Thoughts on Congressman Rogers' call to institute a new Space Force that is a schism of the Air Force?http://spacenews.com/rogers-calls-for-separate-space-corps-within-the-air-force/
Rogers continued. “How can we have the world’s best national security space program if we don’t grow and retain the best men and women to lead it, and give them the budget and authority they need?” "The Air Force is not structured to educate and elevate a future generation of space leadership"Rogers said the Armed Services committee needs to begin debating the issue, but he does not expect radical change immediately. “That said, I believe reform is needed. We must start now…This is a system that moves too slowly, and we don’t have the time to wait..”
Any new Space Force would not be the offshoot of any of the existing services. It would be entirely separate, drawing appropriate personnel from all the services to fill the needed skill sets to get started. Eventually it would be staffed by new people drawn from civilian life in the same way that the existing services are staffed today.
How would SAC fit in? It's pretty heavily involved in space ops, which you can't just separate it out of it's air ops. Does Rep. Rogers Intend for the NRO to be under this command? There are reasons it exists as a civilian (sort of) operation.
Quote from: JBF on 04/05/2017 12:32 pmIf anything a Space Force should be an offshoot of the Navy. The Air Force has no experience running long term isolated platforms.Wrong. Thule, Shemya, Cavalier, Texas Towers, DEW line, etc
If anything a Space Force should be an offshoot of the Navy. The Air Force has no experience running long term isolated platforms.
It happened.https://www.rt.com/usa/394936-us-air-force-space-corps/https://federalnewsradio.com/defense-news/2017/06/house-panel-votes-to-split-air-force-create-new-u-s-space-corps/
Quote from: Nomadd on 04/10/2017 10:48 pm How would SAC fit in? It's pretty heavily involved in space ops, which you can't just separate it out of it's air ops. Does Rep. Rogers Intend for the NRO to be under this command? There are reasons it exists as a civilian (sort of) operation.The CCAFB and Vandenberg would be logical assets, as would be all orbital tracking systems, unless these go to FAA as some have proposed. All launch procurement should be in bailiwick, too. Basically everything USG-wise we discuss in these forums that is not NASA/civilian side...
Quote from: Jim on 04/06/2017 12:29 pmQuote from: JBF on 04/05/2017 12:32 pmIf anything a Space Force should be an offshoot of the Navy. The Air Force has no experience running long term isolated platforms.Wrong. Thule, Shemya, Cavalier, Texas Towers, DEW line, etcI don't think you want to use the Texas Towers as an example of how the Air Force does successfully runs isolated platforms. 2 out of 3 lost to weather conditions, and the program only lasted 5 years.An Ohio-class submarine can have a service life up to 40 years, and just about everything the Navy does relates to operating and supporting isolated platforms.
Nevertheless, if there is to be a US Space Force, what will its Special Operations Forces be called?
Space Wars: Why the Air Force and Navy Will Fight For Control of the Space Corps
Matt Hipple should be commended for making a very astute observation about the future of military space operations. Visions of future sustained operations in space do indeed resemble classic naval operations at sea. Virtually every single work of science fiction in film or print describe their space military as a space navy. NASA and commercial plans for lunar industrial parks or Martian colonies cannot help but draw comparisons to Europe’s maritime expansion—and the navies that allowed those expansions to take place.I agree with Hipple’s suggestion that mature space operations are “clearly naval operations.” I also sympathize with his view that only a naval culture is compatible with the United States’ long-term space needs.
...almost all advanced space thinking—overwhelmingly the product of airmen—have drawn heavily from naval history, theory and tradition.
Opinion: America Needs a Space Corpsby Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) — July 14, 2017
Space Corps proposal will fizzle, Wilson says
The current Congressional proposal to create a special Space Corps to lead U.S security programs for that realm likely will amount to nothing, suggested Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson.
Note: First comment below article seems more informed (rational) than people quoted in article.