US Space Force (USSF) within USAF

U.S. Dept of Defense: No branch of the Armed Forces has been created since 1947 when the USAF established; over 70 years ago. Global and national economic and military power has changed significantly over the last 7-decades. U.S. must reforming its defense structure and focus on US military space enterprises to protect US & Allies and ensure access and unfettered control over the international space domain. The DOD Secretary of the Air Force will be responsible for the United States Air Force (USAF) & United States Space Force (USSF); separate & distinct military services. The POTUS Ttrump proposal creates a Chief of Staff of the USSF to be a member of Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) & to serve as JCS expert on and advocate for space power.

U.S. Secretary of the Air Force (99): will be responsible for 2-separate & distinct Military Services: (1) USSF (2) USAF. USSF 5-Year Plan Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 to FY 2024; FY2020 budget requests $72.4M for 200 personnel to stand up the USSF HQ. In FY2021: existing personnel & budget authority will transfer into the USSF from existing Military Services until about 95% of the USSF budget consists of existing resources that have been transferred. New resources will be dedicated to building out the USSF headquarters and establishing and maintaining new support elements such as education, training, doctrine, and personnel management centers. Once fully established, the additive costs will be about $500M annually (0.07% of annual DoD budget); estimate will be refined through detailed planning. Total additional cost growth over the next 5-yrs is estimated to be less than $2B, or 0.05% of the DoD budget for same period. DOD Future Years Defense Program FYDP topline is sufficient to fully fund USSF; transfer of future resources will be included in the DOD FY2021 budget proposal; allows new USSF leadership to shape resource allocation and funding transfers. 

National Defense Strategy (98): recognizes great power competition as the central challenge to U.S. national security. Space is a vital national interest and critical domain in which this competition will occur. United States faces serious and growing challenges to its freedom to operate in space. China and Russia view counterspace capabilities as a means to reduce U.S. and allied military effectiveness. Simultaneously, commercial entities are developing and delivering new space technologies and capabilities at a speed never seen before. U.S. interests in space are expanding. This new security environment highlights the role of space in the changing character of warfare and presents new challenges and opportunities to the United States military. To maintain our comparative advantage in space, we must adapt to the changing environment.

POTUS Trump USSF Legislative Proposal (98): to establish the U.S. Space Force (USSF) as a sixth branch of the Armed Forces within the Department of the Air Force. The USSF would protect and advance U.S. interests in space. If approved by Congress, a dedicated Military Service will unify, focus, and accelerate the development of space doctrine, capabilities, and expertise to outpace future threats; institutionalize advocacy for space priorities; and further build a space warfighting culture. The USSF will be responsible for organizing, training, and equipping military space forces to: provide for freedom of operation in, from, and to the space domain; provide independent military operations for joint and national leadership; and enable the lethality and effectiveness of the joint force. - The USSF will consolidate existing forces and authorities for military space activities, as appropriate, in order to minimize duplication of effort and eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies. The proposal will create a civilian Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space, to be known as the Under Secretary for Space, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Under Secretary for Space will provide dedicated civilian supervision of the USSF. The proposal will create a Chief of Staff of the USSF in the grade of General who will be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and who will serve as the JCS expert on and advocate for space power. - Where appropriate, the USSF will leverage existing USAF infrastructure, except in performing those functions unique to the space domain or that are central to the independence of the new Military Service. - The proposal for the Space Force maximizes warfighting capacity while minimizing bureaucracy and cost.

Note 1 (99): The initial elements of the USSF headquarters will be established in FY20 to prepare for mission transfer in FY21 and FY22. Additional build out of the force will occur in FY23 and FY24. - The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with each Military Department Secretary and Military Service Chief, will determine which existing space forces will transfer into the USSF after its creation. - The Department has established a full-time team to conduct detailed planning for the Space Force. The task force is led by a 2-star career space officer from the Air Force.

(99)US Space Force (USSF) within USAF: https://media.defense.gov/2019/Mar/01/2002095013/-1/-1/1/SPACE-FORCE-FACT-SHEET.PDF

(98) US DOD sent Congress a proposal to create the U.S. Space Force; 6th branch of the armed forces. https://www.defense.gov/explore/story/Article/1767808/dod-submits-us-space-force-proposal/