United States Space Corps

The United States Space Corps (USSC) is a proposed sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces that, if created, would absorb the United States Air Force's current space missions and would be dedicated to the cause of space as a warfare domain.

History

In June 2017, the U.S. House Armed Services Committee (HASC) voted to include language creating the U.S. Space Corps in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.[1] The new service would be administered by the Secretary of the Air Force (much as the Marine Corps falls under the Department of the Navy), but would be a separate branch, and guaranteed an equal seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[2] A provision in the House version of the 2018 U.S. defense budget requested the creation of the Space Corps.[2] The top Republican and Democrat on the strategic forces subcommittee, Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), are leading this effort. Some members of the House Armed Services Committee, including Reps. Martha McSally (R-Arz.), a retired Air Force colonel, and Mike Turner (R-Ohio) expressed concern that this proposal did not have any hearings or studies on it, and just heard about the proposal during the markup session.[3][4] U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee members Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) expressed skepticism regarding the need for the creation of the Space Corps.[5]

This proposal is opposed by the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Space Command, and military leaders such as Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Paul Selva, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David L. Goldfein, and the current commander of Air Force Space Command General John W. Raymond.[6][7][8][9][10] Other former military and space leaders in opposition to this effort include Secretary Sean O'Keefe, former Secretary of the Navy and NASA administrator; Lisa Disbrow, former Under Secretary of the Air Force; General Victor E. Renuart Jr., former commander of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD; and Lieutenant General Edward G. Anderson III, former deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD.[11][12][13] The former commander of Air Force Space Command, General Lance W. Lord, is supportive of the effort, on the condition that the Army's and Navy's space programs are absorbed into the new Space Corps.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "House panel votes to split Air Force, create new U.S. Space Corps". FederalNewsRadio.com. 2017-06-29. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  2. 1 2 "Congressional panel puts plans for a US Space Corps in 2018 defense budget". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  3. ↑ "War in Space: Congress May Add a New Military Branch Amid China, Russia Satellite Threats". Newsweek.com. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  4. ↑ Tritten, Jamie McIntyre, Travis. "Space Corps, LCS survive as House panel passes $696 billion defense authorization bill". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  5. ↑ Senators sending lofty Space Corps hopes down to Earth
  6. ↑ Top general opposes Space Corps plans
  7. ↑ "Air Force Opposes Creation of Space Corps". Roll Call. 2017-06-22. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  8. ↑ We Need to Focus on Space; We Don't Need a 'Space Corps'
  9. ↑ Jim Mattis urges House to abandon Space Corps proposal
  10. ↑ AF Space Command
  11. ↑ "US Lawmakers Call for Space Force, Boost to Military Drills in Europe". Defenseone.com. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "There may soon be a new US military service — for space". Vox.com. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  13. ↑ "General Begins, Ends Military Career at Fort Carson". Northcom.mil. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  14. ↑ "Lamborn-backed space corps proposal raising concerns". Gazette.com. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
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