic qualifications, and then completing an enlistment process that can include aptitude testing and interviews. Once enlisted, you'd go through basic military training before moving on to more specialized schooling in your chosen career field. As for competitiveness, the Space Force is a quite small branch, so positions may be more competitive compared to larger military branches.
When it comes to unique experiences, you're absolutely right! Working in a field that's literally out-of-this-world is unparalleled. However, it's crucial to point out that most space force personnel aren't deployed to space. The work is predominantly earth-bound, facilitating the operations of satellites and other equipment from ground stations.
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