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Space Force

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 2:35 pm
by Eric Renderking Fisk
I'm wondering about everyone's opinion on The Space Force. I was on the fence until I read this news article this morning...

https://www.sciencealert.com/very-abnor ... ace-weapon

And then these...

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/scie ... 93846.html

https://www.popularmechanics.com/milita ... ce-weapon/

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45194333

If Russia is weaponizing space, and we've known for a while they are doing this - is this Trump's reason why we're creating a "Space Force?"

Re: Space Force

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 8:44 pm
by n11pilot
Both Russia and China have been weaponizing space for quite a while now. In the vernacular, space is the apex high ground. With defense dependence on satellites for intelligence gathering, communications, navigation, weapon guidance, and weather information it would be nearly impossible to conduct a significant ground campaign without them. As early as 2007 China established that they had the technology to knock satellites out of orbit and many in the West realized that this was a direct threat.

Clearly this threat must be countered and overcome but the US is facing a problem with the military. We are coming off of eight years of an Obama administration that while over using segments of the military, special forces for example, it allowed the degradation of that same military by cutting off the money supply to train personnel, buy spare parts, acquire new or improved equipment or even feed hot chow to troops stationed in the field. A quick check of military aviation crashes recently shows that many aircraft are well past their maximum projected flying lives and others are using parts that are past their mandatory replace by hours. These issues are slowly being addressed but it will take time to bring everything up to speed.

Instead of using more money to create a sixth branch which would require funding a new bureaucracy, buying operating installations, establishing basic and AIT training, and even designing and contracting for new distinctive uniforms. I think that the country at this point would be better served with the creation of a joint command for space defense. This would be similar in structure to the Joint Special Operations Command or SOCOM. It would draw personnel, installations and equipment from existing branches that have space based assets and the CO of the command could be rotated through the contributing branches thus eliminating resistance from infighting generals/admirals and LMD operators. It would even save on the expense of designing new uniforms since personnel would wear their branch uniforms with the addition of a distinctive shoulder patch.

This is just an idea but I think a command could be up and running a lot faster than an entire new branch.

Re: Space Force

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 3:28 pm
by Cousi
n11pilot wrote:
Sun Aug 19, 2018 8:44 pm
Both Russia and China have been weaponizing space for quite a while now. In the vernacular, space is the apex high ground. With defense dependence on satellites for intelligence gathering, communications, navigation, weapon guidance, and weather information it would be nearly impossible to conduct a significant ground campaign without them. As early as 2007 China established that they had the technology to knock satellites out of orbit and many in the West realized that this was a direct threat.

Clearly this threat must be countered and overcome but the US is facing a problem with the military. We are coming off of eight years of an Obama administration that while over using segments of the military, special forces for example, it allowed the degradation of that same military by cutting off the money supply to train personnel, buy spare parts, acquire new or improved equipment or even feed hot chow to troops stationed in the field. A quick check of military aviation crashes recently shows that many aircraft are well past their maximum projected flying lives and others are using parts that are past their mandatory replace by hours. These issues are slowly being addressed but it will take time to bring everything up to speed.
Adding onto that is the basic anti-military indoctrination in schools combined with the generally horrible parenting skills in my generation and the upcoming generation is signing up for military service in increasingly fewer numbers.

Not to mention the fact that the Obama administration either fired or 'retired' many senior officials. This has caused a dearth of experienced leadership and an increase in those of a particular political mindset. When I was in from '91-'96, most of the higher brass refused to get involved in politics, thinking that if they knew too much about the folks they took orders from they'd be less inclined to follow them. Of course, in the USCG that's less of an issue considering our missions but the LE aspect of the service was directly affected by that.
n11pilot wrote:
Sun Aug 19, 2018 8:44 pm
Instead of using more money to create a sixth branch which would require funding a new bureaucracy, buying operating installations, establishing basic and AIT training, and even designing and contracting for new distinctive uniforms. I think that the country at this point would be better served with the creation of a joint command for space defense. This would be similar in structure to the Joint Special Operations Command or SOCOM. It would draw personnel, installations and equipment from existing branches that have space based assets and the CO of the command could be rotated through the contributing branches thus eliminating resistance from infighting generals/admirals and LMD operators. It would even save on the expense of designing new uniforms since personnel would wear their branch uniforms with the addition of a distinctive shoulder patch.

This is just an idea but I think a command could be up and running a lot faster than an entire new branch.
I agree with this wholeheartedly. We do not need a new military branch, we need specialists within the existing structure and more joint operations consisting of the those with the highest skills regardless of their particular branch. This is a gross growth of government that we do not need. I wasn't too happy with Bush 43's creation of the Dept of Homeland Security because it was growing government needlessly, but even that was better than this.

Re: Space Force

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:41 pm
by Eric Renderking Fisk